Is it time to tell the Saudis to drink their oil?

[dumpster56]

After the treatment of that women who was raped then sentenced to 200 lashings I believe all in the free world should find a way to stop using Saudi Oil.

 

[jambo101]

After the treatment of that women who was raped then sentenced to 200 lashings I believe all in the free world should find a way to stop using Saudi Oil.

We can start by using less oil by driving smaller more fuel efficient cars. It just makes no sense to me to be driving gas guzzling cars that ultimately end up giving our money back to the arab nations which then use the money to shoot us
Answer to obvious question=its a Yaris

 

[DallasGuy]

We can start by using less oil by driving smaller more fuel efficient cars. It just makes no sense to me to be driving gas guzzling cars that ultimately end up giving our money back to the arab nations which then use the money to shoot us
Answer to obvious question=its a Yaris

I'd actually drive a Yaris and will probably try to buy something like it when I buy my next car, but how many people out there (be honest now!) would be too embarrassed to drive a small vehicle like the Yaris? Sometimes I think that Americans are just a little too image conscious to be more fuel efficient...just my opinion though.

 

[youbet]

I'd actually drive a Yaris and will probably try to buy something like it when I buy my next car, but how many people out there (be honest now!) would be too embarrassed to drive a small vehicle like the Yaris? Sometimes I think that Americans are just a little too image conscious to be more fuel efficient...just my opinion though.

So, you're saying you're waiting until later to get a fuel efficient car?

Yeah....yeah..... know what ya mean. Those "other Americans" are too embarrassed to drive a fuel efficient car and are just a little too image conscious. But ME....yeah.....yeah.....I'll get one next time!

 

[DallasGuy]

So, you're saying you're waiting until later to get a fuel efficient car?

Yeah....yeah..... know what ya mean. Those "other Americans" are too embarrassed to drive a fuel efficient car and are just a little too image conscious. But ME....yeah.....yeah.....I'll get one next time!

I'm driving a 6 year old car that gets 28-30 mpg, so I'm not exactly a gas hog...and my last car before this one was a 1985 Honda Civic with a 1.3 liter engine that got 35-40 mpg. So I don't feel as though I have a double standard, as you imply.

 

[youbet]

I don't feel as though I have a double standard, as you imply.

Excellent! Glad to hear you're "walking the walk DallasGuy!

 

[haha]

I suspect that these last posts are actually tongue in cheek, but on the chance that they are not, I would like to add my POV.

I feel that for any of us to unilaterally try to cut down on oil usage for any reason other than to save money is nuts. It's like not wanting to fly to control your carbon footprint. What BS! My carbon footprint is miniscule already, and if it weren't I wouldn't care. Let some hypocrite like AL Gore control his first.

As for those tiny cars, no thanks! I drive a compact, but if I could afford an Audi S-8, I'd be driving one of them.

I've been in a head on crash at speed-hit by a drunk-and I will never drive or ride in anything smaller that the car that enabled me to survive that.

If all this stuff is important, it needs to be tackled on a worldwide political basis. There are a lot of things one can do by himself, but saving the world is not one of them.

How stupid would you feel if you became paraplegic from an accident in a Yaris, knowing that your senator is flying around the world on some boondoggle? Or if your wife or girlfriend or date was killed in your car, because you wanted to unilaterally save the world by saving petroleum?

What is all the money we saved for, if not to make our lives and our loved ones' lives safer and more pleasant?

Besides, I am still loaded with oil industry plays, so get out and burn those hydrocarbons! Old Ha needs it! How else am I going to get my S-8?

Ha

 

[dumpster56]

I suspect that these last posts are actually tongue in cheek, but on the chance that they are not, I would like to add my POV.

I feel that for any of us to unilaterally try to cut down on oil usage for any reason other than to save money is nuts. It's like not wanting to fly to control your carbon footprint. What BS! My carbon footprint is miniscule already, and if it weren't I wouldn't care. Let some hypocrite like AL Gore control his first.

As for those tiny cars, no thanks! I drive a compact, but if I could afford an Audi S-8, I'd be driving one of them.

I've been in a head on crash at speed-hit by a drunk-and I will never drive or ride in anything smaller that the car that enabled me to survive that.

If all this stuff is important, it needs to be tackled on a worldwide political basis. There are a lot of things one can do by himself, but saving the world is not one of them.

How stupid would you feel if you became paraplegic from an accident in a Yaris, knowing that your senator is flying around the world on some boondoggle? Or if your wife or girlfriend or date was killed in your car, because you wanted to unilaterally save the world by saving petroleum?

What is all the money we saved for, if not to make our lives and our loved ones' lives safer and more pleasant?

Besides, I am still loaded with oil industry plays, so get out and burn those hydrocarbons! Old Ha needs it! How else am I going to get my S-8?

Ha

HA

Damn You make so much sense in that post. Been driving small cars forever just because I was a cheap bastard. Simple. But when you put it that way and the past 11 months driving small cars down here in North Carolina with bad two lane roads I am starting to look at a well a little bigger vehicle.

