10 billion profit a quarter and a lowering of prices right before the election. Case closed!! Greed rears its ugly head again.
Why Gas Is $4 A Gallon
- Thread starter IntenseOperator
- Start date
Why are you guys having a hard time understanding why other guys are having a hard time understanding?
What was it........about 5 months ago gas was under $2 a gallon, and now it's $3.50?
You can crunch all the data you want, and say what you want. That is still going to piss folks off!
How about I spin some numbers for you?
In 1975, if you earned minimum wage, you worked an hour to pump 3 and a half gallons of gas in your car.
In 2007, if you earn minimum wage, you work and hour to pump less than 1 and a half gallons.
Sounds like we had it twice as good 30 years ago!
What was it........about 5 months ago gas was under $2 a gallon, and now it's $3.50?
You can crunch all the data you want, and say what you want. That is still going to piss folks off!
How about I spin some numbers for you?
In 1975, if you earned minimum wage, you worked an hour to pump 3 and a half gallons of gas in your car.
In 2007, if you earn minimum wage, you work and hour to pump less than 1 and a half gallons.
Sounds like we had it twice as good 30 years ago!
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/sportsbay_1948_1244368
2007 Tomos ST Features:
Colorsurple, Black, Ultra Blue and Red
A-55 two stroke engine(directly air cooled) - Tomos design
2-speed automatic transmission
Piston displacement:49cc
Engine output:1.8kx at 5200 r.p.m.
Compression ratio:10:1
CDI electronic ignition system(12V/80W)
Starting: kick start or pedal assisted
Auto mix oil injection
Fuel consumption:100+miles per gallon
Efficient front and rear drum brakes
Front telescopic forks
Custom mag wheels
High-low beam headlight
Upgradeable heavy weight luggage rack
Front and rear tire dimensions:2 1/4 x 16"
6-month 4000 mile limited warranty
Everyone at my work laughs at me , when i drive in with this beauty.
I spend all of $5 a week, that is right $5 a week driving this thing. Sure it looks funny driving it here in the US.
But I do not need to have registration nor insurance.
I have saved just in the first 5 months this year nearly 4,500 dollars.
I am not to proud to drive this as the big cars and trucks honk and make fun of me. Now the only downside is that i can not go on freeways. I need to stay on city seats and the max speed is around 35 to 40 miles per hour.
But As I said 100 miles to the gallon and I save thousands.
Maybe I should trade in the Pathfinder for one of these bad boys.
The left over cash can get me a nice vacation.
Sounds like 1) you agree with minimum wage and 2) you do not feel it has kept up with inflation. Neither have anything to do with gas prices in relation to inflation.
I understand why people like lower prices as I too enjoy paying less. The fact is though that prices are not high when you factor in inflation. We live in a nation of capitalism where those that take on the risk of business also enjoy the benefits of profits.We can agree to disagree though as this argument generally goes back to ideology and we are not going to change anyones mind on this board.
I don't know why I have to be agreeing with minimum wage?
:shrug:
Let's face it.......a shitload of people work for it.
Now, you go ahead and tell them that it's okay that they are spending a higher percentage of their paycheck today on gas than they did 5 months ago, because it's keeping check with inflation.
I'm just guessing here, but they probably aren't going to say: "I never looked at it that way.....thanks!"
:shrug:
Let's face it.......a shitload of people work for it.
Now, you go ahead and tell them that it's okay that they are spending a higher percentage of their paycheck today on gas than they did 5 months ago, because it's keeping check with inflation.
I'm just guessing here, but they probably aren't going to say: "I never looked at it that way.....thanks!"
As for Ethanol, that continues to be one of the most misunderstood topics in energy. Once it was a boon to the farmer, now the oil companies are buying up all the Ethanol supplies (and getting tax credits for doing it) and Ethanol refineries that were created by farmer groups. So, again, the oil companies are ahead of the general public curve on controlling prices and profits. They maintain their price of gas and oil by buying up the competition and will name the price of Ethanol - you can be sure it will be somewhat less, but not too much less.
Where are the oil companies getting the money for purchasing these big ticket items? Have you checked their profits lately? With what we are paying them, coupled with the tax breaks and credits established as mission #1 for the Bush administration, they can do pretty much whatever they want.
Sure is a smart way to maintain your bottom line...these fellers aren't stupid. Hopefully Americans will remember the particulars on who was behind these record profits, when they wonder why there is no corn to eat and it costs more to truck everything around to the stores for our right to pay more for it.
Where are the oil companies getting the money for purchasing these big ticket items? Have you checked their profits lately? With what we are paying them, coupled with the tax breaks and credits established as mission #1 for the Bush administration, they can do pretty much whatever they want.
Sure is a smart way to maintain your bottom line...these fellers aren't stupid. Hopefully Americans will remember the particulars on who was behind these record profits, when they wonder why there is no corn to eat and it costs more to truck everything around to the stores for our right to pay more for it.
Everyone is spending a higher percentage of their check on gas not just those that work for minimum wage:shrug: I am done with the minimum wage as it has zero to do with this thread. I agree that no one is going to be happy about spending more money, but I thought we were talking about how we got to this point. I have yet to see the news coverage of cokes becoming 3X as expensive in the last 30 years, or stamps increasing 3 fold, and how about those $3,000 cars selling in the 70's where have they gone. Make sure you understand this I understand why people want to keep as much of their money as they can. I also however understand why the price of goods go up steadily over time with occasional fluctuations.
Brilliant.
Hey...you brought "numbers" into this, I just countered. If you can't see that the people who make the least have to spend the most, (percentage wise), what more can I say?
Actually what you brought to the discussion was a government program meant to disrupt Laissez-faire that has nothing to do with the price of gasoline. Thank you for pointing out that people that make less pay more proportionately than others, I have been wondering about that.:mj07: I wonder if those living in the "good ole days" paid more proportionately if they made less.:shrug: Since you are crusading for those on minimum wage how about all the regressive taxes we have. I am sure we can agree a sales tax hurts the minimum wagers more than anyone so lets get rid of it. Probably not going to happen huh? Again I am sure we will never see eye to eye on this because of our ideologies. Just my opinion and it means no more or any less than yours.
Again......I certainly don't see how using the minimum rage as an example for what I was trying to prove indicts me as a staunch proponent, but it's your painting.....I won't steal your brush.
I just used an example that you find inane, to counter an example that you made that can be seen as equally inane.
Let's try another angle:
You stated how much more expensive gas was in the thirties. Well, it probably should have been, as it was a relatively "newer" product back then. Much like any other product, it costs more to manufacture early on, and should get cheaper on down the road.
If you wanted a calculator in the early days of them, they cost an arm and a leg. Same with computers. I remember when they were $5000 for a simple system, and now you can get a superior product for 90% less!
Yet, in 100 years, we haven't learned to refine oil any cheaper?
I just used an example that you find inane, to counter an example that you made that can be seen as equally inane.
Let's try another angle:
You stated how much more expensive gas was in the thirties. Well, it probably should have been, as it was a relatively "newer" product back then. Much like any other product, it costs more to manufacture early on, and should get cheaper on down the road.
If you wanted a calculator in the early days of them, they cost an arm and a leg. Same with computers. I remember when they were $5000 for a simple system, and now you can get a superior product for 90% less!
Yet, in 100 years, we haven't learned to refine oil any cheaper?
This is a need for the country and not something like Bill Gates inventing a system where he could charge what he wants and it effects every thing else in the country. They didn't invent anything they just had the money to go get it. I'm not to sure if Gates got tax breaks recently to go with his profits like the oil companies did. The oil companies effect almost everything with their greed. And by the way when i worked for my father 22 years ago steaks were 1.99 a pound. when i went into business on my own 25 years later steaks were still 1.99 a pound. This silly inflation scenario is a joke. You can pick and choose certain items. Why did these prices go down right before the election? Did the demand lesson or inflation drop?
To think all the sudden we should be paying more because of inflation is hilarious. Maybe we were over paying back then also but people were watching these thieves unlike now with these two in office who by the way happen to be into this industry their whole thieving life. If we stood together and bought that ride Padre rides around on this shit would be 50 dollars a gallon.
To think all the sudden we should be paying more because of inflation is hilarious. Maybe we were over paying back then also but people were watching these thieves unlike now with these two in office who by the way happen to be into this industry their whole thieving life. If we stood together and bought that ride Padre rides around on this shit would be 50 dollars a gallon.
Who gives a hell what "they" say? Those who work for minimum wage have no one to blame but themselves. Its called getting off your ass, getting an education and embarking on a career. I know hundreds of people who came from meager beginnings to follow this very simple path to an upper middle-class lifestyle or better.
Your right it is the president and VP out to get america. It has nothing to do with inflation or any other factors. Opec has nothing to do with anything and were not ever blamed(especcally during the clinton years of price hikes:mj07: ) This is why I said there is no use as it always comes back to ideology.
So, first I'm pro minimum wage, and now I'm sandbagging the presidency?
I don't know what school you learned to debate in, but you need to get a refund on your student loan.
:mj07: yeah thats it I am working for big oil.
Because I can understand why something happens does not mean I like it.
I was refering to sponge and I dont know or care what you feel about minimum wage, I was simply saying it had nothing to do with the price of gas.
I have said my peace and would now like to hear the answers rather than the reasons why the prices are as they are. What would everyone say are the answers to getting gas back to $1 a gallon? Lets hear em!!
Well.....where to start?
How about the US start drilling for the shit? We are sitting on enough of it, but god forbid we displace a wood tick!
How about the "shortage" of working refineries gets rectified? A money printing machine like the oil industry can't afford to keep their profit making machine up and running?
How about we seriously have the alternative fuels/transportation methods we should have had 50 years ago? Perhaps if they didn't have a monopoly on how we get around, they would bargain a little better?
Maybe citizens can start using far less of their product by driving a little less, carpools, driving slower, etc? (I dropped my overall highway speed from 75 to 65mph and went from 415 miles per tank, to 445.......not a huge deal, but enough.)
There's a starter list....go from there.
