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The price of gasoline is a mystery to me. The entire crude oil market is based on speculation. Speculation that OPEC may cut production, speculation of further unrest in the Middle East, speculation of weather. What not speculatory is that it all leads to the American consumer shelling out (no pun intended) more $ at the pump.
I'm hearing the refineries we have are 40 years old and none have been built since. Is that true. You mean the refineries built in 1950 were constructed with the forethought that they needed to be able to handle demand 40 years down the road? I highly doubt that.
If it's not one thing it's another. Crude oil production is cut or limited, prices go up. Refineries are down or shut down (hurricane) and the price goes up. Funny part is that it never goes down. The big oil companies have price conditioned the American consumer into thinking $2.20 a gallon is a good deal (if we ever see that again). And, it IS in some parts of the world. But not in this part of the world.
Comparing gas prices to other parts of the world is a ludicrous and asinine comparison. Prices and fairness are based on historical data, not what other citizens in other parts of the world pay. If you want to use that skewed logic, why not talk about the Middle East countries where gas costs are less than $1 a gallon. Don't hear much about that do you?
But, I'm not expert. All I know is what I hear on the TV, radio and read in the paper. I now hear the U.S. Govt may release some oil from the Strategic reserves. That's great, that would have solved last week's problem - low supply, high demand. Let's see, this week they're saying it's the refineries. Why do I get a feeling no matter what the "problem" is, there will always an excuse, er, reason. Mr. Exxon will always be one step ahead.
So, I'm part of the problem. I'll continue to use gas as I always have. Our society and my life is built around fossil fuels. I like my big truck and I will drive it. This isn't to say I'm happy when it costs $80 to fill it, but I'll be damned the day I buy I an econobox to save a few bucks on gas. The environmentalists can drive their electric cars and ride bicycles to work; I'll try not to come to close to you when I speed by in my air conditioned land barge.
And, when I'm not in my gas guzzling 15MPG beast I'll be on my bike. There's never been a better time to ride a motorcycle.
Enough of my meaningless rant. For those that say I have no right to complain about gas prices because I drive a big truck, I say you're wrong. I'll continue to drive it and I'll continue to complain. Go plug in your toxic batteries to the wall outlet that provides electricity from a power plant that burns coal or produces radioactive Uranium. Yeah, that's much better. :2cents:
I'm hearing the refineries we have are 40 years old and none have been built since. Is that true. You mean the refineries built in 1950 were constructed with the forethought that they needed to be able to handle demand 40 years down the road? I highly doubt that.
If it's not one thing it's another. Crude oil production is cut or limited, prices go up. Refineries are down or shut down (hurricane) and the price goes up. Funny part is that it never goes down. The big oil companies have price conditioned the American consumer into thinking $2.20 a gallon is a good deal (if we ever see that again). And, it IS in some parts of the world. But not in this part of the world.
Comparing gas prices to other parts of the world is a ludicrous and asinine comparison. Prices and fairness are based on historical data, not what other citizens in other parts of the world pay. If you want to use that skewed logic, why not talk about the Middle East countries where gas costs are less than $1 a gallon. Don't hear much about that do you?
But, I'm not expert. All I know is what I hear on the TV, radio and read in the paper. I now hear the U.S. Govt may release some oil from the Strategic reserves. That's great, that would have solved last week's problem - low supply, high demand. Let's see, this week they're saying it's the refineries. Why do I get a feeling no matter what the "problem" is, there will always an excuse, er, reason. Mr. Exxon will always be one step ahead.
So, I'm part of the problem. I'll continue to use gas as I always have. Our society and my life is built around fossil fuels. I like my big truck and I will drive it. This isn't to say I'm happy when it costs $80 to fill it, but I'll be damned the day I buy I an econobox to save a few bucks on gas. The environmentalists can drive their electric cars and ride bicycles to work; I'll try not to come to close to you when I speed by in my air conditioned land barge.
And, when I'm not in my gas guzzling 15MPG beast I'll be on my bike. There's never been a better time to ride a motorcycle. Enough of my meaningless rant. For those that say I have no right to complain about gas prices because I drive a big truck, I say you're wrong. I'll continue to drive it and I'll continue to complain. Go plug in your toxic batteries to the wall outlet that provides electricity from a power plant that burns coal or produces radioactive Uranium. Yeah, that's much better. :2cents:
