What's going on with gas prices.

[gonefishin]

People who think it is the republican party that causes high gas prices should think a little bit. The last gas crisis, media word, was when a demonrat named Jimmy Carter was in office. Republican or Democrat makes no difference when it comes to energy costs.

Anyone who thinks Americans are driving as much as they were 2,3 or even 4 years ago need to look around. The roads are not nearly as busy as they were. There are not nearly as many SUV's on the roads. There used to be a constant string of SUV's and or pickups pulling campers where now they are rare enough to cause notice. Toyota's are selling in record numbers while SUV heavy companies like GM and Ford are going broke. It isn't hard to figure that we are NOT burning nearly as much gasoline as we were.

We are told that we are still burning record gallons of gas because the reserve keeps shrinking. Using the reserve as a gauge to raise prices is nothing more a convenient way to gouge on prices. Its simple the refineries don't put the gals in and the price goes up. Prices are high enough at this point that the refineries and oil companies don't mind owning some inventory.

It is not a hard stretch to realize that our economy is geared towards gasoline consumption. Off the top of my head I think road tax is .36 cents per gallon. How many many millions of gallons per day is consumed in the US? Then one has to figure how many millions in income tax are paid every year by the companies distributing, transporting and selling gasoline. If the government were to lose this revenue what would happen to our economy? How much would other taxes have to go up to offset this?

I hear a lot about of people say things like "Well, gas costs $6.00 in Europe we have it cheap here." This may be true but a lot of European countries fund their old age retirement (social security programs), national health care and general funds via gasoline taxes. Those programs are all funded by separate programs here.Most of the Euro countries are smaller than the US thus most people are going to travel less miles than they do here which requires a higher price in gas to cover refining, transportation and distribution costs. Their countries are also more densely packed than our country. Having efficient public transportation systems is much easier and less costly than it would be here. Comparing the cost of gasoline here to there is like comparing grapes to apples. They just aren't the same.

The simple fact is there is a lot of price gouging in gas prices. It is no different than western US electricity crisis prices of a few years ago.

[gonefishin]

Anyone want to buy a 1995 Ford F-150 gashog!! Two tanks = $70.00!

The car I drive averages 37 for my normal everyday driving. On the highway it will get into the 40's. I never thought I would see a time that it would cost $35 to fill it up.

These gas prices have sure cut into my fishing trips. Actually the prices have cut into all of my trips. I don't drive half as much as I used to simply because of gas prices.

[Brian Sloss]

Actually they are running the refineries at well under 100% capacity ( more like 50-60%, at least that is the way I heard it and I may be wrong) and are paying less for a barrel than they were last year. In other words, manipulating supply to be smaller to drive up the price, especially during a time when demand rises and dramatically increasing profits. They already set the model up last year and are following the same formula.

[gonefishin]

Actually they are running the refineries at well under 100% capacity ( more like 50-60%, at least that is the way I heard it and I may be wrong) and are paying less for a barrel than they were last year. In other words, manipulating supply to be smaller to drive up the price, especially during a time when demand rises and dramatically increasing profits. They already set the model up last year and are following the same formula.

Yep, and if someone don't step in and break it up they are going to continue to rob us just as sure as if they used a gun to do it. Of course this is a crime where no one will go to jail. Really big thieves never go to jail. Or at least not for very long. When they do it is one of those plush jail cells reserved for the rich and famous.

[brittsnbirds]

I agree w/ 633, the fat cats keep getting fatter. They have no desire to help the people that vote them in. Like I said before, we need a hero/champion.

Hey 633 if you see me on the side of the road as your roll'in in Gores gulfstream, pick me up. We'll show him what real Americans do for entertainment.

Nice to see your still alive!

[taxidermist]

I wonder why the high officials say, "We need to drive smaller cars." "We need mor energy effiecient homes." and so on, then they fail to be the leader we elected them to be.

They say "drive less" well I would if we had mass transist, I would much rather ride a train to Little Rock to the VA tomorrow than drive!! But I dont see the governement building any new railroad thru these hills. Hell they don't even have a bus running thru Harrison any more.

My home is as energy effecient as they made them a decade ago and if and when I build a new home it willnot be a mansion like I see many building.

So why do our leaders not lead?

How can an oil company claim only 9cents per gallon when net profits have been in the billions of dollars per quarter. Noway am I buying that crap.

Yes, I dont agree with the governemnt on the taxes, where is this going? I guess its for the HWY 65 expansion to Branson.

Yep just wait till the Democrate raise taxes in a few years!!

[motroutbum]

The prices you are experiencing are the same prices that we have been paying in Durango for the last 3 months.

[Quillback]

As Britts and Birds says, they got us by the lower unit, we can whine about oil companies, conspiracies, taxes, govt officials, dems, GOP, (name your villain) but they're selling it for $3.00 and we're buying it. The oil industry figured out last year that we'll pay these high prices, maybe we'll grumble about it and blame whomever, but we'll still pay, heck the oil companies aren't charities, if we give them our money they'll take it. Best thing to do is buy some oil company stock. Exxon has doubled in the last 5 years.

[Ham]

Hey Terry, I live in Minden, La. I have plans to move northward. If it was just me, I'd be up there already. I'm leaning towards the Harrison area.

I make a fair number of trips up to your neck of the woods. Expect to see me at Taney his fall unless of course someone blows the dam.

[porter57]

where is cassville?

and will they fill 55 gallon drums?

might be worth a trip for those prices.

but i dont think the locals will let me store it here.