FOR THE PAST several months, Americans have been coping with record high prices at the gas pumps.
Although the price is hitting new highs, the issue is not new. Since 2002, prices have hit record marks every summer. With more developing countries like China sucking up oil, this story line will continue for years to come.
But with people suffering at the pumps, there may be a bright side. The higher the price goes, it will eventually spawn changes.
Over the last 30 years, the United States has done little to improve its energy efficiency and lessen its demand for foreign oil. It is unfortunate we did not learn our lesson from the high prices and gas shortages of the ’70s
But now, as the prices keep pushing higher, people will get tired of wasting their money on gas and start making changes out of necessity.
England has suffered with high gas prices for generations. Right now their gas is nearing $10 a gallon. Their high gas prices have prompted people to drive smaller, more fuel-efficient cars, ride bikes and rely on commuter trains.
In the Midwest, we can be slow to change. But how many dollars will we have to pay for a gallon of gasoline before we drive to a car dealer to trade in our old gas-guzzler for a new fuel-efficient car — $5, $6 or $10 per gallon?
The time is coming. The only question is when.
Christopher White Walker
Editor & Publisher
Comments
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
Posted by wanderer (anonymous) on May 28, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Could be. On the other hand, the cost of cigarettes keeps going up and up and up, too. Are we seeing any fewer smokers? Or just poorer ones?
Posted by BenDoubleCrossed (anonymous) on May 28, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
FOREIGN WARS OR DOMESTIC OIL
If the US Government spent a trillion dollars over 8 years on domestic oil production from known reserves in the Gulf of Mexico, the Continental Shelf and coal gasification instead of War in Iraq gas would be $2 a gallon or less. America could quit sending billions to countries that sponsor terrorism. And reducing our trade imbalance keeps jobs in America. Every billion of trade deficit costs 13,000 jobs. $400 billion for oil last year: do the math.
America has 1/4th the coal on planet earth. South Africa is producing 300,000 barrels of gas and diesel a day from coal. And synthetic fuel from coal is cleaner burning than gas. And it can be produced cheaper than from $100+ a barrel crude oil.
Harness your anger at the pump. Call you're US Senators and demand domestic production in this decade. If you don’t raise your voice the oil companies and politicians will assume you are ready to pay even more.
Posted by eiggohp (anonymous) on May 28, 2008 at 5:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know this would not be popular, but the speed limit needs to lowered back to 55-60....it makes 4-5 miles per gallon difference when compared to driving 70-75+. It is time we all are inconvienced a bit for the welfare of everyone. Can you imagine how much difference this would make in gasoline usage?....amazing!!
Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on May 28, 2008 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
55 mile per hour speed limit... again? Don't even think about it.
Posted by flexj66801 (anonymous) on May 28, 2008 at 11:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BenDoubleCrossed has a very valid point. Our Government's focus has been lost when looking out for the benefit the people. To many agencies & politicians have their own agendas to look out for you & me. I really don't think that driving 55 mph is going to change anything. Talking about the high fuel prices in Europe to make you feel better about what you are paying for fuel here is not doing anything to help our pocketbooks. We all are paying higher prices for anything we buy to offset the additional transportation costs to companies getting their products to market.
Bigger cities are much adapt at providing good public transportation. They are set up better & encourage car pools & the use of their public transit (I know this is where someone says we have L_Cat). I guess if things get worse, Hi Gear Bike will reap the benefits & most of us will be in better shape!
Posted by dml (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 12:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually, driving slower really does improve gas mileage. Mom's car while on the interstate or turnpike doing 70 mph will get 27-28 mpg, but if she slows down to 65 mph, she gets 33-34! With gas getting close to $4/gal, she definintely thinks she has more time than money! It takes a lot of power to push that much wind. I use a 2003 1 ton dually Chevy with a 4 speed automatic to pull big gooseneck trailers with. If I go 50-55 mph It will pull the trailers in 4th gear unless I am climbing a good hill, but if I try to go 60-65 mph, it wants to keep shifting down and it does not matter whether the trailers are loaded or empty. Doesn't make sense, but that is the way it is.
Posted by alsrac (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 1:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That's why I chose the Smart car, and yes, I feel smart visiting the gas station just once a month and spending just $28 to fill the tank.
Posted by madpoet (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well most of us can't afford a Smart car and need a decent back seat for a car seat to transport kids. Last year I saw the writing on the wall and traded my Blazer in for a Grand Am. We wished we could have gotten something even more fuel efficient ( I gained about 10-15 mpg) but couldn't afford it. And fuel mileage by speed also depends on the car and how it's set up. I do get better mileage at 70 than 75 but haven't noticed a difference at 55. But I've not done much at that speed. Maybe I could try it for a week and see if I can be run over by a loaded semi going 75 on I-35.
Posted by Deepthoughts (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Driving slower?! Now I know who I've been getting behind driving around town. Okay - all you people who want to drive slower to save a couple miles per gallon, please stay in the slow lane and don't be surprised if I'm tailgating you. I haven't heard that cars get better gas mileage going 20 instead of 30-34 around town, so what is the excuse for all the drivers in town?
Posted by bdprotheroe (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good Morning Detroit. Do you hear the people screaming?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...
Posted by create (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Madpoet, you really traded your Blazer? I drive an S-10 Blazer and I get 22 mpg. It's a six. Of course now that I'm retired, I don't drive around much, but it's nice to be able to haul around the stuff I buy at the garden center. It has been several weeks since I filled up.
Posted by bdprotheroe (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/30/finding...
Posted by bdprotheroe (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 5:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Since I use public transportation (subway, bus, street car, BART), rarely do I pay attention to the price of gas. With the media paying more attention to the subject of rising fuel prices, I too have paid more attention. Yesterday, I passed a gas station here in San Francisco and the price for regular unleaded was....
(Drum roll, please.)
$4.25/gallon.
All of you drivers have my sincerest sympathies!
Posted by alfalfa (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 11:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If it were just gas going up it would be something we could handle, but everything is going up because almost everything is tied to the price of gasoline, to move it. I am a farmer/rancher, feeding cattle during the winter I would estimate I use around 10 gallons of gas/and or diesel a day, just to do that. Easy math, the difference between $2 and $4 is $20 a day, 180 days off of grass means it is costing me, or will I should say, an extra $3600 per year just to feed cattle. I was told yesterday but do not know it to be fact that barbed wire is now $70 per roll, up from what I thought was the ridiculous price of $55 the last time I bought some. This means building a quarter mile of 5 wire fence just went up $75, without figuring the higher posts. I thought I heard on the news that Westar wants to add $10 a month to our electric bills, for several years they have had a fuel surcharge on mine that is often nearly as much as the electricity for the month.
All this talk of how we must change our ways in this country is fine, but there are some things we cannot change. My gut feeling is we cannot cope with $4+ gasoline and diesel without a major depression resulting. One problem I see is there is a very large section of society unwilling to do anything. They are unwilling to conserve, they are unwilling to have nuclear power, they simply think we can tough this out. For those people who have been just barely making it, this simply is going to devastate them financially. People who can cope should realize that living amongst alot of financially strapped people will not be a good thing. The worst part of all this is I don't see much the government can do quickly to change this, so we better all learn to suck it up.
Post a comment
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. Our goal with this feature is to encourage thoughtful discussions about the news stories. Using the comment feature to make random attacks on people is not acceptable. Emporiagazette.com neither endorses nor guarantees the accuracy of any user contribution. Responsibility for what is posted or contributed to this site is the sole responsibility of each user. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
(Requires free registration.)