*****GAS PRICES? W T Hail *****

I'm gone for a couple days and come back and gas is over a dollar a gallon and more in some areas.........Lord Jesus, I just don't know how some people are going to making it !!!!!!!   I don't even want to look at my portfolio ..........We are going to hell in a hand basket.......I am getting really nervous-o

Nervous-o Nauty................

[Dieing2Live]

4.04 a gallon here in maryland. seems everyday it rises

[NautyOne]

4.50  - 5 something in other places..........CRAZY !!!!

[GoingToMakeIt]

West coast in the cities is crazy high.

[flmagi]

I'm gonna be buying me a horse and buggy soon.

[allaboutmary]

We need to get about 30-50 thousand people to storm these oil company's.  Tie up Ceo's and take them over.  I'm really sick of this crapola !  POWER TO THE PEOPLE !    LETS GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[confused456]

It's around $4.49 here in Michigan. Some places a little more, some a little less, but that is our average.

[triedeverymed]

I just got home from the gas station-JESUS! What happened?? It was $3.89 last time I filled up and today it was $4.09, yes, $4.09. At this rate I'll go broke driving to job interviews, and I don't have a job yet!!

[NautyOne]

I totally agree......WE THE PEOPLE  have to do something or this will not end.  Someone had a good Idea......i thought......if everyone uses the surplus of just one or two companys--yeah, it would be crazy---the others would have to drop their prices to move the supply......right?.....would that work?.....dunno.

Going horse and buggy shopping  tomorrow.......lol.

Nauty............

[lovepat906]

MMMMM! And just take a guess who wants to give a HUGE tax break to Exxon Moblile? Their huge profit margins aren't enough already?
One hint- he's running for president and he is a Bush and Co. buddy-boy...
Throw the bums out!!!

[GoingToMakeIt]

Zee Amish have got goood dealzs on z horse and buggies. Real quality merchandize that's made to last.

[catmagnet]

I think I'll just have to learn to roller skate after all...=/

[avisg]

I think we are on the lower end here in SC  3.65 you can all come live with me LOL

[paul300]

The so called huge tax breaks are for companies which are own by people like you and me. So the government should start taxing companies when they make money? Right. We created this mess in part by driving supersized cars, SUVS and trucks. We are the catalysts that sparked China and India into the world market by our ever increasing demand for lower cost consumer goods. Now their standard of living is rising, and thus so is there consumption of energy. We won't allow for new refineries to be built in America and no nuclear power generation.

We need nuclear power, increased refinery capacity, improved hybrids and electric cars. Unfortunately Detroit gave us what we wanted, over sized, gas guzzling machines. OPEC has us were it hurts, but we are partially the blame. The oil companies are simply passing the cost on to us. And yes they do make profits, thats what they are supposed to do! If we "take over" the oil companies, the same problems will exist.

My plans for owning a 1960's hotrod are over...

[confused456]

Make my room avis!!! LMAO

[confused456]

By the way, I will have baggage...LMAO....3 kids, ages 8, 13, and 15!!! hahahaha

[NautyOne]

I like nice fluffy pillows, 3 way lighting, and I take a little coffee with my cream. like you do......lol.   oh, and My eggs over-medium.........

Nauty,..........:-))

[dominosarah]

Im getting sheep!!!!!  I filled the gas can tonight and it cost 20.00 and i barely had 5 gallons so cant afford to mow now.  Avis i will be there with my dog and cat and my sheep.  

The government broke up Ma Bell for monopolozing the country didnt they?  And the oil companies are doing what??  I smell oil, president from texas, rich oil buddies, funding the rep. party...............Im voting for my beagle!!!!

[10356]

4.51 in north ca and they say by July 4 it will be 5 dollar a gallon Diesel is up to 5.15 in SF now the cost for the trucks to deliver food is being passed to us and all grocery's are going up.. I filled my floor freezer today with meat to save money in the next few months... I'm guilty of having a Ram Van but I have been driving the small Nissan truck and I hate driving a stick my son just bought his first car and got a sm Ford Ranger truck used and boy are the prices rising on those..They were wanting 6 to 8 thousand dollars for a 10 year old Toyota with 180,000 miles and up on it. We spent a month looking for the deal he got and drove 2 hours away. My Hubby is regretting selling his Norton a few years ago. I admit it is getting scary..

