BS: Gas prices

Subject: Gas prices
From: kendall
Date: 17 May 01 - 02:24 PM

People keep asking that question, "What can I do?" well, consider this.

TIRED OF THESE HIGH GAS PRICES?? LET'S JUST WAGE A LITTLE WAR OF OUR OWN!!!!!

This makes MUCH MORE SENSE than the "don't buy gas on a certain day" campaign that was going around last April or May! The oil companies just laughed at that because they knew we wouldn't continue to "hurt" ourselves by refusing to buy gas. It was more of an inconvenience to us than it was a problem for them. BUT, whoever came up with this idea, has come up with a plan that can really work. Please read it and join with us!

With the price of gasoline going up more each day, the consumers (each of us) need to take action. The only way we are going to see the price of gas come down is if we hit someone in the pocketbook by not purchasing their gas! And we can do that WITHOUT hurting ourselves. How? Since we all rely on our cars, we can't just stop buying gas. But we CAN have an impact on gas prices if we all act together to force a price war.

Here's the idea: For the rest of this year, DON'T purchase ANY gasoline from the two biggest companies (which now are one), EXXON and MOBIL. If they are not selling any gas, they will be inclined to reduce their prices. If they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow suit. But to have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of Exxon and Mobil gas buyers. It's really simple to do!! Now, don't wimp out on me at this point...keep reading and I'll explain how simple it is to reach millions of people!!

I am sending this note to about thirty people. If each of you send it to at least ten more (30 x 10 = 300)... and those 300 send it to at least ten more (300 x 10 = 3,000) ... and so on, by the time the message reaches the sixth generation of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION consumers! If those three million get excited and pass this on to ten friends each, then 30 million people will have been contacted! If it goes one level further, you guessed it..... THREE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE!!! Again, all you have to do is send this to 10 people. That's all. (If you don't understand how we can reach 300 million and all you have to do is send this to 10 or more people.... well, let's face it, you just aren't a mathematician. But I am... so trust me on this one.)

How long would all that take? If each of us sends this email out to only ten people within one day of receipt, all 300 MILLION people could conceivably be contacted within the next 8 days!!! I'll bet you didn't think you and I had that much potential, did you! Acting together we can make a difference.

If this makes sense to you, please pass this message on.

PLEASE HOLD OUT UNTIL THEY LOWER THEIR PRICES TO THE $1.20 RANGE AND KEEP THEM DOWN. THIS CAN REALLY WORK.

Subject: RE: Help: Gas prices
From: Shields Folk
Date: 17 May 01 - 02:29 PM

Aw shut up!

Subject: RE: Help: Gas prices
From: kendall
Date: 17 May 01 - 02:38 PM

Do you enjoy making the oil companies even richer than they are at our expense? I havn't bought Exxon gas since the Valdez spill, and, I havn't bought Mobil since the merger.

Subject: RE: Help: Gas prices
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 17 May 01 - 02:40 PM

Oh please... this same email went around LAST year!!!

Subject: RE: Help: Gas prices
From: Shields Folk
Date: 17 May 01 - 02:42 PM

yea right the Valdez spill. good reason for not buying. but thats got nothing to do with cost or making people rich . It's got to do with the environmental damage. it doesn't whether you spill it or burn it.

Subject: RE: Help: Gas prices
From: Shields Folk
Date: 17 May 01 - 02:43 PM

theres a 'matter' missed out of there somewhere!

Subject: RE: Help: Gas prices
From: GUEST,UB Dan
Date: 17 May 01 - 02:45 PM

How about if we get 10 people to mail me a dollar, and then each of those people recruits 10 more people to send me a dollar and so on. Eventually the price of gas won't bother me at all and I will try to remeber those of you who helped me out at the beginning when I obtain vast amounts of wealth and power. I also promise to invest some of the money in alternative energy research.

Subject: RE: Help: Gas prices
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 17 May 01 - 02:47 PM

Tha majority of 'oil' taken out of the ground doesn't even go into fuel... Plastics, highways, edible oil products...

give THOSE up!

;-)

Subject: RE: Help: Gas prices
From: kendall
Date: 17 May 01 - 02:49 PM

So, all you pissers and moaners, just continue to bend over for the oil companies. I will continue to boycott Exxon and Mobil.

Subject: RE: Help: Gas prices
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 17 May 01 - 02:53 PM

Read my post above, Kendall...

