Holy crap! Gas was $3.65 yesterday at my local valero station. Today it's $3.79.

[SammyWinstonJack]

:wow: So glad Congress grilled those bloated Oil execs, yesterday. :eyes:

[TNOE]

1. $3.95 around here

and as soon as the gas stations get in the plastic 4's - it will go over $4.00. They are due in on Friday. So - wait for it.

[SammyWinstonJack]

11. These greedy bastards aren't messing around! Get it while they can I guess!

:argh:

[LynzM]

2. Crazy...

Not only are the prices crazy high, but they don't go up by a penny or two at a time, anymore. It's 5, 10, 15 cents at a jump, sometimes per day!

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. 14 cents over night! Serious price gouging!

x(

[Breeze54]

3. They're grilling them right NOW! (gas has been $3.81 for last 2 days here)

Thursday 05/22/2008 - 11:00 AM

2141 Rayburn House Office Building
Judiciary Committee Antitrust Task Force

Hearing on: Retail Gas Prices, Part 2: Competition in the Oil Industry

http://judiciary.house.gov/

They're about to take a break for a floor vote and then will be back.

[dchill]

4. Here in western PA, it went from $3.85 to $3.99...

This is bad on so many levels.

Edit to add: $3.85 yesterday - $3.99 today.

[SammyWinstonJack]

21. Greedy bastards!

:grr:

[Breeze54]

5. Hiccup!

[no_hypocrisy]

6. I suppose it would've been bad form to hike it directly to $3.99.

Give it another couple of days.

[SammyWinstonJack]

15. Almost a dollar a gallon in a month's time! Bastards!

[kevinbgoode]

7. Yep...about $3.85 here...last week it was $3.79

And I expect it will creep up a few more cents for the weekend.

[librechik]

8. Isn't Valero Venezuelan oil?

why????

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. Well they are headquartered in San Antonio and have refineries in south Texas and Arbua.

Aruba that is. :silly:

[elehhhhna]

20. but Aruba does not produce oil, and Venezuela does, and

it's about 15 miles from Aruba. Do they get their oil from PDVSA?

[SammyWinstonJack]

23. I don't know. Good question. I'll try to find that out.

[librechik]

25. my understanding is that the evile e-speculation is happening with oil out of London

WTI purchases through the Euronext. Theoretically, Chavez doesn't allow speculation on his country's oil supplies, so just wondering wtf.

[SammyWinstonJack]

29. According to another DUer, valero's oil is from the persian gulf.

:shrug: Not Venezuelan oil. However they do have refineries in Texas and a few other states. :shrug:

[Beausoleil]

22. No

According to Snopes, Valero is in the top 4 of companies that import from the Persian Gulf.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/saudigas.asp

[librechik]

26. damn, thanks--I thought they were the same company as Citgo

thanks for the info

[Beausoleil]

40. I think that mistaken info is from

this idiot's website:

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2006/12/valero_citgo_ve.html

Valero Gas Stations= CITGO = Venezuela = Chavez


incorrectly based on this:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4182/is_20060821/ai_n16689348

Valero Energy to brand 19 of Oklahoma's Citgo stations

which says nothing about Valero using Venezuelan oil.

[Purveyor]

9. Lower mid-michigan price at $3.99 however some stations in Lansing are now at $4.09 eom

[Warpy]

10. They need to grill commodities speculators

at all the big hedge funds. They need to demand to know why the Strategic Oil Reserve is still being bloated instead of used for its intended purpose.

The oil execs will tell the truth: they have no control over the wild speculation going on in spot market futures. Stupid has some control, if he'd use the reserve as it was meant to be used.

However, we all know he is our deadly enemy. Just make sure your friends know it, too.

[SammyWinstonJack]

18. I agree Warpy.

[librechik]

28. The muckymucks at the London Commodities exchange who first allowed e-trading in oil

need to take that little thing back and make it illegal again.

except everybody is making so much money, i don't see how they can without a bloodbath.

[sudopod]

12. UNSUPRISING BUTTSECHS nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

24. !!!