[Chi_Chi_Lover]

I'm sorry I like my big SUV gas is crazy but so is everything else. People have been driving pick-up trucks forever and the new SUVS get better gas mileage than most of them. I don't feel guilty about it all I like my comfort.

I've asked several people about the cost of gas, the housing market, loss of jobs etc. and no one can give a good reason why all of this is happening. What is the reason? What has changed?

[allaboutmary]

It's kinda like the perfect storm or dominos.  My other sister Dee, just got layed off from her job. She worked for an insurance company that sold to truckers.  Many truckers went out of business because of gas prices. Then I have another friend that works for Waste Management.  They did a bunch of lay offs because the new construction has stopped here. Thus leading to no construction garbage and many many vacant houses with no garbage. Gas again effects everything. The cost to pick up your garbage has tripled.  
One thing just leads to another and the whole house of cards is coming down.

[lovepat906]

I read that the proposal in question is for a billion or so tax break for Exxon Mobile- hardly a mom and pop business- I will try to find a link. I am all for tax breaks for small business- but the big boys have enough $$. They say the windfall profits are for development- so what do they need a huge tax break for?? Think of the transportation infra structure that could be built with a couple of billion. Hell- they could give every American family that doesn't have access to mass transit a smart car for that kind of moola. OR- give the breaks to US companies to develop alternative energy. My daughter- who is passionate about the environmental impact of fossil fuel- says that the only way good mass transit will be funded and used is for gas prices to rise. Unfortunately that entails a very rough adjustment period. Rupert Murdock (conservative media mogul) predicted that the war would result in $20 a barrel oil. Alot of $$ are being sucked out of our economy for that - I'm betting that has a direct impact on our economy as well. Perfect storm- indeed.

[paul300]

you missed my point. "they" is own by people, shareholders like you. "they" is owned by mutual funds, retirement accounts, etc. "they" does not take the cash and put it under a mattress. if "they" is forced to give people cars or money is no different that someone taking money from your bank account wo your permission.

[lovepat906]

I am not saying to take $$ away from "them". I am saying that "their" taxes should not be further reduced (by BILLIONS) so that the  already huge profit margins can increase. And if that means that the share holders only realize 15% investment growth- so be it. Most Americans- we the people- are not getting that on our shrinking to non-existant savings. There is a very small group of folks in this country (<5%) who are making outrageous bucks. You can call me a socialist- but I really do believe- as does Warren Buffet, God bless him- that the rich should pay at least the same tax rate as I do. The taxes that they should pay could go to development of alternative energy which would allow for the development of  more US businesses, more US jobs, more energy,  and better environmental conditions. Do you know that at present there is not one US business making solar panels? Use those BILLIONS to promote more diverse, new, small  businesses- not just reward the mega-corporations and their overpaid CEOs..

[paul300]

Funny, the people that complain most about tax rates (Hollywood, and many wealthy democrat's), forget to check the box to pay more taxes as an option. :-D

Regulating corporate profits is wrong...period. Do you really think the price of gas will drop/hold if we regulate their profits???? And who says how much a corporation should make??? If we start doing this, investors will take their monies overseas and we lose capital. Let the market adjust, but we should ensure no entity is hampering the system. If someone is cooking the market (speculative) books to make this happen, its wrong. I doubt it. The oil markets are too big for any single entity to effect prices long term. It is crazy.

So people can scream at the oil companies, but we Americans refuse to fix our own problems at home until its too late, ie. consumption. Unfortunately, we're reactionary by nature.

Not sure about the making of solar panels in the US. Designed yes, manufactured, most likely not. China is probably the biggest source.

Not even touching the overpaid CEO debate. ;-)

[lovepat906]

Once again- let them profit- the sky is the limit... BUT pay fair taxes on it- not have a pile of loopholes and tax breaks that JQ American doesn't get....