Subject: RE: Help: Gas prices
From: Shields Folk
Date: 17 May 01 - 02:53 PM

Yes thats right never buy fuel again. use public transport, get yourself a bike, move near your work, take your holidays nearer home and buy your food from local producers. I'm glad I helped :)

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: GUEST,UB Dan
Date: 17 May 01 - 03:09 PM

I have pissed and I have moaned...but rarely due to gas...except that once - and in my defense, I didn't know there was that much cabbage in the meal

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: Kim C
Date: 17 May 01 - 03:15 PM

My question is... don't the smaller companies buy their oil from the larger companies anyhow? If that is the case, then you may still be supporting the big oil companies without knowing it. Does anyone know?

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: Pseudolus
Date: 17 May 01 - 04:31 PM

It simply won't work. Exxon and Mobil don't control the prices of gas the countries where it is being produced do. The only people hurt by a plan like this will be the folks who own the actual gas stations......if at all.

Frank

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 May 01 - 04:39 PM

So when I get usless emails regarding oil prices in a foreign country, I'll know who to blame...

Sorry Kendall but I don't belive these email schemes help anyone.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: Justa Picker
Date: 17 May 01 - 04:44 PM

The real problem as I understand it is that the oil companies are in bed with the automobile companies, and both make huge political contributions to government, and are intensive lobbyists. Big tobaccos interests are dwarfed in comparison to the oil and auto-manufacturing industries. The government has learned nothing since the Opec crisis of '72 about self-sufficiency.

The technology for more efficient and environmentally friendly engines, that can use water (converted into hydrogen), and other easily renewed and environmentally-friendly fuel sources so as to have total self suffiency of resources have been available for 40 years. The oil companies don't want that to ever happen on a large scale, so all commercial efforts to implement a better engine running on cheap, easily renewable fuel, on a wide scale have been suppressed.

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: Kim C
Date: 17 May 01 - 05:26 PM

But they could still make money regardless of the type of fuel. I guess that makes too much sense.

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: DougR
Date: 17 May 01 - 05:54 PM

A noble effort, Kendall, and I applaud you for your efforts, but I believe we are very shortly going to begin to see a reduction in prices at the pump. Reports I have heard are that prices will peak in the U. S. at $1.75 or so a gallon, and will begin to decline soon after. I don't know if we will ever see gasoline at $1.20 per gallon again though. My dad owned a service station in the 1940's and I can remember when gasoline was $.30 a gallon, but a loaf of bread was only a dime then too.

Even if gasoline rises to $2.00 per gallon in the U. S. it will still be considerably less than what citizens of other countries pay. At least that is my understanding.

Good luck with your project, but I hope you don't bankrupt Mobil-Exxon in the near future. When my grandson graduates from the University of Arizona this month, he is going to work for them in New Orleans, and his folks need some relief after his six years in school, so he needs the income.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: Shields Folk
Date: 17 May 01 - 06:01 PM

Thats the American way. Don't let principles or even, god forbid, the environment get in the way of the good old Yankee Dollar!

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: kendall
Date: 17 May 01 - 06:05 PM

Look, I dont care what everyone else does, when Exxon put a convicted drunk driver in charge of millions of gallons of oil, they lost my gas money. Period. I have passed Exxon stations with my guage on E, and, prayed for another brand just around the bend. The concern about the independents selling Exxon under another name is valid, but, where I buy most of my gas I asked the owner what brands he buys, and he named a few. Exxon and Mobil were not on the list.

How about this, tell the Saudis and Kuwait that if they dont shape up, and remember how we saved their bacon 10 years ago, that we will again tell Saddam that he can help himself to Kuwait.

I understand the Germans have developed a car which runs on liquid hydrogen. Great, the oceans are full of it.

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: Jeri
Date: 17 May 01 - 06:17 PM

IT'S A CHAIN LETTER.
Here's the chain letter, now read the commentary. Go on, read it!

I hate chain letters of any sort. There's no reason on earth for them other than to clog up the net and personally annoy me.

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: Gypsy
Date: 17 May 01 - 09:30 PM

Hey Doug, we are paying between 2.30 and 2.50 a gallon in the northern end of California. I would love to pay only 1.75 a gallon!

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: GUEST,Skipjack
Date: 17 May 01 - 09:37 PM

Shoite, Kend, we're payin' $7.50 a gallon over here. Please boycott the UK

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: Peg
Date: 17 May 01 - 09:42 PM

People in the rest of the world pay the equivalent of $5 a gallon for gasoline; and they don't even drive those Stupid Useless Vehicles in the numbers we drive them here in the U.S.

