Food for thought

[Fish]

Apparently, amid fears that Hurricane Ike will impact the oil industry or at least scare those who trade in oil and drive up the price of gasoline, there are some "panics" at gas stations in South Carolina and other spots. Probably the best example of this happened back on 9/11, when very real fear and uncertainty resulted in huge lines at pumps, fighting for gas, and very high prices within hours. When that happened, the shortages and high prices never actually happened due to the actual event, but people trying to beat their neighbors to the pump did drive up prices fast locally for a day. The result? Some folks paid very high prices for a tank of gas and then got pissed at stations for "gouging" them.

Granted, in my opinion station owners have a civic responsibility to not hurt the people in their community by raising prices and thus increasing fear and panic. But what about the people who were fighting to get in line before the old lady down the street from them to get their tank filled up first? Don't we all have that same civic responsibility? Shouldn't we all be looking out for other people as well as ourselves?

I got a several calls on 9/11 just after the towers fell, friends telling me to go get gasoline while I still could. My reply was that I planned on being the first person in my neighborhood to run out of gas. A much better way to show my patriotism than waving a flag or putting a pin on my jacket. My real point was that if there were to be real long-term gas shortages, then getting a tank that day was not going to do me much good, and it might do someone else who needed gas more than I did some harm. If gas really was going to "run out" then we as a community and an entire nation were all going to have to deal with that problem. If, on the other hand, it was just a short-term panic and run on the pumps, then I would just buy my gas after the lines and high prices had subsided in a couple of days. Guess what happened?

Of course, it happened again during Hurricane Katrina. Same result.

So, if some people again panic in advance of this storm, I suppose we all have to assess our needs, think about the needs of others, and decide what's best to do. The likelihood is that people trying to stock up on gasoline will do more to raise the price than the feared damage from the hurricane. Hopefully this is a lesson most folks have learned now. If they spend time waiting in line for gas and then pay more than the price will be two days from now, it may be an economics lesson they'll remember for a while. Plus, do we really want to be the person who is smugly driving around with a full tank of gas while others who may need it more are stranded? Granted some of us DO need it, but when I look at my needs compared to many others', I'm generally more inclined to count my blessings and to try to be strong in times of crisis and help in what ways I can.

Just a thought.

- Fish

[Godzilla]

Fish,

Good Word!

Great reminder on living with a thankful heart, what it means to live in community & to remember that change starts with us.

Jeff

[Clif]

yes! However I plead guilty to filling up this morning. For the generator since this storm looks to be coming my way. I can take gas from the car if I need it.

Any other reason and I would be in the run out position also. I have gone back to 45 mph also. Sorry, I am that idiot in front of you while you are trying to do 60+. I let folks by when I can. Got more time than money.

Pray this storm does not get stronger today.

[kayakcono]

I just noticed that Gas went up .40 cents per gallon,overnight here in Southern Illinois !! The worst part was, as Fish noted, was that the lines of people waiting to pay it, were huge ! Makes me feel a bit smug, knowing I just got rid of my BIG a** Tundra (14mpg) for a new, lil tiny Tacoma that is getting about 26mpg ! Now if I could just get people to stop looking over at me at Stop lights !!
(I sorta miss that high vantage point the Tundra gave me !) Freddie

[Roger]

Freddy, long time no see! How you doing?

[Cowper]

Fish, noble thoughts. I also see you are one of those cursed with a memory span of more than 6 months.

I filled up on 9-1-1. I left a deserted work place about 6 or 7 PM, went by the Flying J to see what the situation was, and found a gas station that looked deserted enough to be spooky, because everyone else had rushed the station earlier in the day. Good supply, and to F J's credit, a modest price increase, but nothing you could call "gouging".

Pop Quiz: What seems to happen to gas prices in the weeks and months leading up to almost any national election?
Hint: The exact opposite of what happens about three to seven days before any summer holiday weekend.

[Roger]

http://newenergynews.blogspot.com/2008/ ... es-up.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Drifter]

Got my gas when it was $3.39 (WOW - WHAT A DEAL) - went and filled up Thursday right after Bloomberg announced a 1.50 jump in Gulf 87 wholesale. Hope nobody gets stranded on account of me; but I'm pretty sick of getting ripped off by the oil companies...

And these guys:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washin ... overn.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mb]

And please contact your congressman/representative and ask that the US at last get a long term energy plan-and that there be high fuel mileage requirements on all new vehicles. They've had 40 years to do this. I recall long gas lines back when I still had hair on my head (and it wasn't gray).

[lobbylady]

I remember being a kid in the 70s with the gas lines. We bought a Toyota Cressida that got 20 miles to the gallon when US cars were getting 10 miles to the gallon until the K car came out.
I heard Thursday or Friday that Dodge has a car that gets 65 miles to the gallon, but that car sells in South America. It doesn't sell here due to American regulations...something to do with diesel. IF we want that kind of gas mileage then we had better demand it...Jim is right...Call your e-mail your congressman.