:thumbsup:

[Winterblues]

14. Amazing it can be so cheap

A barrel of oil was trading for $133.00 yesterday, which means they are paying $3.17 per gallon for unrefined crude oil. It takes more than a few pennies to refine crude into gasoline..It is going to get much worse before it gets better to quote Ralph Nader..

[LuckyLib]

17. A talking head on PBS said yesterday that in a few years, $4 per gallon will be wishful thinking.

That there is nothing to prevent gas prices in the US from approaching $10 per gallon. Whoa! Just in time for Obama to inherit that part of the shit-storm from the * legacy.

[SammyWinstonJack]

19. "wishful thinking" Dammit!

:argh:

[dweller]

27. wasn't it promised

i mean 'predicted' > $4/gal by Memorial day back in March?

i'd ask them for the winning powerball numbers too, but it doesn't work that way, does it?
dp

[SammyWinstonJack]

33. Still a shocker when it goes up that much over night. I am allowed to be shocked, am I not?

Power ball #'s and I would blow this pop stand! :evilgrin:

[dweller]

39. if one is not shocked

one is not paying attention.

in tribute to my old, long-gone friend :( NothingShocksMeAnymore
dp

[SammyWinstonJack]

42. She was a great DUer!

:thumbsup:

[fed-up]

30. $4.079 here in CHico, CA up 8 cents overnight-f*ck em all :( nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

34. Fuck'em all! I agree!

:nuke:

[LSK]

31. I still see idiots driving around like its the Indy 500 everywhere

When will people put 2 and 2 together?

[SammyWinstonJack]

36. Funny thing is that the pumps were all taken and the store was full of customers.

:shrug: Of course I was right there among them. :silly:

[fed-up]

41. my corner gas station was empty-I got a whopping 1.2 gallons for my $5...nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

43. I was remembering when we would get a $1 worth of gas, 4 gals!

That's how old I am! :silly:

[Ichingcarpenter]

32. I Remember those days When Gas was $3.79 seems like Months ago

And it was.



$ 4.07 here

[SammyWinstonJack]

37. Yeah well we are getting there.

x(

[Dukkha]

35. it's not the prices it's the profits that are criminal

The whole country's suffering expect for the greedy oil execs hording their profits and the gluttonous rich still insisting on driving their hummers they don't need. Accountability need to be enforced for those who are causing the crisis and those who are exploiting it.

[SammyWinstonJack]

38. Oh I agree! Greedy oily execs need to be held accountable! I won't hold my breath!

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

44. Thom Hartmann has been playing portions of this Jimmy Carter speech

from July 15, 1979. Carter was anticipating this problem many years before. Reagan and the Republicans, with oil company financing, then came in and undid everything Carter tried to do, including taking down the solar panels Carter had installed on the roof of the White House. I remember hearing Carter's speech on television, but hearing it again in light of current events left me stunned. The man was clearly ahead of his time. Every American should pause to listen to these words and remember how much the Republicans are to blame for ending these policies and putting us in the mess we're in:

"...The energy crisis is real. It is worldwide. It is a clear and present danger to our nation. These are facts and we simply must face them. What I have to say to you now about energy is simple and vitally important.

Point one: I am tonight setting a clear goal for the energy policy of the United States. Beginning this moment, this nation will never use more foreign oil than we did in 1977 -- never. From now on, every new addition to our demand for energy will be met from our own production and our own conservation. The generation-long growth in our dependence on foreign oil will be stopped dead in its tracks right now and then reversed as we move through the 1980s, for I am tonight setting the further goal of cutting our dependence on foreign oil by one-half by the end of the next decade -- a saving of over 4-1/2 million barrels of imported oil per day.

Point two: To ensure that we meet these targets, I will use my presidential authority to set import quotas. I'm announcing tonight that for 1979 and 1980, I will forbid the entry into this country of one drop of foreign oil more than these goals allow. These quotas will ensure a reduction in imports even below the ambitious levels we set at the recent Tokyo summit.

