US economy can't handle $4+ gas. The real risk to loss of accessible gasoline for most US drivers is production shut-in leading to physical shortages. Government will respond with rationing. This production shut-in is due to the fact that oil extraction costs worldwide are relentlessly increasing. This is because, as with all resources extracted from the earth's crust, humans will always take the easiest-to-get and highest quality resources first. It costs more today to produce oil than yesterday and will cost even more tomorrow. This trend is indisputable and has been going on since Spindletop peaked (and arguable all the way back to Titusville, PA). Our industrial civilization is is reaching the point now where oil consumers (businesses, individual car drivers, etc.) can't afford to pay the oil producing enterprises what they need to cover their costs to get finished petroleum products to market.
It sucks man, $6 gas wtf as someone said this fragile economy can not handle that. I wish we were more energy independent, and began investing heavily in the oil resources within this vast country. We could put people to work, therefore maybe get out of the 8 percent plus unemployment figure, and eventually be able to refine a supply of fuel to drive costs down here. Importing, or relying significantly on wack jobs that hate us for oil is rediculous. the oil market often seems to defy economic principles. we need to be more involved in its process, aside from just buying it, in my opinion.
Anyone think it's a strange coincidence that all new cars get around the same gas mileage give or take a few mpg? Did you know there was a dude in the 1970's that made a carburetor that got 60-70mpg? The patents were bought and we never saw it again. The biggest source of income for uncle sam is petrol. It's funding their current f*ckhead war. Within a year we could drastically reduce our petrol usage but that would drastically reduce unky sams income. Not happening! We know petrol ruined our air, water, and food supply (ya know, the whole f*cking planet) with carcinogens and it will run out one day. Despite these facts, our government ensures that our petrol dependency remains high with vehicles that don't get better than 40mpg and other for mentioned games. WTF? Alternative energy and using 2/3 less gas then you did before scares the sh*t out of the gov. If you spend less, they make less tax money. Ironically I've seen many solar panels recently used to power state and municipal utilities........ So they know exactly what direction to go in but the gov doesn't want their citizens off the grid, driving electric cars because then they get the sh*t end of the stick. It's no secret that the sh*t end of the stick is meant for the citizens while gov employees get carte blanche. We empower the government (and pay their f*cking paychecks) so we can live in safe, orderly, and productive communities, only to be repeatedly victimized and deceived. Our gov has murdered thousands of people, don't let them fool you into thinking they're all righteous and here to protect you. They have their own agenda with little concern of it affecting you negatively. I feel like our country was a brand new Lamborghini that fell into the hands of a 13 year old boy. Was nice, now it’s f*cked.
uhh price check please? cover their COSTS? wow. do a little research. these starving oil companies to which you refer have made more in PROFITS in this fuel-starved economy THAN ANY COMPANY IN HISTORY. stop drinking the oil-spiked koolaid man. it's about them convincing YOU that they are doing you a favor as they screw you royally and put up roadblocks through legislation/lobbying to keep us from transitioning to other forms of energy (both parties take HUGE dollars form energy comps). in europe, where fuel has been at 2-4 euros a LITER for years they have extensive public works of solar and geothermal power, amongst others. they are doing what they can with what they have, depending on resources and topography. of course, if things get really bad, romney will always be happy to strap you and your board the the roof of one of his caddys
Antybody noticed how expensive food is lately? Definitely an effect of high fuel prices. Farm equipment and delivery vehicles don't run on fairy dust. I get heart palpitations when I head up to the checkout line at the old Piggly Wiggly.
Kind of off topic, but... another good reason to buy locally grown. Less than one tenth of one percent of every dollar spent on food goes to the farmer when food is transported across the country... or even to other countries. And all those lost fuel resources turn into air and water pollution. AND it decreases the shelf life of the product, resulting in more waste and less return. Keep in mind that food does not get distributed based on need. Food goes to where the money is.
I think that gas prices will thin out the lineups for people traveling longer distances. As far as your point about food, I think that buying local is the best way as you say. I saw a documentary about food in this country and how farms are now run by corporations. The local farmer doesn't really exist anymore. It sucks. They showed you that buying local is a great option and it's not more expensive. They have co-ops available with local farms. They will bring fresh fruit, vegetables, etc directly to your home. Here in the Northeast, you get this fresh produce based on the season. You will still get produce in the winter but it's not your typical produce. It was interesting because each season brought different types of food to your door. Then, you based your recipes around that seasonal food. Its how people ate hundreds of years ago. Fresh meat, fresh fish and fresh produce. Now, we just eat hormone injected meat, fish that's days old from transportation and genetically modified produce. People will say it's great because they can eat the same produce from other parts of the world even in winter but you pay a price for it. People in this country have way too many choices with this food instead of taking the more simple healthy method. I shouldn't talk though because I haven't gotten my ass to start using a local co-op. I definitely want to try it but have been slacking. I need to find out more about it in this area.
^ I know back in VB you could get it from the Farmer's Market. We used to get our tomatoes that way, but you're limited with what you can get. In a way it can be discouraging, after making the extra effort to get 20% of your food from locally grown sources, and the other 80% you have to get from the store anyways. I haven't found one in Florida yet, but I know there are more options in the Northeast, and obviously in the West coast