It ticked me off yesterday when I put gas in the car (did need it as we were driving to Rendezvous). .40 cent increase! I was standing there pumping gas and complaining to the people next to me. The gas in the tank under the gas station did not increase in price overnight. They bought that gas last week. Ugh!

[Drifter]

The 65 MPG Ford the U.S. Can't Have:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 491065.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Ford's 2009 Fiesta ECOnetic goes on sale in November. But here's the catch: Despite the car's potential to transform Ford's image and help it compete with Toyota Motor (TM) and Honda Motor (HMC) in its home market, the company will sell the little fuel sipper only in Europe. "We know it's an awesome vehicle," says Ford America President Mark Fields. "But there are business reasons why we can't sell it in the U.S." The main one: The Fiesta ECOnetic runs on diesel."
:roll:

Can't sell it in the US. The United States is the largest consumer of oil in the world. Recent price spikes (for whatever reason) have caused a significant "demand destruction." Demand destruction means less money for those marketing the product. Who benefits from the sale of oil? The oil companies for sure; bankers and speculators, etc., who utilize it as an Asset Class, and then there's the good old US Government. May be old news to some, but yep, the US government has been in the oil sales business for the last ten or so years, making billions in profits by selling oil; much of which is extracted onshore from "government" land (this is supposed to be public land - owned by the citizens of this country) on the open markets through the "Royalty In Kind" (RIK) program.

"The MMS's Minerals Revenue Management is responsible for management of all revenues associated with both federal offshore and onshore mineral leases. The effort is one of the federal government’s greatest sources of non-tax revenues."
Source - U.S. Government


If these cars were made here and their use were to become widespread in the U.S., "demand destruction" would be exacerbated exponentially. (How'd ya like them 50 cent words?) In simpler terms "lots of lost $$$." No sales organization wants to lose money, and the U.S. government is definitely in the business of selling oil.

"The MRM Royalty In Kind Oil Sales Business Unit is a seasoned business enterprise engaged in the competitive sale of crude oil in the nations energy markets" Their words. Snazzy!

[Side note - if we are "running out of oil" as the doomers claim, and need to "break our dependence" on oil from unfriendly nations, then "demand destruction" is what we want, right? Could this be a conflict of interest?]

['Nother side note and more food for thought with a little different flavor. US economy in trouble - big bailouts in progress with Wall Street crumbling down. Rumors going around about automakers in trouble and may need a loan from the US government. How 'bout a nice low interest loan to jump start US production of these vehicles; the money to be used only for this purpose. Now that's a solution! Save the US Automakers and reduce our consumption of oil. Talk about killing two birds with one stone, make that three - more jobs for Americans. Throw in a tax incentive for buyers and ya got a home run! Think this will happen? If anybody wants to make any bets on this one feel free to shoot me a PM .]

The high demand for oil has been blamed on the US consumers long enough. If the US Government were really concerned about the conservation of oil then it seems it would be working overtime to get more of these type vehicles on the road and encouraging manufacturers to build and market them here. Obviously this is not happening.

Yes we need to speak up about this to our elected officials and we need to be loud about it.

Do this and maybe there will be enough fuel for "the little old crippled lady down the street who needs it more than us" - and for us too, after future hurricanes.

And please contact your congressman/representative and ask that the US at last get a long term energy plan-and that there be high fuel mileage requirements on all new vehicles. They've had 40 years to do this.

Thanks for the "food for thought" there, Fish! However, that potato chip just made me want a big steak...

[Fish]

Psychology/Sociology 101: We have met the enemy and they is us: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/09/15/ike.gas/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good article on the topic. Note that the media (just doing their thing and making their money) is a big catalyst. Greasing the skids of public panic.

- Fish

[okieboater]

I sent a portion of Drifters info on the 65 mpg car being sold in Europe but not in the US to Bush, my senators and representative.

Asked them why they were looking out for the Europeans but keeping us home folk tied to the gas hogs.

Maybe if a bunch of others did the same, our federal officials would do something other than spend taxpayer's money on pork.

[Drifter]

Okieboater, would you mind PM-ing me a copy of your letter? Would like to see your wording and get a few more ideas before sending mine in. I like the way you put things.

Noticed WTI oil dropped to $91.something a barrel on the futures market with spot Brent down to $87. Unleaded gas futures at $2.47. Local gas price just around the corner: $3.75. Could relief be coming? Crossing my fingers but not getting my hopes up too high...

[Drifter]

Yes we need an energy plan alright. Fo Sho - Fo Sho. By now most everyone has heard of the "Pickens Plan." Base concepts of it sound ok, but wait a minute; T. Boo.... nevermind.

Check out the Paris Hilton Plan...

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/64ad536a6d" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;