It will all run out sooner or later; why on earth can't we realize this and start learning to conserve?

Stop driving alone to work! Stop taking the car to go pick up a gallon of milk at a store that is a ten minute walk from your home!

This attitude extends to the encroaching electricity shortages...

Our new, stupid president is whining about needing changes to the "infrastructure" and how it is "old and outdated" and wants us, gods forbid, to go back to using nuclear power and coal!!!

Whether you agree with email schemes or not, you must admit that spreading some awareness about this monumental problem in our stupid, greedy world is well worth doing...

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: Gypsy
Date: 17 May 01 - 09:54 PM

oy, i am RED in the face! Forgot from the last thread of this nature, just how much petrol costs in the UK. Please don't hate me for paying a mere 2.50 a gallon!

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: Bill D
Date: 17 May 01 - 09:58 PM

kind of a quandry in the USA...we have such long distances to drive...(well, many of us, especially in the west) just going to see Aunt Sally can be an all day (or 2-3 days) trip

..I have to drive 450 miles tomorrow in a BIG Dodge van to get my son home from college. The gas I buy is 'about' $1.68 right now, and the only thing that keeps me sane is that I work mostly at home. I buy from cheap stations and HOPE I'm not getting 2nd rate stuff. I expect the days of ckeap fuel are long gone..

(in about 1970-1972, I lived around some of the cheapest gas in the country...once filled the tank at 17.9¢ a gallon during a price war, and seldom paid over 29¢ for several years...*sigh*)

they say the refineries are runnint at about 99% capacity, and if that's true, we'll have high prices for some time...

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: CarolC
Date: 17 May 01 - 10:00 PM

Here's a question I've been wondering about for a while. We (our president in particular) keep talking about how we need to reduce dependency on foriegn oil sources. The solutions being proposed include increasing oil exploration in the U.S., including the Arctic Wildlife Refuge.

This is my question. How much of the oil that's being produced here in the U.S. is being exported to other countries. If relying on oil coming from the U.S. is so important, why don't we just keep more of what we produce here, instead of shipping it elsewere?

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: Nancy King
Date: 17 May 01 - 10:01 PM

I'm with you, Jeri. I don't do chain letters, whatever the cause.

Kendall -- "..saved their bacon"???

Nancy

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 17 May 01 - 10:03 PM

Cags, can't make this machine PM you, but wanting to.

X

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: CarolC
Date: 17 May 01 - 10:10 PM

Hey Skipjack! Sorry to hear about the prices you have to pay for gas.

Carol

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 17 May 01 - 10:14 PM

What the hell, it's only dosh!

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: kendall
Date: 17 May 01 - 10:19 PM

The thread was plainly marked BS. I am not sending it as a chain letter because I dont like them either. Saved their bacon was an intentional slip.

Like I said before, I dont give a rats ass what you all do, I will do what I can to protest, and, I WILL NOT BUY EXXON OR MOBILE. You cant tell me that if everyone did this it would do no good. There are complainers and there are doers. I'm both. Screw the money grubbing bastards.Keep feeding the greedy bastards, and quit bitching about the price.

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: CarolC
Date: 17 May 01 - 10:21 PM

You must be adopting my crazy sleep patterns, Skipjack. It must be about 4:30 am where you are.

Give the box a squeeze for me.

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: DougR
Date: 17 May 01 - 10:27 PM

I think one of the main problems in the U. S. is politics. And I am referring to both Democrats and Republicans. All of the talk shows here (in the U. S.) feature individuals from both parties assailing the other party and trying to lay blame. Why? Not because the politicians are so concerned about solving the problem, but rather which party's candidate is going to be the next president ...and we are barely into the current administration!

As long as the American people want to drive big gas guzzeling vehicles, and are willing to pay the price for it, things won't change.

Why is it so difficult to understand that the demand, created by our (U.S.) population growth, and our appetites for fuel guzzlers, has exceeded the amount of fuel available.

If the population increases in size, the demand for fuel is going to also increase. No one, in either party, has suggested a reasonable suggestion for a quick fix for the current problem. I doubt there is one that will work.

Sorry to write such a lengthy post, but it pains me that the whole argument revolves around which political party is right.

