I posted this in another thread.

Here are my solutions and gripes about the current fuel prices.

Here are my Short term solutions, maybe some of the experts can chime in on them. The government needs to suspend the fuel taxes and give the oil companies incentives to bring down prices. Bush needs to talk with Putin about opening the tap in Russia to flood the market again and help bring down prices, and maybe release some of the strategic reserve. That is about the only short term solutions I can think of that would have immediate effects. Maybe lower the speed limit to 55 or 60 would help as well.

My midterm solution. We need to go to a one blend fuel system. All the so called green states have adopted the unleaded that California uses, so why not everyone use the same thing. This will not help prices now, but will in the future. Especially when a refinery that supplies a certain state or region goes down.

Long term solutions. The government needs to pass legislation to allow drilling in ANWAR, and open up off shore in the Gulf coast and California. Maybe tax breaks for the oil companies to research alternative fuels. Tax breaks for auto makers to do more research in new technology. Relax some of the EPA standards if it benefits overall MPG. From what I've been reading the new 6.4L could really benefit from the EPA backing off and ditching the DPF.

Off the subject kind off. But what ever happened to the Hydrolic launch assist that was on the Tonka concept that came out a few years back? Stuff like that, that can increase MPG needs to be done.

Another question about oil and fuel prices. Last year we had oil prices in the mid $70s. Prices got to around $3/gallon. So why when we return to the $70s we are nearing $4/gallon. Hell prices have fell back into the $60s and prices haven't budged. I can think of no other reason than profit. Can anyone else think of another reason? I am not against companies making profits. But what happened to ethics. Seems corporations are driven solely by profit these days.

Another thing I keep hearing, "Gas is cheap compared to a gallon of milk", or "look how much you pay for a bottle of water". The country doesn't run on milk or bottled water. I don't have to drink milk, I can go buy soy milk. I can buy one bottle of water and keep filling it from my tap for pennies. Lots of things cost more than gas, but every vehicle in the country doesn't run on them. In this day and age fuel and vehicles are a necessity.

 

you dont have to drive either....

 

The governmant will stop taxes when pigs learn to fly. They "need" the money. The people in charge all have money. That is how they got there. And they probably got some of it from the oil companies. So they don't care about us. Also the tree huggers are part of the government so they will not back off on the emissions junk. They also have money and they don't care about us either.

China is the problem. They have increased demand, so the oil companies are taking advantage of it. The only rational solution is to nuke all of China. Or get used to being abused by the oil companies and the government. You can get by with a lot less food than you think. It is the beer that has me worried.

 

I look at the go green will lower the price of fuel. but look at the side effects. The price of meat will raise. Reason is now all those farmers who were making corn to sell for grain will be selling to the oil companies and the farmer who buys grain will be paying through the roof. that in turns makes the vegetable farmer swap their crops too corn to make more money. Instead of fuel shortages we will see food shortages. I would like to know how the big o's make 100's of million in profits each quarter and still get billion dollar grants from the U.S. Government to do research. Which we all pay for on all ends. Our Governor put a bill forth to cut the tax on fuel for 3 months. Our representative's shot it down. 80% + of Western Mass fuel comes off the Connecticut shores and they pay 30 to 40 cents less then we do.
Here Is an oxymoron for you to ponder our schools pay $1.97 a gallon for while the rest of us pay some where between $2.70 and $3.25 a gallon plus tax for heating oil. So say the average is $3.00 + tax = $3.18 a gallon. That is $1.03 a gallon multiply that by the yearly consumption of 1375 gallons = $1416.25 difference and thats to get through the heating season and not accounting for the boiler to make hot water during the warmer months. Age of the house and boiler or furnace,condition, efficiency or inefficiency, and proper service of the boilers and furnaces are contributing factors for high fuel consumption also.