Point three: To give us energy security, I am asking for the most massive peacetime commitment of funds and resources in our nation's history to develop America's own alternative sources of fuel -- from coal, from oil shale, from plant products for gasohol, from unconventional gas, from the sun. I propose the creation of an energy security corporation to lead this effort to replace 2-1/2 million barrels of imported oil per day by 1990. The corporation I will issue up to $5 billion in energy bonds, and I especially want them to be in small denominations so that average Americans can invest directly in America's energy security.

Just as a similar synthetic rubber corporation helped us win World War II, so will we mobilize American determination and ability to win the energy war. Moreover, I will soon submit legislation to Congress calling for the creation of this nation's first solar bank, which will help us achieve the crucial goal of 20 percent of our energy coming from solar power by the year 2000. These efforts will cost money, a lot of money, and that is why Congress must enact the windfall profits tax without delay. It will be money well spent. Unlike the billions of dollars that we ship to foreign countries to pay for foreign oil, these funds will be paid by Americans to Americans. These funds will go to fight, not to increase, inflation and unemployment. ..."

[SammyWinstonJack]

45. Someone please tell me why Big Oil is recording record profits in these times?

They aren't giving back and they aren't using their bloated profits to research alternative resources. They are just pocketing the profits on the backs of hard working people and doing it while they can. I wouldn't have a problem with these inflated prices at the pump if these greedy bastards were being socially conscious and trying to find a way out of this. But they aren't and no one is holding them accountable! That is what pisses me off!

[northzax]

63. they keep raising their prices

and you keep paying it. what do you expect them to do? what do you expect oil exporting countries to do, take less money for their product? should they take less money out of the goodness of their hearts, when they have an addicted population begging for their product?

at what price will you restructure your life to reduce the impact of daily price flucuations of gasoline? when will YOU break your addiction, instead of complaining about your pusher being unfair?

[SammyWinstonJack]

73. So why do you think that Big Oil in this Country should reap record profits? Do you work for them

I don't have a problem with the exporting countries. It's our corporate American companies who are reaping the huge profits and getting subsidies and tax breaks and gouging us at the pumps, that I have a problem with and so should you! Why don't you have a problem with that? Stop blaming me, who only fills up once a month. I still have to eat. I am at the mercy of transportation of my food, aren't you? Get real!

[northzax]

74. why not?

no I don't work for them. but guess what? gasoline is still dirt cheap. it is only slightly higher, adjusted for inflation, that it has been. Gasoline is the one commodity that has remained basically steady in price for 90 years, adjusted for inflation. check out this chart: inflationdata.com/inflation/images/charts/Oil/Gasoline_inflation_chart.htm

note that in the time since 1987, gasoline has been absurdly cheap, ridiculously so. so we began to think of that as 'normal' meanwhile, the oil companies were taking a comparative financial beating. they are a thin margin industry, reliant on international prices and markets (let alone the vagaries of various dictators controlling the spigots) last year, the big three had a profit of $.083/$1 sales. that is below the national industrial average of $.086, well below Coke/Pepsi/Miller/Anheuser Busch/Altria ($.19/$1) or the Pharmas ($.184/$1). retailers, which make even lower profits, were about $.03/$1. so no, I don't feel particularly bad about industry profits. I am much more offended by the pharmas than big oil.

[Blue Diadem]

46. IT'S $4.19 in NW Ohio

Gas soars past $4 in BG

http://www.sent-trib.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2631&Itemid=81

[SammyWinstonJack]

47. ...

x( so sorry!

[Blue Diadem]

52. It was a 20 cent increase this morning.

DH was happy he filled up on his way home from work last night.

[SammyWinstonJack]

60. We need to fill up everyday, I guess.

:wtf:

[flewbye]

48. April 24, 2006

“Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices by cracking down on price gouging, rolling back the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks and royalty relief given to big oil and gas companies, and increasing production of alternative fuels.” --Senator Barbara Boxer

It doesn't look like her common sense plan worked. More politicians promising what they can't deliver.

[SammyWinstonJack]

49. Yeah, it's all the Democrats' fault.

:eyes: Who is pResident and who wrote our "enegry" plan and which party controlled Congress up until 2006? Nice try, though. :silly:

[flewbye]

50. Its both sides fault

But she has had 2 years with a majority and things have gotten much worse. I could care less about partisanship, but if you are willing to give her a free pass for the past two years because of party affiliation, then there is nothing that I can do.