Now, I will invite the flamers. If the reason for not drilling in Alaska, even though it is in a protected area, can alleviate the problem (long term), and it can be done without contaminating the environment, why shouldn't it be done? My side says it can be done. The other side says it can't. Can it? I have no idea.

I heard Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a man I admire, by the way because of his work in upstate N.Y., say it might disturb the calving area for Alaska's Caribou. That, to me, is not reason enough not to drill, if the solution to the energy supply problem can be solved by drilling. It is obviously a pristine area that they are talking about. How many people do you know, though, that will ever see it. It's sad that the millions of Buffalo that used to dot the western plains are gone, but the sky hasn't fallen because they are no longer here in those numbers.

Ok. Take your shots, my friends.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: Peg
Date: 17 May 01 - 10:48 PM

The problem with drilling in Alaska is not just about a few caribou herds, or other groups of animals.

It is about the destruction of a unique environmental system. There are a number of such unique systems in the world; the Columbian rainforest is one; the Florida Everglades is another. The ice-fields of Greenland, the forests of Bavaria, the deserts of Australia, the grasslands of Mongolia: all deserve protection, if for no other reason (say, their beauty, the people they support, or the sheer RIGHT THEY HAVE TO EXIST) than that there is much to be learned from such systems on a scientific basis. The medicines discovered in the plants of the rainforest, the priceless information that the unique creatures of the Everglades can impart to zoologists, these are reasons for preserving these systems; this includes the Alaska refuge.

When such a unique system is compromised or ruined, it can never be repaired. The continuing decimation of species on this planet, leading to a decrease in biological diversity, is harming ALL creatures. Nature exists in a symbiotic, synergistic relationship with itself. A tree in the forest is connected to the moss and fungus that grow on it, the humus decomposing beneath it, the flowers that spring up around it, and the squirrels, birds and insects that feed upon it. Destroy one of those creatures, the other ones in the system suffer.

If we drill in that Alaskan wildlife preserve, not all the species will die all at once. But the first ones to go will eventually lead to the death or lessening of the others. It will be irrevocable. Some species may never recover; even to extinction.

And that is not even factoring in what would happen to that system (not to mention the humans who live near it) if there was major oil spill: something that, given previous track records at off-shore sites, is VERY likely to happen...

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: toadfrog
Date: 17 May 01 - 10:53 PM

Hey Doug R! I actually started off agreeing with you, until you started talking about drilling the North Slope. Sure. Neither party is up to telling the American people what they don't want to hear, but need to hear. "Which is, high gas prices are the only thing that will stop you self -indulgent swine from wasting gasoline and destroying the planet." High gas prices are good for you! Maybe you'll even learn to walk!

If even McCain had that kind of cojones, America might have some kind of future. But no politician does.

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: CarolC
Date: 17 May 01 - 10:57 PM

"That, to me, is not reason enough not to drill, if the solution to the energy supply problem can be solved by drilling."

--DougR

And then of course, there's the other question. Is it reason enough not to drill if it is only one of many possible solutions? Especially if there are other solutions that are less destructive to our planet?

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: Peg
Date: 17 May 01 - 11:02 PM

toadfrog wrote:

"If even McCain had that kind of cojones, America might have some kind of future. But no politician does."

Nader did.

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: CarolC
Date: 17 May 01 - 11:08 PM

I'm watching BBC World News right now. There's an ancor person interviewing an American. She asked him, "Do you think the political advantage of not asking Americans to make any sacrifices is part of the reason the administration is taking the position it is?"

My god. What does that say about us as a people?

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: DougR
Date: 17 May 01 - 11:26 PM

Peg: are there studies that show a detrimentale effect on wildlife and the ecology to the "Slope" since oil exploration began there many years ago? Just asking for information, not to start a war.

Toadfrog: thanks for your input.

CarolC: I did not mean to imply that the sole solution to the problem can be found by drilling in Alaska. Obviously, we have to learn to conserve energy more, and learn to be satisfied with vehicles that burn less fuel, and content ourselves in our homes where temperatures are not as cool as we might like in summer, or warm as we might like in winter. These, however, are long-term fixes. We need to be more accepting of nucuelar power plants (we have one in Arizona), solar energy and other sources to supply us with our needs also.

I do understand the repulsion strict conservationists feel for drilling in that pristine area of Alaska. But I ask again, how many people will ever see those areas? Possibly the wildlife in the area will suffer, but which is the most important? The preservation of the wildlife in that small section of Alaska, or the filling of the energy needs of people?

