Gas Tops $4 A Gallon

[Notmuchlonger]

When oil gets expensive enough Flintstones cars will be en vogue again. Thus curing the obesity problem. Thank you i will accept my noble prize along with the super great Al Gore.

[Wags]

Originally Posted by Notmuchlonger

When oil gets expensive enough Flintstones cars will be en vogue again. Thus curing the obesity problem. Thank you i will accept my noble prize along with the super great Al Gore.

In honor of your Nobel Prize win

YouTube - the flintstones car

A full stomach should get us from an Arby's to at least another fast food restuarant before one has to fill up again or stop for a potty break. What kind of mileage to you think we could get on full stomach?

Who do you think was better looking Betty or Wilma?

YouTube - Flintstone Cartoon


GOD BLESS US ALL

[Notmuchlonger]

Why do you need to choose Betty or Wilma?

[newguy88]

Originally Posted by Notmuchlonger

When oil gets expensive enough Flintstones cars will be en vogue again. Thus curing the obesity problem. Thank you i will accept my noble prize along with the super great Al Gore.

You have my vote!

[Milton]

Originally Posted by steve88

I too wonder why we compare ourselves to europe? In dubai and venezuela the gas is less than 50 cents a gallon.

Europe is a better comparison because the per capita GDP and average incomes are relatively close to that of the USA. And the governments of Venezuela and the Dubai both subsidize the price of gasoline, which they can afford to do because they are respectively a net oil exporter and one of the world's fastest growing economies (neither of which is true of Europe or the US).

Anyway, if you want to compare gas prices in various countries, see Why-Gas-in-the-U.S.-Is-So-Cheap: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance.

[ERD50]

Originally Posted by steve88

I too wonder why we compare ourselves to europe? In dubai and venezuela the gas is less than 50 cents a gallon.

Well, I suppose that if the US produced more oil than it uses, and if we all used about 1/4 as much as we do, gas prices in the US would be lower:

Globalis - an interactive world map - Venezuela - Energy consumption per capita

Globalis - an interactive world map - United States - Energy consumption per capita

Whoopee, Venezuela has cheap gas - but 17% of the population does not have access to safe water. Wanna trade?

Globalis - an interactive world map - Venezuela - Access to safe water

GREENER>>>>>[FENCE]<<<<GREENER

-ERD50

[chinaco]

It would not surprise me to see the government put a energy efficiency tax on new personal vehicles that have a combined city/highway (tested and verified against a combination of 8000 city miles + 4000 highway miles) MPG that is less than a certain level. For example if the vehicle does not have a combined MPG of 30 miles... a new vehicle will have a surtax of $1000 per 1 MPG under.


IMHO - if we are taxed on gas... it should be for excessive use, not for general use. Putting th tax on new vehicles should push manufacturers to innovate and create more efficient vehicles.

As a matter of fact, I think the money collected should be put toward R&D of more efficient transportation. Split the R&D money. 50% toward technology that can be delivered in 5 years or less and 50% towards technology that can be delivered in greater than 5 years.

[Wags]

Originally Posted by chinaco

It would not surprise me to see the government put a energy efficiency tax on new personal vehicles that have a combined city/highway (tested and verified against a combination of 8000 city miles + 4000 highway miles) MPG that is less than a certain level. For example if the vehicle does not have a combined MPG of 30 miles... a new vehicle will have a surtax of $1000 per 1 MPG under.


IMHO - if we are taxed on gas... it should be for excessive use, not for general use. Putting th tax on new vehicles should push manufacturers to innovate and create more efficient vehicles.

As a matter of fact, I think the money collected should be put toward R&D of more efficient transportation. Split the R&D money. 50% toward technology that can be delivered in 5 years or less and 50% towards technology that can be delivered in greater than 5 years.

Great Idea.

But just like in the case of the Social Security Trust Fund the government/Congress would dip into the $$$$$ from this tax and it would be spent on WARS, pork barrel projects and giving themselves pay raises which are well above the cost of living.

GOD BLESS US ALL

[ERD50]

Originally Posted by chinaco

It would not surprise me to see the government put a energy efficiency tax on new personal vehicles that have a combined city/highway (tested and verified against a combination of 8000 city miles + 4000 highway miles) MPG that is less than a certain level. For example if the vehicle does not have a combined MPG of 30 miles... a new vehicle will have a surtax of $1000 per 1 MPG under.

That is essentially what the CAFE standard does. There is an economic incentive for the car mfgs to reach the average mpg. So, if normal consumer demand isn't doing it, the mfgs will provide a combination of incentives for high mpg cars, and disincentives for lower mpg cars.