[SammyWinstonJack]

51. Sure it is.

:eyes: I remember just after Senator Jeffords switched to an Independent in 2001 and the Dems were in control of Congress, they held big oil's feet to the fire and prices at the pump dropped. And the price at the pump was maybe $1.50/gal. We are not the problem. Talk to your republican buddies.

[flewbye]

53. She ran on it.

She made it a part of her platform, and she should be evaluated on her ability to implement her platform and the outcome.

[SammyWinstonJack]

55. Go talk to your republican buddies. They are the ones to blame.

[SammyWinstonJack]

58. I find it strange that you single out one Democratic Congresswoman and not one republican leader.

Very strange. :shrug:

[Fox Mulder]

54. It went up a dime between yesterday and today here.

It was $3.65 and now it's $3.75. :grr:

[SammyWinstonJack]

56. Crazy huh?

:wtf:

[MadinMo]

57. Yep, $3.49 on Monday, today it is $3.79. Happy Holiday Weekend!

[SammyWinstonJack]

59. Just think what it will be by Labor Day?

:scared:

[northzax]

61. if I'd told you three years ago

that gas would be $4/gallon, how would you have changed your life? why aren't you changing it now, in case gas becomes $6/gallon in three more years?

think about it and do something about it. then you will be much more immune to daily price flucuations. assume gasoline will be $7/gallon in 2010. plan accordingly.

[SammyWinstonJack]

64. Well I only drive 75 miles a month so I am not depleting the oil reserves by myself.

But I do eat, don't you? And I am not self sufficient energy wise, are you? I am not crying big time but a 14 cent/gal increase in one day does hurt some people, if not me. Did it hurt you? :shrug

[northzax]

67. day to day flucuations don't affect me, actually

the overall rising trend certainly increases overall costs for everything, but day to day? Not so much. I bought gas with my own money for the first time in two years last weekend when I borrrowed my uncle's car on vacation. Besides that, I use zipcars when I need wheels at home or a corporate card on travel. Sure, higher prices hurt in the long run, but otherwise it's all figured into much larger bottom lines. Do higher energy costs affect my commute? Only a bit, bus fares are set in advance, so I know my daily ride will cost ms $2.50 round trip every day through at least the summer. And those are the days I don't ride my bike. I have chosen, several years ago, to structure my life around not having a car. I live in a smaller apartment, pay higher taxes and don't have a dog, but I also don't have a car payment, insurance, maintenance or whatnot. Maybe it comes from living in Europe. But this is what's coming for everyone. Get used to it. Complaining about gas prices is a lot like complaining about tobacco prices. Both are addictive, have major hidden costs and are slowly killing the user. (ps, I smoke) it sucks, but it is how things are now. Adjust.

[SammyWinstonJack]

70. Well complaining won't get us anywhere, I agree with that. I am not really complaining. I think

that the PTB and Big Oil should fess up and take some responsibility for this current situation, don't you agree? Something has got to give, IOW! Just my $4.00 worth. :evilgrin:

[Phred42]

62. $4.35 in N.IL today

[SammyWinstonJack]

65. $6/gal by Labor Day? We are so screwn!

[pleah]

66. We went to the grocery store and was gone for two hours. When we

left home the price at the gas station we past was 3.70 a gallon, when we came home it was 3.78 a gallon.

Where are the protests for high gas prices in this country?

[spanone]

68. went up nine cents here

[Diana Prince]

69. $3.55 Wed morning, $3.60 by 3pm now $3.75

This is not going to end anytime soon.

[ellie]

71. $3.99 in Toledo

And in Waterville, which is west of the city, $4.16.

[Homer Wells]

72. $4.05 here in Southern WV n/t

[Jewelsparkle]

75. The Today Show

Had on the CEO with Matt Lauer ther other day. He was saying that we need billions of dollars to invest, research, bla, bla, bla...

I so wanted Matt to ask him what his take-home pay is every year. ALong with the other "higher-ups" he works with. THAT'S so much the issue here, among other things.