 

[jambo101]

I think the original post"s intent was for us to get rid of our dependence on Arabian oil,my suggestion to drive more fuel efficient cars would be one possible option.
Wonder what would happen to one of those new Smart Cars if it ran into a brick wall at 70mph? YouTube - Smart Car Test Crash

 

[cantlogin]

Wow, that Smart Car is amazing. I wonder what some big honest American Iron would look like after a test like that.

 

[FinanceDude]

I suspect that these last posts are actually tongue in cheek, but on the chance that they are not, I would like to add my POV.

I suspect the same...........

I feel that for any of us to unilaterally try to cut down on oil usage for any reason other than to save money is nuts. It's like not wanting to fly to control your carbon footprint. What BS! My carbon footprint is miniscule already, and if it weren't I wouldn't care. Let some hypocrite like AL Gore control his first.

Are not folks who pay $100 to fill up their SUV "paying the piper"? Al Gore is a hypocrite on global warming, considering his 40,000 square foot mansion probably used as much energy as 50 homes of the folks on here.............

As for those tiny cars, no thanks! I drive a compact, but if I could afford an Audi S-8, I'd be driving one of them.

I've been in a head on crash at speed-hit by a drunk-and I will never drive or ride in anything smaller that the car that enabled me to survive that.

I made a conscious decision to drive a smaller car two years ago, and it wasn't about affordability. I got rid of my SUV and bought a Honda Accord. I made sure the Honda has good crash tests and was new enough to have side airbags. Most bad and fatal car accidents I hear about involve drivers NOT wearing their seat belt, not the "dump truck crushed the small car" syndrome.

BTW, the S-8 is a SWEET car.........

 

[ERD50]

I think the original post"s intent was for us to get rid of our dependence on Arabian oil,my suggestion to drive more fuel efficient cars would be one possible option.
Wonder what would happen to one of those new Smart Cars if it ran into a brick wall at 70mph? YouTube - Smart Car Test Crash

I'm not sure you can really say there is anything such as 'Arabian Oil' on the market. All oil from all sources flows in to make up the total market for oil. If we decrease world-wide demand for oil by 10%, there will be 10% less demand for 'all oil', and 'Arabian Oil' makes up a share of that 'all oil'. Drop oil usage to ZERO and THEN there would be no demand for 'Arabian Oil'.

It would be a bit like going to the bank and asking for a $100 cash withdraw as five $20 bills - but don't give me any $20's that have been used in drug sales, I don't support illegal drug sales. It all flows together.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with others on the risk of small cars. It's not only how they fare against a brick wall, but how a 2,000 pound car fares against a 4,000 pound car. Physics. I lean towards the fuel efficient models, but I won't go too extreme for something I need to drive on the roads here. I'm not going to risk me or my family over a few miles per gallon. As much as I cringe when I see those big old Hummers go by, I try to control my feelings. Maybe the guy that bought it did it to protect his family? Maybe he only drives it 3,000 miles/year - so maybe I'm using more gas than he is? Maybe he actually needs a big vehicle for his work? So I try not to be too judgmental - but it ain't easy.

-ERD50

And you all thought I was going to add to the comments on Al Gore! - Fooled Ya! Others did a fine job - carry on!

 

[jambo101]

Importation spread sheet U.S. Total Crude Oil and Products Imports

 

[FinanceDude]

As much as I cringe when I see those big old Hummers go by, I try to control my feelings. Maybe the guy that bought it did it to protect his family? Maybe he only drives it 3,000 miles/year - so maybe I'm using more gas than he is? Maybe he actually needs a big vehicle for his work? So I try not to be too judgmental - but it ain't easy.

I know the GM at the local Hummer dealer. He said there's two kinds of customers for Hummers:

1)Those "compensating" for a lack of something.

2)Those that are convinced the largest vehicle you can buy MUST be the safest.

Sounds like GM used greed to market it, which worked, although Hummer sales are down almost 50% since two years ago.........

 

[MikeD]

The way I understand it, she was given that punishment for being outside her house (in a car) with someone who was not a male relative, not for being raped.

Mike D.

 

[dumpster56]

The way I understand it, she was given that punishment for being outside her house (in a car) with someone who was not a male relative, not for being raped.

Mike D.

That makes what happened better?

Look there is something terribly wrong with a society that treats women like the Saudi society does.

What do these arab men in saudi arabia fear from women?

All of the BS that we hear, its their right their society. Bull they treat women as second class citizens. The society is wrong on that level. Now the world should stand up and pressure these people into changing the behavior. Right?

 

[MikeD]

That makes what happened better?

No, and I'm glad that I didn't say that it did.

Mike D.

 

[dumpster56]

No, and I'm glad that I didn't say that it did.

Mike D.

Again why are americans blind to the saudis? 15 of the 19 hijackers were saudis. Bush continues to say what wonderful people they are and then this behavior continues. Then the price of oil has the madrasas fully funded with wahabi wackos telling their young boys to well hate Jews and americans. This cannot be good for the world.

