The Gasoline Blues

[Jazzmoose]

$4.23 this morning on the way to work. $4.29 on the way home...

[Tim McG]

I bet you dollars to donut holes it'll be well over $5.00 by July Fourth.

The greedy bastards....and no you can't have our coastline.

Oil Executives: Eat shit and die!

Grrrrr

Edited June 27, 2008 by GoodSpeak

[Soulstation1]

gas station across the street charges a $1.50 fee to use your debit / cc card.

total bull...

[Joe G]

$4.46 here....at the Coast, over $5.00 now.

Supply and demand?

SheeYEAHright.

I did recently read that the world produces about 85 million barrels per day... and demands 86.

[BeBop]

There really aren't any explanations other than supply and demand. Now one could argue that supply is being manipulated... (I'm not making that argument.) One could also argue that demand is manipulated (by government subsidies and taxes.)

[Jim Alfredson]

Cost me $125 to fill up my van for one gig (up in Alpena, MI, a four hour drive from Lansing) and I had to put more in on the way back.

I'm going to have to switch instruments. It costs too much to haul a Hammond and Leslie around. Nose flute, here I come!

[BeBop]

Cost me $125 to fill up my van for one gig (up in Alpena, MI, a four hour drive from Lansing) and I had to put more in on the way back.

I'm going to have to switch instruments. It costs too much to haul a Hammond and Leslie around. Nose flute, here I come!

I see you as more of a 'harp player.

...but what do I know

[Tim McG]

There really aren't any explanations other than supply and demand. Now one could argue that supply is being manipulated... (I'm not making that argument.) One could also argue that demand is manipulated (by government subsidies and taxes.)

With $18 Billion dollar quarterly profits for the oil companies? C'mon.

That is a clear indication of greed, my friend. There is no supply problem here.

[BeBop]

We're not 'singing different songs' here. It's supply and demand, an equation that makes profits (and losses) possible.

To grossly simplify, if no one wanted gas, or if it was available in unlimited quantity, it would be free.

You say "greed"; I say (possible) supply manipulation; potato/potahto.

[BFrank]

There are some stations here in SF that are already charging $5/gal for premium.

Should have my new Prius within a couple of weeks (on a wait list ...).

Can't wait.

[Tim McG]

There are some stations here in SF that are already charging $5/gal for premium.

Should have my new Prius within a couple of weeks (on a wait list ...).

Can't wait.

Cool, Brooks.

My buddy who lived in SF [now New Zealand] told me his Prius got 40 mpg in The City.

[BeBop]

Last time I visited my friend in the Oakland/Berkeley area, we counted cars on the two-mile drive from the shopping area to her house. One in four was a Prius. And there were other Hybrids and electrics too. Five years ago, it was SUVs.

[Tim McG]

We're not 'singing different songs' here. It's supply and demand, an equation that makes profits (and losses) possible.

To grossly simplify, if no one wanted gas, or if it was available in unlimited quantity, it would be free.

You say "greed"; I say (possible) supply manipulation; potato/potahto.

Right.

That $18 Million is free and clear profit, BeBop. That means after all their expenses are paid.

Possible? Dig deep into your Thesaurus, BeBop.

see also;

probable

likely

obvious

I can't believe you said that

OMG

Edited June 30, 2008 by GoodSpeak

[Joe G]

Well, again, if your product is moving 86 MILLION A DAY, you'd expect a hefty profit, no?

[Joe G]

Or to put it another way, how much profit would be acceptable to you?

I'm not defending Big Oil. Just trying to make the point that it's not their greed and their's alone which has led us to this point.

[sidewinder]

Currently getting about 40-45 mpg in my sports coupe driving like a grandad at 55-60mph but the urge to put the foot hard down, kick in the turbo and leave the chav astra vans for toast is killing me !

Edited June 30, 2008 by sidewinder

[BeBop]

Or to put it another way, how much profit would be acceptable to you?

I'm not defending Big Oil. Just trying to make the point that it's not their greed and their's alone which has led us to this point.

And, of course, if you own a mutual fund, or have a bank deposit, their profit is (highly likely) your profit too.

[Soulstation1]

a buddy just purchased a 1979 bio diesel mercedes for $4K

[Jim Alfredson]

My mother-in-law just got a Prius.

[clifford_thornton]

Currently getting about 40-45 mpg in my sports coupe driving like a grandad at 55-60mph but the urge to put the foot hard down, kick in the turbo and leave the chav astra vans for toast is killing me !

Yeah, gotta watch those chavvy sorts...

[AndrewHill]

$3.95 tonight.

[Tim McG]

Or to put it another way, how much profit would be acceptable to you?

I'm not defending Big Oil. Just trying to make the point that it's not their greed and their's alone which has led us to this point.

I understand.

IMHO, I think if the oil companies made $100 Million clear profit every quarter nobody would care....but $18 BILLION? And every four months? That's just plain obscene, Joe.

That whole "what the market will bear" routine is just another way of justifying greed. The so-called "invisible hand of the marketplace" is morally corrupt and ethically bankrupt. This is a money suck in the cynical category of a grab all you can while you can philosophy.

There simply is no justification for charging upwards of $4 bucks a gallon. Personally, I think it all comes down to motive [they want our coastlines and Alaska] and an oilman president who is allowing them to squeeze us all until we say yes to their drilling demands. Pure and simple.

Edited July 1, 2008 by GoodSpeak

[Chuck Nessa]

I DO NOT believe supply and demand is driving the prices up. I believe it is the "traders" much like the Enron crap. Did anyone watch the congressional hearings? 65% of the oil is bought by folks unable to take delivery!!!!!

"Fuck the world, make a buck" is the mantra.

[Joe G]

I believe supply and demand is tied in with the other not-so-funny business. Though I certainly admit to a limited knowledge.

[Chuck Nessa]

Learn more.