When Gas prices hit $4 a gallon Government did nothing - here we go again

[ThomWV]

What follows is my opinion. If you have a differing opinion I'd be happy to hear it.

The price of regular gasoline has increased by roughly a dollar a gallon here in the last 6~8 weeks. The recent increases raised the price from under two dollars around April Fools' to very close to three now - all in the face of decreasing demand and reports of excess supply.

"Peak Oil," for those not familiar with the phrase, refers to the time when half of the existing oil has been extracted so that there is less left than has been extracted is blamed for the rise by some, but it has little to nothing to do with the price of oil at any given time. Price is determined by supply and demand at the time, and at this time supply far out paces demand - Peak Oil or not - so one has to look elsewhere to find the reason for the rise.

Though under reported the reason for the last dramatic increase in the cost of gas was speculation in the commodities market. The Congress blovated and at the first threat of regulation that market collapsed and the price of oil and gas dropped like a stone. Congress, in its near infinite wisdom then walked away from the problem as if it never existed. Here we go again.

Make no mistake about it; it was Katrina that exposed the gross ineptitude and incompetence of the Bush Presidency but it was gasoline prices that set off the fall of the economy. As I said, here we go again.

[blueknight]

1. and it was one

of the many things that the last admininstration was identified with. 4.00 a gallon will kill any upturn in the economy,and if it stays there, obama will be a one term president

[dweller]

5. from today's SMW

dp

[high density]

11. This seems to be the idea

Jack up gas again and send the economy spiraling back down. Who profits from this I don't know, but the endgame seems fairly obvious at this point.

[armyowalgreens]

2. Supply/demand has no weight on oil prices anymore...

It's all dictated by wallstreet.

And that is why I'm getting a motorcycle. Wall street can kiss my crotch-rocket riding ass.

[Obamanaut]

3. Prepare yourself for some of the down side of riding a motorcycle.

A good set of tires will cost you more for two of them than a set of four for a car. Tires usually last less than 15,000 miles, in my experience. I ride cruiser type bikes, with many miles since my first one in 1961.

Rain drops hurt at highway speed. Windchill hurts at highway speed. Pavement hurts as one skids along on it following a fall. Bugs and birds hurt at highway speed.

Now I think I'll hop on my Suzuki C90 and go get some coffee. Retirement can be your friend.

Oh, and if you do get a bike, the fun of riding way outweighs the potential for any of the bad stuff listed above.

edited for spwlling

[armyowalgreens]

6. I spend too much on gas already. I figured I would be better off riding...

I'm willing to suffer through all the other risks. It's the price you pay to ride.

Thanks for the heads up though.:)

[Obamanaut]

12. What Fumesucker said in #8. And when it isn't raining, and the

temp is just right, and you're zipping along at a reasonable clip - there is nothing quite like it.

Since to most other vehicles you are invisible, and the ones who do see you it seems like they are out to get you - stay alert, be safe, enjoy.

[Fumesucker]

8. Rear tires usually wear out much more quickly than front ones..

In my experience, about 150k miles or so.

A full coverage helmet is a must for the everyday rider, as is a rainsuit/cold weather suit, armored gloves and heavy boots.

To stay alive on a motorcycle, ride in such a manner that even if you were totally invisible you wouldn't get hit anyway.

Every cage driver is a homicidal psychopath who is deliberately aiming for you, that may not be the actual truth but it is the net effect of how people drive, particularly in this day and age of cell phones and text messaging while driving.

Pay attention to the road surface, a momentary loss of traction that would be a little oops in a car can easily put you sliding on your ass at 70 mph. The center of the lane where the cars dump oil is the slickest part, the sides, where the car tires run has the most traction. Wet leaves and the like are killers, no traction at all.

Any crotch rocket over about 250 cc is so much faster than just about any car that you can get in trouble in just a couple of seconds of acceleration. I have an 89 FZR400 Yamaha and can out accelerate even very fast cars easily, today's crotch rockets are much more powerful size for size.

[ThomWV]

13. Nothing on earth would give me more pleasure than getting that kind of mileage from tires

I replaced the rear tire on my bike last friday; $197 for the tire delivered and another $29 to mount and balance it. I'm getting right at 5,000 miles out of my rear tires, which is to say this one will be dead by the time I leave for Sturgis and I'll go through another one just going out there and coming back home.

Fronts are better for me, about twice the mileage as the rears.

I know crotch-rocket type guys don't understand Harleys but we understand you. Everything you said above is dead-on accurate particularly to include your comment on how fast your bikes are. Some of ours aren't so slow either, my FXSTD/I* will blow the doors off of just about everything Detroit ever made, including virtually every one of the 60's and 70's muscle cars. It will do so while maintaining its 44 mpg and Rolls Royce-like ride**.

* "Softail Deuce"
** Possibly a slight exaggeration.

[Fumesucker]

19. No, what I wrote was confusing..

I meant I have about 150k on bikes..