[paul300]

2007, it looks like they paid ~43% in taxes. Thats not fair? :-P

[limodan73]

Guys, not to be the bearer of bad news but, here goes. I am a master mechanic that has a real good Idea of why and what is going on in the industry. There is technology(some I actually seen with my own two eyes) that has been invented by us.(Americans) That can take any car, and turn it into an electric Hybrid. Thus, giving a normal V8 45+ miles per gallon. The f'd up thing is, the Feds and Big buisness have decieded that, in order to perpetuate the economy as we know it, and to keep everything at an even keel. This technology, I will call it Electro-mag-thesis, will be kept under raps via federal Patent laws, until they see fit to release it. The hydrogen cars are a joke. They will be to expensive not only to buy, but to maintain. Do you know any Hydrogen Mechanics? They have some good reasons for what they are doing, albeit costing all of us a fortune. And they have to keep the technology under raps, at least they think they are, until the rest of the industry has a chance to catch up the technology. But, keep in mind. Gas prices in Europe are over double what they are here, and they don't have to ship the stuff 3000 miles. I am no fan of the greedy Oil company's that lie throught their teeth. But, we have to put things into perspective and start really taking a look at who's getting the fat paychecks here. And that, is simple. Look no further than your voter registration card.

[paul300]

to me, that absolutely makes no sense. big business (the automakers), especially Detroit, provided us consumers with high-margin SUV's and trucks because we demand them and while gas prices were low, they kept chucking them out. The Japanese automakers at least were forward thinking enough and was well prepared for our current market. What's holding back hybrids and electrics are economies of scale, technologies (batteries) and demand (which is ramping up.)

Europe and many other parts of the world have been paying much more than we have for years...

i keep getting this vision that there are a few powerful people in a dim dark room, smoking cigars, drinking 100 yo scotch, sinisterly planning the next rampage on the american people.  

[lovepat906]

No. I suspect that it is more insidious than that. Those the American public has elected, out in the light of day, accepting big bucks from business lobbiests who are determined to profit as much as possible from fossil fuel and all its accoutrements. Why would those politicians oppose or suggest legislation/funding that would oppose their bread and butter -or should I say caviar- providers?
We need to get rid of this PAC/lobbiest system and institute some kind of limits on campaign funding before I will doubt limodan's scenario. Besides- he is in the business, and that gives him some credibility to me.

[lovepat906]

And still posted a $41.6 billion profit in the last year? Poor babies! They are being taxed to death!

[paul300]

the poor babies are you, me, and everyone else that have equity stake, direct or indirect....

[lifesaride]

yep gas is crazy, i mean youd think gas was oxys or something the way its price jumping

[limodan73]

Unfortunately, there is no Few evil men, smoking cigars that we can hunt down and kill. Its just not that simple. But, keep in mind, the technology is there. It just scares the **** out of  alot of people. The Oil and automotive industries are so intrenched in lobbying and overseas corruption that If someone flipped the proverbial switch, what do you think would happen?  Do you really think multi-national conglomerates would allow some one person or small company to take away BILLIONS of there profits?  It won't happen. The change is coming. It will just come slow enogh that the people who have invested their money(you, me, all of us)  can suck the planet dry first, thus allowing the maximum amount of per capita growth. It is sickining, but tru.  As for the battery technology side of it, they are WAY past Ni/Cd based batterys already. Do you remember that blip of media coverage about the company in Cali whos car could go 200 miles on a single charge, and hit speeds of 90. Sad but tru. Welcome to Capitalism.

[paul300]

Not easy to switch. You mention hydrogen, perhaps they can build prototypes, but making mass distribution (and production of hydro) would take government efforts and massive investments. Yes, the oil influence will try whatever to keep that sort of progress from happening, but as you said in a previous message, voting the status out of office will get their attention. Even if they can get 50 miles on a battery charge is perhaps enough ween ourselves away from foreign oil.  The lobbyists can do whatever they want, but if people ain't buying SUV's and pickups, the auto industry will adapt. Unfortunately we have to endure the pain until that happens.  Capitalism is great. ;-)