I think it is a misguided, convoluted, and ineffective strategy. It does nothing to promote driving fewer miles, driving to maximize mpg, to car-pool, tele-commute, etc, etc, etc. In fact, there is a psychology at work there that can actually promote waste - some people say, 'hey, I paid my tax, I can do what I want now'.

I've said it many times before - if the goal is to conserve fuel, then raise the tax on FUEL. That allows every conservation method to compete to save fuel, rather than just throwing one 'solution' at the problem.

Maybe the tax should be used to invest in research, but I think private companies will do that IF they have some evidence that gas prices will stay high. Our politicians talking about 'gas tax holidays' undermine those free market efforts. I say just return the tax to the people (in the form of a higher standard deduction), that lessens the impact on the 'little guy' that needs to buy gas to get to work.

Actually, there *IS* a Gas Guzzler tax:

Energy Tax Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Unadjusted MPG (combined) Tax
at least 22.5 No tax

at least 21.5, but less than 22.5 $1000

at least 20.5, but less than 21.5 $1300

at least 19.5, but less than 20.5 $1700

at least 18.5, but less than 19.5 $2100

at least 17.5, but less than 18.5 $2600

at least 16.5, but less than 17.5 $3000

at least 15.5, but less than 16.5 $3700

at least 14.5, but less than 15.5 $4500

at least 13.5, but less than 14.5 $5400

at least 12.5, but less than 13.5 $6400

less than 12.5 $7700

-ERD50

[Wags]

ABC News - Survey Finds Gas Prices Up About 15 Cents Over Past 2 Weeks

ABC News: Gas Shoots Up 15 Cents in Two Weeks

The price for a gallon of gas in my area is holding at about $3.63.

Over the last 2 to 2 1/2 weeks it has gone up about 22 to 23 cents.

GOD BLESS US ALL

[Want2retire]

Originally Posted by Wags

The price for a gallon of gas in my area is holding at about $3.63.

Over the last 2 to 2 1/2 weeks it has gone up about 22 to 23 cents.

Wow!! That's a lot. I am NOT looking forward to getting gas next time!

[Wags]

Originally Posted by Want2retire

Wow!! That's a lot. I am NOT looking forward to getting gas next time!

Just almost filled up my GMC Truck (it had a little bit of gas) - $75

CNN Money - $5 gas near, 78% of Americans say - A vast majority of consumers expect to shell out $4 and even $5 a gallon this year, according to a recent poll.

Americans see $5 gas on the horizon - May. 5, 2008

It does not look good for the common folk - prices for gas, for food and for all goods are going up faster then their paychecks and for us retired folk faster then our COLA.

Here's to hoping that nobody dies from a heart attack when they go to fill up their vehicles.

GOD BLESS US ALL

[youbet]

The biggest surprise to me is seeing how many folks are surprised by the increasing cost of energy and food. It's been predicted and well advertised. Yet, many seemed outraged as though it's some unexpected surprise.

I see zero plans by any domestic political party that will help significantly. I see few international governments successfully intervening. I'm making my plans to live with it as best I can.......

[Want2retire]

Originally Posted by youbet

The biggest surprise to me is seeing how many folks are surprised by the increasing cost of energy and food. It's been predicted and well advertised. Yet, many seemed outraged as though it's some unexpected surprise.

What amazes me is that people actually act as though gas won't ever get to $4/gallon. Why not? I wouldn't be at all surprised if it got to $5/gallon before Thanksgiving, frankly. Now, if it got to $5/gallon by next Tuesday, that would surprise me.

[Milton]

Originally Posted by Wags

I would sell it but I paid cash for it and right now the resale value on it is not good.

Wags, an article that might help: Yahoo! Personal Finance.

[Wags]

Originally Posted by Milton

Wags, an article that might help: Yahoo! Personal Finance.

Thank you, GREAT ARTICLE!

With the gas being so high we only use the GMC truck on long trips (school functions, doctor's visits, etc..) and for running around town we either use the VW Bug, the 4 cylinder van or we walk.

A nice walk never hurt anyone and it helps to keep one in good health.

GOD BLESS US ALL

[Milton]

You are most welcome.

I often wear a pedometer, and try to do at least 12,000 steps daily. That's not very difficult.

[Wags]

NBC Nightly News reported yesterday (high gas prices get blood pumping)that in 2001 when Mr. Bush took office the cost of a barrel of oil was at about $32 and as yesterday, 5 May 08 the cost of a barrel of oil was at about $119.97.

msnbc.com Video Player

The price will continue to go up and up.

Breitbart.com - Oil passes $122 on $200 oil prediction, supply concerns

Oil passes $122 on $200 oil prediction, supply concerns

Milton, it looks as though my family and I will have to take out the old jogging shoes and start to walk a little bit more. It should make for some good family time and some sore feet. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

GOD BLESS US ALL