Has Anybody Thought About How Spiraling Gas Prices

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Has anybody thought about how spiraling gas prices will affect the economy, struggling Americans who are barely making it, and President Obama's reelections prospects?

I have seen this movie before...

[asjr]

1. I think about it constantly. I am aware that

speculators have a finger in the pie, but there should be some way to counter that. Seeing gasoline go up 3/4 cents overnight is frightening. I realize also, that corporations have their big hands in the mess, but isn't there something we can do? I think Democrats should stop being "the nice guys" and take charge. The Republican corporations ala Koch, oil companies, etc.don't play nice. We know there are several governors who have been bought by them. Is it too late for us?

[SutaUvaca]

2. Bigger jump

Here in my end of western North Carolina, gas jumped 20 cents in 2 days.
Its getting tight.

[GentryDixon]

3. $3.19 for regular

in my part of Utah. Up 4 cents since yesterday. No telling where this is headed.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

33. I drove 5 blocks past $3.89 and got a bargain...

$3.73 in Chicago

[Shagbark Hickory]

4. Of course! I never freakin forgot how it effects the economy.

If this extends all the way into summer and there is $4+ gas (ina cheap gas state) This is going to cause a double dip. Add in a hurricane.
And it's over. Get ready for PResident Romney.

[Name removed]

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[michreject]

7. Not for me

I get 10 mpg. I won't drive less. It will just cost more.

[cleanhippie]

28. What are you driving, a semi?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. That would only be a good thing IMHO

if the government were actively working on developing alternative/renewable forms of energy, or, I should say, working to make consumer access to alternative sources of energy more viable. For the foreseeable future, all I can see is being stuck with a bunch of oil-addicted Republican politicians continuing to shovel more cash into the pockets of the oil companies and working in conjunction with them (assisted by their media propaganda apparatus) to frustrate and work against such environmental (and consumer-) friendly efforts. :shrug: Until then,higher gas prices are just going to drag the economy and the average consumer that needs his/her car to get to work further down. It sucks. It really does. I know that President Obama and his administration are dedicated to "green jobs" and projects but they can't do a whole lot with the Republicans running at least one chamber of Congress and otherwise mucking such efforts up. :banghead:

[bobbolink]

19. And many below average workers will lose their jobs. But that never matters to the gas tax junkies.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. Many Americans Are Literally Tapped Out

The only thing higher gas prices for them will discourage is buying food, clothes, and medicine.

Rapid increases in the price of non discretionary items like gas is a burden on those that make the least money and can least afford it because most of their income goes to non discretionary items.

[NutmegYankee]

26. You presume other citizens can afford a new hybrid car.

In reality, millions will have to go without necessities because they are already squeezed financially.

[lildreamer316]

30. Are you going to buy that hybrid for us?

Are you going to force the state to repair the rail line that husband WAS using to get to work, and is now out of order for another month and a half; forcing me to drive him to work an hour away twice a week? (at $3.39 a gallon yesterday,btw)

Are you going to pay the water/phone/whatever bill that equals the cost of the gas I am having to spend since I have to drive him to work SINCE there is no public transportation option? (btw the bus is just as expensive as the gas and does not go where he needs to go, so MORE gas is spend getting him there in that case anyway)?

Are you going to figure out how to pack all of his turntables, mixers, speakers, and etc in a "small fuel efficient car" EVERY time he/we have to get him to one of his gigs? (along with my son, since I have to drive him and he is seven years old and we obviously can't afford a babysitter every time I need to drive husband to work.)

We don't live in Europe. We live in a country that has a lot of space. A lot of rural areas. A sensible option is to find a way to help convert CURRENT vehicles to more efficient outputs at a minimum price. Standing on a soapbox looking down at people who have not 'chosen' to get a hybrid is not helpful. In this economic environment; and with the hit a lot of people's credit is taking due to job losses and subsequent delinquencies in bills, credit cards and mortgages, it is hard for people who even *have* the money to qualify for the newer, hybrid cars.

People are hurting. People are on their last dollar and their last hope. It was designed to be this way. So please don't preach about what they/we "should" be doing. People are actually aware of what would be good for the environment. But being aware and being able to do something about it are sometimes, and now pretty often two totally different things.

Be angry at the corporations and the businesspoliticians who have made it impossible for people to even think about a newer car, much less a fuel efficient hybrid. Preaching at us about what we should be doing and thinking about is just buying into their elitism and their disdain for the common man.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

36. I Believe Most European Nations Are The Size Of American States

As you said America is not as densely populated and squeezing a lot of people in a small are creates a whole new set of problems.

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. Some of it has to do with speculators worrying about revolution in Libya etc.

Speculators shouldn't be able to control anything, IMO. Just the facts, Ma'am.

And it's always a good idea to grow your own vegetables and spices, if possible. Just sayin'.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

9. My wife and i were just talking about this earlier

Why should "potential" events control prices? Shouldn't ACTUAL EVENTS do that? They said on the news that there's no problem with the 2% supply from Libya at this point, so why not wait to raise prices when something actually happens? I was telling my wife that I think that they just decide what the price is going to be and go about finding an excuse.....er.....reason to justify it when they're asked.
:wtf:

[Marblehead]

10. yes,

Graig palest says that they are a cartel and decide what ever price they want. He also said oil should be below $50 a barrel...same old same old

[Fire Walk With Me]

17. Yep.

[bighart]

20. Part of the issues is that while only a small portion of our oil

comes from Libya, a larger portion of Europe's does and they are trying to off-set the shortage from other sources.

[ileus]

11. We're talking about parking the Xterra, and buying an Avalon

My wife has a 8 mile to and from work it wouldn't mean much savings weekdays but it would on weekends were we put 3-500 miles on the xterra.

I'll be keeping my 31mpg accord for my daily commute of 60 miles total.

And of course the jeep will continue to be driven 500 miles a year.

[Initech]

12. I'm buying a ford fusion hybrid. 41 mpg yeah!

[sad sally]

13. Yeah, but you know who it won't hurt? The same wealthy people

who invest in the futures market. They are creaming their jeans - oh, the money to be had at the expense of the poor schumks who can't afford to pay more for anything.

Higher gas prices hurt those least able to pay more - another assult, another shrinking of the dignity of poor and almost poor Americans...

[Name removed]

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[Aerows]

15. Everyone in the economic sector is thinking of it

they just can't really do anything about it.

The Bernanke could print some more dollars, but that wouldn't help this situation in the slightest, nor will it help the fact that food prices are sky rocketing. Did you miss that 12 million tons of rice are contaminated with cadmium?

NONE of this bodes well for the economy.

We don't live in a vacuum.

[Aerows]

16. 12 million tons of rice contaminated in China

Let me reiterate that.

[NutmegYankee]

24. Can you link to that. Please

[sixmile]

18. The last time gas hit $4 we went into this recession

Check the calendars. The banks fell apart within weeks of gas hitting $4 across the nation.

[_ed_]

22. Watch gas prices around Memorial Day

you'll learn all you need to know about gas prices.

[Angry Dragon]

23. Everything is connected

[DeadEyeDyck]

25. I ride bike more, drive car less

[SammyWinstonJack]

31. Do you eat less? Everything is connected.

[cleanhippie]

27. Yes, it is already really hard for many people.

Its only going to get worse.

[lunatica]

34. I'm painfully aware of how it impacts my economy too

[hulka38]

35. All of these billions of dollars

intended to stabilize the region only made it dangerously volatile. You can't sit on that many desperate people for that long and call it stable.