Now that, I'm sure will get me in hot water!

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: SeanM
Date: 17 May 01 - 11:40 PM

Well, Carol,

It says that we elected politicians ready to say whatever it takes to stay in office.

Big surprise, huh?

As to my understanding of the Alaskan drilling, it would NOT solve the energy crisis. The percieved optimistic amount of oil in the reserve (I'm going off of memory. Please correct me if wrong, as I really think I'm off) as being between 2 years worth of usage, 10 if we increased purchases from overseas suppliers (the optimistic view) and 6 months, (2 1/2 years under the same increased buying). In neither case does it do anything but stave off the inevitable.

What IS of concern are the collusions and price fixing that are quite possibly happening behind the scenes. A federal judge recently stated that a memo passed between competing natural gas companies showed a clear tendency towards mutual price fixing and a distinct attempt to manipulate California's current crisis for their economic benefit.

I find it hard to believe that this is an isolated incident. I also find it hard to believe that Pres. Bush is completely dismissing his and his VP's family and friends' financial futures by encouraging further reliance on fossil fuel and nuclear energy... Nor do I believe that the Congress (ALL parties involved) doesn't hope to further feather their nests from the same sources as well.

I DO think that the hope lies in what the automotive industry is FINALLY coming around to releasing - hybrid and fuel cell vehicles. Watched a recent interview with a hybrid owner (now that it's become expedient to let the general public in on them), and these vehicles could be a good step towards the needs of the future. Plus, they still use fossil fuels in low amounts, allowing the oil companies to economize their expenses and jack the prices up even more.

*sigh* Depressing topic. It's a form of famine, and as has been often noted - in recent history, every single famine has at its heart a political cause.

M

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: DougR
Date: 18 May 01 - 03:38 AM

Sean M., are you really so biased that you could believe that Dubya and the V.P. are dependent on something like this to ensure their future? They have it made, come what may! Geeze. Why don't we have a serious discussion about the energy crisis without the histronics involved in political parties? Both parties are self-serving. Why can't we just accept that, and move on to a discussion about what could solve the problem? Sorry if I sound abrupt, but when serious problems arise for discussion on the MC, too often they just become partisan bickering.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: CarolC
Date: 18 May 01 - 03:53 AM

What would solve the problem would be the development and promotion of renewable, non-poluting, clean energy sources that have the lowest possible impact on the envrionment. These not only exist, they've been proven to be viable alternatives.

I heard on the 'News Hour with Jim Leherer', that President Bush is cutting funding for these things by about one third in his proposed budget.

The good news is that the lobbyists for the clean, renewable energy industries are becoming stronger and may eventually have as much clout in Washington as the non-renewable, dirty energy industries have.

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: SeanM
Date: 18 May 01 - 04:11 AM

Doug -

While I don't believe that the Powers that Be need this to 'ensure their future', I also believe that they (and the many, many legislators on both sides of the isle who are in their pockets) will attempt to slant any energy concerns so that they reflect most favorably upon the oil concern's best interests.

THIS IS NOT A REPUBLICAN THING! Were Gore in the White House, I'd be even less surprised to see him paying lip service to the 'alternative energy' lobbies while padding things out for the interest of Oil as well. The only thing I'll give him is that there probably would be a less blatant bias. Gore would have to keep up a front of being 'the Green president' that Bush and company have no need (or desire) to. Even if Nader were in (OK, it's a fantasy 'what if', but bear with me), the Oil Industries would still be the 'fuel of choice' because that's what the nation is geared for, and because even if the president weren't bought and paid for, the Legislature IS.

Now - I DO believe that Bush is rewarding his cronies in the oil business with some of his policies. I DO believe that Cheney is MORE than happy to see this happen. I DO NOT believe that this is anything besides 'political business as usual'. One of the tried and true events of a presidential changeover is making sure that one's friends get a better slice of the pie now that you're in. I'd imagine you could find examples of this going back to the earliest presidents. It's dirty, but it's a fact of life.

My particular problem with the current administration is one that I don't think they could have avoided, unless they'd delayed the traditional 'gimmies' until after the current 'crises' passed. They're attempting to portray themselves as Bipartisan objective decisionmakers on this, when about the only part of it that applies is 'decisionmakers'. Bipartisan lost any meaning in Washington back around Watergate (Yes, I put the blame for a fair amount of the historic vitriol on the Democrats. It was a necessary witch hunt that got a LOT nastier than it should have been.) Objective doesn't have a place in politics - by definition, any thing done to, for or by the people (the 'polis' in 'politics') is done from a certain bias.

Personally? I think they're screwed no matter what they do, that they've inherited a term in a period that would doom ANY administration, and have said "Screw it! We're going to do EVERYTHING WE CAN to push as much of the hardcore conservative platform through as possible! We're out anyway in four years, so why the hell not!"

If it's any consolation, I think Gore would be doing the exact same thing, just for the Liberal side. It'll be a great academic discussion in a couple decades as to whether it would have done more damage than the conservative dogma looks like it might do.

M

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: kendall
Date: 18 May 01 - 08:40 AM

Doug, you got more guts than a fiddle string factory! I would like to point out that Cheney is against drilling in Montana, and Jeb Bush is against drilling off Florida. What does that tell you? Fact is, even if we get cars that give 100 miles to the gallon, it is still going to run out in time. We must get away from fossil fuels, and the government should be putting more money into research.

Now that I've "plowed up a snake" it seems to me that one way to cut down on consumption is to RAISE the price even more. It has worked on cigarettes. $5.00 a gallon would certainly cut down on the need to build more and more highways, and, it would force us to use mass transit, something we independent Yanks are not willing to do. Amtrak loses millions every month.

I went to a meeting on environmental issues the other night, and, a man spoke about his automobile which runs on vegetable oil, (or diesel) it does not pollute, it is renewable and it smells like french fries!

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: LR Mole
Date: 18 May 01 - 09:03 AM

Just to cheer you up further, the NYT had a piece yesterday about the fact that any number of nuke plants have failed security drills to guard against (simulated) sabotage and hostage/destruction situation. The NRC responded by complaining that they're hamstrung by regulation and wants to DECREASE security. AND, though I had never heard this before, uranium ore is finite and expensive to process into fuel.Yee-haw, Bushie!

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: wdyat12
Date: 18 May 01 - 09:19 AM

In times of plenty we waste much.

wdyat12

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: JedMarum
Date: 18 May 01 - 09:47 AM

I just drove 2300 miles on a band tour through the southwest. Because this was our first, as a group, we did the tour on a shoestring budget, and planned to learn how to extend our range profitably on future tours. We paid pretty high gas prices throughout, and hauling three people and gear got us about 18 miles to the gallon. Our biggest single expense for the trip was gasoline. While we spent more for fuel on this trip then we would have last year, it was still affordable and fit within the budget.

Throughout the trip we marveled at the beauty of the American southwest; the desert of West TX and AZ, the mountains and pine forests of NM, the rolling fields of the TX panhandle. Just about everywhere there were oil rigs; some idle, some quietly pumping. All fit as naturally into the landscape as the farm equipment and roadside Indian Reservation shops.

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: Kim C
Date: 18 May 01 - 09:56 AM

My Stupid Useless Vehicle is not so stupid and useless when I have a car full of camping gear, or 2 50-lb dogs to haul around. Also it came in pretty handy last weekend when I had to take a bunch of boxes of giveaway stuff to an event my office was participating in. Plus it's nice to be able to drive friends around without them having to sit in the back seat with their knees up to their chins. Not to mention hauling firewood, because a woodstove is my main means of heat in the winter. And the fact that Mister is tall and he prefers to drive a vehicle whose seat goes back far enough.

My Jeep Cherokee has a V6 engine. My mother's Cadillac (not an SUV) has a V8 and has to have Premium. You tell me who wastes more gas or money. I don't see anyone trying to get rid of big luxury cars.

I don't see anyone trying to get 18 wheelers off the roads, either, probably because we are too dependent on them economically.

All y'all who don't want to drive one, great! There's plenty of other things to drive if you don't need the cargo space. But don't you even dare to presume to tell me I don't need to drive one, because you don't know. I can tell you from experience that a Mazda 323 has barely enough room for one large dog, let alone two.

Carpooling is a noble pursuit. It don't work too well, though, if your spouse's work hours are different from yours, and no one in your office lives in your neighborhood.

Right now, I have to get gas wherever I can find it the cheapest.

Subject: RE: BS: Gas prices
From: wdyat12
Date: 18 May 01 - 10:15 AM

Spice, the whole planet runs on spice!

wdyat12