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StumbleLETTER TO THE EDITOR:
How we consume gasoline plays into hands of Big Oil
Friday, March 5, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.
I couldn’t agree more with Rhoda Stern — who wrote a Tuesday letter to the editor, headlined “Oil companies taking us for a ride” — about the cost of gasoline and that we’re “like zombies” over gas prices. Of course we are.
We cater to the oil companies by overusing their products. Remember supply and demand from Economics 101? We’re misusing the petroleum supply and then wondering why the cost keeps going up.
We could easily set the oil companies back if we conserved. I can’t count the times I’ve seen cars idling, either because someone is sitting in the vehicle or the driver wants a cool car when he returns.
My kids race up to stop signs and red lights — instead of coasting — only to have to stop and wait. When questioned, they say driving the opposite of what I do is not any fun. Well, neither is paying a high price to do it.
All we have to do is think about how we drive and use gas, and the rest will fall into place. Gasoline prices will have to come down when there’s a surplus, and then OPEC won’t have us over a barrel (no pun intended).
What a bunch of fools we are.
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We want, what we want, now! That is what most Americans are like, 3 year olds throwing a fit.
Look at the debt we incur, how many credit cards does a person need?
Why would you buy a huge 8 cylinder gas guzzler, then complain about gas prices?
I wonder if any of these spoiled consumers were around in the 70's? The days of the odd and even plate numbers, the fights and the empty pumps at the gas stations!
If our stupid incompetent government would let the oil companies drill for oil and build new refineries gasoline would remain inexpensive until economical alternatives to petroleum are developed.
I remember the '70s. That was when Carter was in the White House really screwing the country up.
Hey Wailer Jack,
If you are so worried about using gasoline. Stay at home...
But...
If I want to race up to a stop light and slam my brakes on. That's my option...
If I want to bring the motor's RPM up to 6,000 and leave two black marks across the intersection when the lights turns green. That's my option...
If Wailer Jack is concerned about others gasoline consumption, than pull over and let us go around you when you are driving 30 mph in a 45 mph zone. That way I won't have to down shift and pass you under full throttle...
Supply and demand? Our government has limited the supply with bans on offshore drilling and utilization of nuclear power. Why are we surprised when cost go up. The government has made energy a limited item in this country and then blames the oil companies when users bid up the limited resource.
Government is not a solution to problems, Government is the problem. Thanks harry Reid, you have destroyed the entire country. I hope Pelosi and her cronies have paid you well.
Sorry, but most people don't get it when it comes to our use of energy, particularly oil. Yes, supply and demand has a lot to do with the current price of a gallon of gas at the pump, but there's other factors involved...
First of all, conserving the amount of energy that we use would help stabilize the price, but that's only a short terms solution to a long term problem......
Conserve energy and the price of energy goes down, but that only encourages people to use more energy which then drives back up the cost.....
The key for us, in terms of energy consumption, is to increase the amount of energy available by moving toward a broad based renewable energy program that decreases our dependence on foreign oil. We import approximately 70% of the oil that we use....
The letter that appeared in yesterday's SUN, "Politics In Way of Energy Independence," stated that the major problem with energy in this country is that both political parties have decided to make the question of energy a political issue....The writer of the letter hit the nail on the head.
The energy problem should be a national survival issue with both parties working together to solve the problem...not a political issue with the two parties opposing one another...
Many of the industrialized countries in the world are moving toward, and using renewable types of energy. We, as a nation, are doing very little to get ourselves off of our dependence on foreign oil by going in that direction.
A valid argument can be made that the oil companies aren't really interested in drilling for more oil off our shores......at least not at this point in time.
The oil companies are making hundred's of billions of dollars in profit by importing foreign oil. By drilling for more oil off our shores, they would drive down the price of oil by putting more oil on the world market. Doing that would result in less profit for the oil companies. Of course, to find and retrive more oil is a costly venture which also decreases the profit made by oil companies....
An argument can be made that a broad based renewable energy program in this country would not only provide us with cheap energy, but such an industry would create new jobs which we desperately need in our current recession.
Hey VernosB: Maybe the car companys could start re-building those former East German people cars with the "3 CYLINDER ENGINE" just for idiots like you.
neiman1 said.....
"Government is not a solution to problems, Government is the problem"
Wow! Spoken like a true "Reaganite."
What's next? "Tear down this wall...." "Homeless people?.......Just tell them to get a job."
Government is some times the problem, but it can often be the solution.
I realize I'm talking to a classic conservative who believes that "progress is standing still" & "real, true progress is walking backwards."
I'm thankful that such GOP president's as Abe Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower were actually moderates/progressives, and were not part of the current crop of brain-dead conservatives who have come to dominate the present day Republican Party.
Lincoln not only saved the Union, but he built the transcontinental railroad and opened up the West to settlement with the Homestead Act. He gave away millions and millions of acres of land to poor Americans, many not yet citizens, because it was the right thing to do...
Teddy saved our wilderness lands, saved the buffalo, and created a level playing field between labor and management. Teddy, in no uncertain terms, told the "Robber Barons" that they didn't own the country.....the people did...
Ike built the interstate highway system and used the federal government to bring about the demise of segregation in public education....
I wonder if any of those gentlemen would call themselves a Republican if they were around today? Quite doubtful!
Hmmmmm....I see POWERPLAY must not be attending middle school today. He's decided to stay home and bless us with his wonderful, intelligent and thought provoking posts. No surprise there....
I just love it when the elitist Liberals opine how they know whats best for all of us...
As long as I pay for my own gasoline, I will drive what I like, how I like, when I like...
I am sure that the elitist Liberals will all meet at Starbucks and discuss this over a $5 whatever and a pack of cigarettes...
LarryVegas....
Some one has to look out for you brain-dead right-wingers.....Oop's, I forgot! You're an "Independent." Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
That's my laugh for the day!
Hey El_Lobo: You say that Lincoln open up the west to settlement with the "Homestead Act" He gave away millions and millions of acres of "MEXICAN LAND" To poor Americans because it was the right thing to do. Yea thats just another reason that I like being a Republican El_Lobo!!! And thats my laugh for the day. HA,HA,HA,HA,HA,
POWERPLAY......
The truth again rears its ugly head with you.....I have always guessed that you spend an hour each day in social studies class sleeping...Now I know that to be true.
Your knowledge of our nation's history, on a 10 point scale, is a 2.......maybe lower!
Much of the land opened to homesteaders, under the 1862 Homestead Act, was NEVER Mexican Territory....I see you're also having trouble with geography.....what's next, math?
Will your teachers use their option of "social promotion" to move you along this year? I believe that's how you got where you are...
An unbelievable show this Friday night in Chicago.
Together on one stage: Louis Farrakhan, Jeremiah Wright and radical priest Michael Pfleger.
They will all be receiving an award called "Living Legends." The spectacle is being driven by Rev. Wright, who is actually giving himself the "Living Legend" award, as well as the other two guys. There's no third party involved.
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
That's my laugh for the day!
I wondered where some of our Liberal friends were today...
I bet they all loaded up in an old school bus with flowers painted on the side and headed up to Chicago to see the three "Living Legends."
I think that the teamster is driving...
Poor little Rhooster....
He's hurting for material. That fall off of his perch, when he landed on his head, has the "little crower" talking to himself.....no, "crowing to himself".....Ha! Ha! Ha!
My understanding is that there's no tickets available in Chicago.....all sold out! Sorry about that Larry! You missed another great opportunity....
Yes, the average American gasoline consumer is a fool.
Since I am in the business, and promote the fuel guru brand, I can say it amazes me that so many believe they know about gasoline-the wives tales I have heard boggle the mind. I am not talking about the component known as gasoline-I am talking about the whole system that delivers it to the U.S. consumer.
The real expert on the topic of gasoline, in my opinion, is Joe Colucci. Joe ran GM's fuel and lubrication R&D for 40 years, and co-chaired the U.S. Auto Oil Program. Joe's 2005 SAE Keynote address is the blueprint for real change in the gasoline markets. His #1 recommendation is to standardize gasoline-this is something that most American consumers have never heard of. This topic along with other critical components of positive change to the U.S. gasoline market can be found in his keynote address.
What he speaks of would require the American consumer the move beyond being uneducated price buyers/shoppers and actually begin to understand what gasoline is, and why they should want to know more about it.
I can tell you for certain that at a high level in the oil business, the bet is this will never happen. Many laugh at the concept.
Joe's blueprint requires a holistic approach-you need to look at the whole interactive system of auto's and oil's together.
Until this happens, the American gasoline consumer will remain price mongering fools.
OPEC has been financing terrorism against the USA for years and our fat and overfed population keep buying gas guzzlers without regard to the consequences. our gutless political leaders wont change our energy policy so we still rely on middle east oil. our day of reckoning is on the horizon and its not going to be pretty.