I can get about 15k or so on rear tires if I take it easy..

Sorry for the misunderstanding..

[Obamanaut]

14. Is that "150k miles or so" a real number, or did you mean 15k miles?

[Fumesucker]

20. No, I meant I have about 150k on bikes..

Not on a rear tire..

Most crotch rocket tires are designed for maximum grip, not long wear,

[Obamanaut]

21. Thanks. When I saw that, my first thought was that I've been buying

the wrong tires.

I've never ridden a crotch rocket or dirt bike, always cruiser. First bike was 1961, a 90cc Ducati. Currently a Suzuki C90T (1462cc).

Years ago, I had a 1982 Kawasaki KZ1100 (bought new) w/Windjammer fairing & hard bags. Gave it to a young friend in 1990 in trade for a lever action rifle. The guy was at my house Sunday, have not seen him in about 4 years, he still has the bike but repainted with all the fairings and stuff removed, all kinds of work done on engine/exhaust.

Things will run forever if they are taken care of.

[Fumesucker]

22. I was riding crotch rockets when we called them "cafe racers"..

And had to build them ourselves..

I honestly think even medium sized crotch rockets are too powerful for the inexperienced rider today. When a 600 will go over 150 mph that's just way beyond what most riders can safely handle.

Today I would recommend a 400 four or maybe a 500 twin for a new rider, certainly nothing more powerful. The Kawasaki Ninja 250 would be a good learning machine I think, my daughter and son in law both learned to ride on one and they turned out to be pretty good riders.

Your "young friend" isn't quite so young anymore, eh? :)

I gave away one of the original Honda Interceptor 700s about fifteen years ago to a kid who had no transportation, he rode it for quite a few years. The bike wasn't in that good a shape when I got rid of it but it still ran for many miles.

[taterguy]

4. We've known for over a generation that oil companies get a blank check from the government

So should we hope that the government suddenly changes its course?

Or should we set up our lives to minimize the impact of increases in the price of gas?

[ejpoeta]

7. supply/demand doesn't appear to be the issue this time. they are parking

oil tankers anywhere they can right now. they said on tv this morning that refineries are producing 7% less so as to increase profits. I am torn, because the gas prices going up certainly doesn't help me any. But in another way, I keep thinking that if they keep doing this then people may start demanding something else. I know that people have downsized their cars and looked more at fuel efficiency thanks to the $4/gal gas last year. But we are easily complacent when the prices drop back down again. So, I can hope that this manipulation of the prices (and I do believe there is manipulation) will just get people more angry and in some dream world might make change more possible.

[AndyA]

9. Obama seriously needs to get it together regarding this.

High gas prices will stall any recovery. Big time. They contributed greatly to the downfall last year. The powers that be on Wall Street need to be smacked down severely for what they're doing to manipulate the market for their own profit.

This is yet another area where Obama seems negligent in tending to matters of concern for the American people.

And yes, he will be a one termer if he doesn't get it together--quickly.

[SammyWinstonJack]

24. From what I see, Obama clearly only wants to be a one term president.

Maybe his plan all along? :shrug:

[sabbat hunter]

10. The reason for the first run up

is the same reason for this one, speculators driving the price up.

[obliviously]

15. The current price increase is different

then before it is due to devaluation of the dollar. We are printing to much money!

[ThomWV]

16. If we're printing too much money why don't I have any? I'm the guy who buys the gas.

[obliviously]

18. Yeah! whats up with that!

We should have the same right to print unbacked paper money as the government.

[Badgerman]

23. the ones who got the $$$ are using part of them to speculate on oil futures...simple huh! n/t

[bullwinkle428]

17. Americans and their long-term memory abilities?

[wuvuj]

25. I'd say...GET USED TO IT.

Most people can't seem to get the message...but the fact is...THINGS ARE CHANGING....and they won't be going back to the way they were.

Unless you have big bucks...downsize your vehicles and go for higher mileage ones. Think about home heating and food. Water?

Part of the rise in prices is due to expectations of economic growth...and part is due to speculation. Speculation is based on the expectation that commodities are going to be in short supply as China and India try to increase their standards of living....meaning the easy ride for the US is over? Oil also rises due to the drop in the dollar...due to great amounts of debt.

Understand that around 50% of the US population would see no problems with invading another country for their oil or anything else...and no issues with tearing this country up for energy....fascists to the core. Drill baby drill...kill baby kill?

So we'll see rising energy and food prices and more wars. There will be a MAJOR CONTEST between the ideas of trying to curb global warming and saving the biosphere...and that of just going after as many commodities and cheap labor as possible before say the Chinese or (?) get to them....wars.

Your future. You should prepare.



Think gas prices are a biatch? Think food? ...etc?



Richard Heinberg's Peak Everything - Parts 1 thru 6


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybRz91eimTg&feature=related&pos=1


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boj9ccV9htk


"There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrowmindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion." — Lord Acton