 

[FinanceDude]

Again why are americans blind to the saudis?

For political reasons, not that it's right. And it's not Bush, US presidents for years have catered to the Saudi royal families.

15 of the 19 hijackers were saudis.

Don't know your logic here. Al Queda cells are in Saudi Arabia, and Bin Laden is a Saudi, so he recruited them.........

 

[dumpster56]

For political reasons, not that it's right. And it's not Bush, US presidents for years have catered to the Saudi royal families.


Don't know your logic here. Al Queda cells are in Saudi Arabia, and Bin Laden is a Saudi, so he recruited them.........

As you stated Not that it's right.....

I would put a two or three dollar a gallon tax on gasoline here and keep the money here instead of sending it to the Saudis. sorry gang everyone makes excuses for these people. Because they have oil.

Its wrong and not in americas best interests.

And we invaded Iraq because of al qeda.

 

[jambo101]

On the subject of how our cultures differ I'm seeing a new story on the news today where an english teacher in Saudi Arabia let one of her students name a teddy bear Mohamed and for that she is facing the possibility of 40 lashes.

 

[dumpster56]

The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, announced even before he got to Annapolis that there would be no handshakes with any Israelis. Too bad. A handshake alone is not going to get Israel to give back the West Bank. But a surprising gesture of humanity, like a simple handshake from a Saudi leader to an Israeli leader, would actually go a long way toward convincing Israelis that there is something new here, that it’s not just about the Arabs being afraid of Iran, but that they’re actually willing to coexist with Israel. Ditto Israel. Why not surprise Palestinians with a generous gesture on prisoners or roadblocks? Has the stingy old way worked so well?


Here is a piece from Friedmans oped today.

think about it, the Saudis are still playing stupid even with trying to live in peace with Israel.

 

[dumpster56]

On the subject of how our cultures differ I'm seeing a new story on the news today where an english teacher in Saudi Arabia let one of her students name a teddy bear Mohamed and for that she is facing the possibility of 40 lashes.

Its in the Sudan.

 

[DallasGuy]

I suspect that these last posts are actually tongue in cheek, but on the chance that they are not, I would like to add my POV.

I feel that for any of us to unilaterally try to cut down on oil usage for any reason other than to save money is nuts. It's like not wanting to fly to control your carbon footprint. What BS! My carbon footprint is miniscule already, and if it weren't I wouldn't care. Let some hypocrite like AL Gore control his first.

As for those tiny cars, no thanks! I drive a compact, but if I could afford an Audi S-8, I'd be driving one of them.

I've been in a head on crash at speed-hit by a drunk-and I will never drive or ride in anything smaller that the car that enabled me to survive that.

If all this stuff is important, it needs to be tackled on a worldwide political basis. There are a lot of things one can do by himself, but saving the world is not one of them.

How stupid would you feel if you became paraplegic from an accident in a Yaris, knowing that your senator is flying around the world on some boondoggle? Or if your wife or girlfriend or date was killed in your car, because you wanted to unilaterally save the world by saving petroleum?

What is all the money we saved for, if not to make our lives and our loved ones' lives safer and more pleasant?

Besides, I am still loaded with oil industry plays, so get out and burn those hydrocarbons! Old Ha needs it! How else am I going to get my S-8?

Ha

This post is a great example of why the US will always be leading user of oil per capita in the world. While I totally understand the concept of a bigger vehicle for safety (and I see you're driving a compact car so I'm not knocking you personally), there are still so many people in the US driving large SUV's for safety sake when they could probably be just as safe in a smaller vehicle getting much better gas mileage. I live in Dallas, Texas and you see many people driving trucks (probably more trucks in Texas than any other state) and I can't imagine that many of them actually use their truck for anything other than transportation (i.e. they don't need them for their job or rarely haul anything). It's an image thing here. Fortunately as the price of gas goes up, by shear economic necessity many of those vehicles will be replaced by something more energy efficient. It will just take time.

 

[Redbugdave]

I'm afraid that driving a smaller car to use less fuel may not be as big a help as imagined. Who do you think is investing in this country and it's business? The fine folks from the Middle East! I do not think the rich Arabs are dumb enough to put all their wealth back into the oil industry. They are capitalizing on other markets and businesses around the world. When the oil boom ends, (in their next generation?), it will continue to be life as normal since they will have secured their fortunes...and diversified into other things. Smart people are smart people no matter where they live. What their culture is about...well, that is quite another story...

One good example...Here in South Carolina, they have just bought a huge plot of land near Charleston and will develop that into a huge warehousing terminal complex for the shipping industry. I see in the news quite often about other Middle East exploits in this country.

I don't see any answer to the oil tragedy, other than waiting for hydrogen/nuclear, or some new type of energy source to come around. As smart and shrewd businessmen, the Arabs will be invested in that, and we will be funding their way of life as we do today. Hope that's not too negative...but that's just the way I think things work. Business is business.