 

why in the heck would oil companies flood the market with oil to lower their profits?

more drilling, hey folks, any new oil will just get sold on the commodity market, or the world oil industry will just lower their production levels, either way, the price will still be within the limits that they want, produce 1 million more barrels here? they will reduce output by 1 million barrels there.

as i posted before, cheap fuel has made america dependent on the auto, it is neccassary to drive in my opinion, they don't allow horses where i am at and the road is not wide enough for a bicycle, the first superduty coming by will whack my head, plus, the dependency on cars due to low fuel prices has spread out everything in towns, no longer can you walk out your door, go to the main street and get everything you need. you don't need electricity either.

i agree, thier needs to be one fuel requirment for all of the US.

start assisting the auto industry with developing new tech to increase mpg in cars. the companies are very hesitant in my opinion to invest millions, if not billions in something that may or may not work or the public may not even care to buy. the gov does this with the defense industry so i see since oil consumption is directly linked to foreign policy, they should assist in that also. plus it is not just cars, it is boats, ships, lawnmowers, boilers etc etc that consume oil.

 

Big Oil profits are still only around 10%


Now, I like this idea for the future. I have a question, though. How does it help a poor schmuck like me that can't afford a new hybrid or even a high mpg car? The bottom line is that gas prices hurt my wallet. If I incur more debt to save money on gas, how does that make me (or any of us) better off?

 

I am convinced high gas prices are being caused by illegal aliens, increased steroid use by athletes, and internet ****! And I ain't kiddin'!

 

Actually, I can answer this one...

My daily driver is a 93 Ford Escort with 233,000 miles on it. 30+ mpg around town, 40+ on the highway.

You can buy a similiar car for less than $800 around here.

I drive 25 miles round trip to work and back...

My truck gets an average of 9 mpg.

Daily cost savings to drive the car instead of the truck: $6.

(based on fuel at $3.00 per gallon)

In other words, I save $30 per week by driving the car with better mileage.

Or approximately $129.90 per month.

So roughly, if you could "keep a paycheck" and go buy a beater that costs less than $800, you'd have your money back in about 6 months.

And after that six months or so, you're ahead $129.90 EVERY MONTH.

That'd be $1,558.80 PER YEAR.

...and in my opinion...that's noticeable.

 

only 10%, thats what i mean, if they can maintain the profit level like this, why, without a push from something outside of big oil, would they invest billions into something that would or could potentially lessen thier profit? they would invest to maintain their profit, but not reduce it drastically.

of course the technology is not going to come around tomorrow, just look at developments like the digital camera and other former pricey things, new tech will always cost more up front, it can go either way with cars, but the hurdle is like you said, no matter how good mpg it gets, if it exceeds the savings on fuel, no one is going to buy unless they make it the only option (hope not).

plus the poeple who could afford the pricey mpg efficent cars can afford fuel anyways, so its not like they are going to be a major factor.

 

On the other hand, look at the statistics that show that people have been driving less since the price of gas has increased. If the oil companies invest a few billion into shale oil or to build new refineries, it would increase their profits over a couple of years when people start to drive a little more thus buying more gas.

I don't see oil companies embracing ethanol any time soon, so they might as well bite the bullet, invest in more drilling or refining and get us off foriegn oil. It's a good goal to have "green" fuel, but while we're still looking for the technology we need fossil fuel to keep us going.

 

That is "rational"?

 

At this point, so much money is being made off fuel prices, than even if we did have independance from foreign oil, fuel prices are going to be high regardless. Do you really think that fuel prices will ever be cheap again? No, If we are willing to pay what we pay now and in the future, fuel prices will be high. WE can grip all we want, but it will never change IMO. We drive and need fuel to drive, so money will be made off our necessity to drive.

 

Do a Google search on - Commodities; Futures-Gasoline. Gasoline futures are climbing high for 2008

 

You made my point for me. I drive a 94 Escort 175 miles to work (round trip). I understand the fuel savings. My question is how is new technology going to help me? I've already paid for my car a couple times over by getting 38+mpg on the road. Why should I put myself in debt to get 45 mpg?

 

You forgot illegal dog fighting, and Paris Hilton going to jail is affecting gas prices.