Fun. Unlike some on here I would prefer that gas was like $1 a gallon not 5,10, or worse like 30 or something. This is going to suck. I swear by the end of the summer when gas prices drop to a lower cost we are going to be paying $4 a gallon.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IAO @ Apr 5 2007, 06:25 AM) [snapback]418151[/snapback]</div>

2/3rds of the world's remaining reserves of oil are controlled by a handful of countries who hate us (KSA, Iraq, Iran, Venezula). We will never develop and implement alternative energies because of environmental concerns, or because we don't want to support terrorism, or because of national security. We will only do so because the price of gas is higher than the cost of those alternatives.

Personally, I hope the cost of gas goes gradually up to $10/gallon over the next 5-10 years. Not enough to crash the world economy but enough to get us off our complacent *sses.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(homer315 @ Apr 5 2007, 07:42 AM) [snapback]418159[/snapback]</div>

An increase of $1 per year over the next 10 years would lead to a worldwide economic crash. I agree with what you are saying, and I know where you are going ... but I think we are closer to some serious trouble than many people think. $5.00 - $6.00 a gallon in the US within 3-5 years could be devastating to world markets.

Well, I hope all the posters that were mad that gas was getting cheaper, back to $2.50 (Seriously, how could you be mad about that?) are happy. I wasn't pissed when gas was $2, but $4 is just getting ridiculous. It costs $30 to fill up my tank, It wouldn't be so bad if it was only $20.

i was mad enough to have to put $25 in the tank last night :angry: and that doesn't even account for the $45 we have to spend to fill up DH's car.

some of us can't afford to go wishing for high gas prices without asking to get screwed over in the process.

Yeah I know we need to make the switch to alt fuel and whatnot. I also know necessity is the mother of all invention.

But we are going to start seeing the side affect of this at 3 and 4 dollars a gallon. Prices of produce have risen with each increase in gas price.

If you think that we will not pull a 1941 Japan because our oil gets locked up in some political debate look at Iraq. We cut off Japans oil and they attacked us what do you think we will do it the countries that try and cut our oil off or raise prices so high it ruins our economy. People may be sensible now but raise gas prices to $10 a gallon and when the economy starts to collapse and someone comes along and say we need war to fix this. you have seen what angry people do (Iraq) watch what starving desperate people do. You want worse case scenario wwIII with nuclear weapons being used. You can forget about saving the environment with your Prius, recycling and solar power. There will be nothing left. Ideals don’t stand up to hysteria. Ideals are supposed to prevent craziness not create it. I hope we figure out what we are going to do before it gets insane.

I know this is not a fix but researchers have figured a cheep way to turn coal into gasoline and it would for the equivalent of a barrel of crude oil cost about $30. Also with the USA’s current oil consumption our coal reserves would last about 75- 100 years possibly longer. This would be a good crutch for at least the US and allow us to remain in power another 60 years and maybe find and set up another solution to the problem.

Then there are those that think we should be reduced to a 3rd world country and live in caves to those people I say go live in a cave then. :lol:

We're all puppets who dance when OPEC pulls on our strings. We're also so collectively short-sighted that I don't think markets will create viable large-scale alternative sources of energy fast enough to fend off worldwide economic collapse.

I think the real question will be, what assets or skills do you have that you can barter for fuel?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ichabod @ Apr 5 2007, 12:23 PM) [snapback]418234[/snapback]</div>

:lol: I have and know how to use firearms. You want to barter what is your life worth .
No I would not go around killing people but you know others will and people will need protection that’s all I am saying. The gunslingers of the old west may be what our great grand kids refer to us as. “Oh yeah well my great grand dad was the fastest draw in the old west of 2020” “well my uncle was the best shot ever and lived to a ripe old age of 35. but he died in the great gun fight at the unical refinery in 2025.” :lol:

How about some petroleum engineering?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(snowdog650 @ Apr 5 2007, 06:58 AM) [snapback]418175[/snapback]</div>

Think $5 gas would kill us? Been to Europe recently? Their averages are between $4.5-$7/gal and there is no correlation between pump price and GDP growth (Greece's gas is the cheapest and their growth is below the Netherlands at $6.50/gallon). http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/global_gasprices/

Gradually rising gas prices will force us to downsize our cars, rethink our cities, and find more efficient ways to do everything, changes that will produce whole new industries and potential for growth (think of the industry that has sprung up in Europe for dealing carbon credits). And eventually, the cost of oil will rise above the cost of alternatives (solar can produce electricity for only fractionally more than the current cost of fossil fuels), and the economy will transition to these, creating even more growth (we'll need a lot of wind turbines and panels).

$10/gallon? To borrow a phrase from our fearless leader, bring it on!

$10 a gallon... okay... so in one week i'd use about $30 in the prius, and in that same week DH would use about $120 in his camry. that's $150 a week. in gas alone. not to mention cost of food and other supplies going up.

let's be conservative and ignore increased cost of other things.

we're now paying $600 a month for GAS. guess who then has to choose between driving to work and buying groceries, having phones, and being able to use the light switches?
oh, oh, i know, we could go out and acquire ANOTHER car payment so that we can save on gas money! ahh, yes, more fuel efficient cars definitely solve all the problems there...

don't be ridiculous. ten bucks a gallon would ruin a lot of people. just because you've got the money to afford it doesn't mean the rest of us wouldn't be bent over in a very unpleasant way.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(homer315 @ Apr 5 2007, 01:19 PM) [snapback]418279[/snapback]</div>

Yep we can rethink LA. Just move everyone out tear it down and start over. No problems there.


ok ok just kidding but a lot of our cities are beyond revising at this point at least not without some major difficulties.

Hate to play devil's advocate, but those countries you mention are barely the size of one of our states. Hence, they don't have to drive as far and use as much gas to get from one point to another in their itty bitty countries. I'm not going to complain much because I live in Chicago and take the bus/el 99% of the time. I have a Previa that I drive when I need to haul my DJ gear or head back to Iowa to see my parents but that's pretty infrequent. But I'm one of the lucky ones who has great public transportation to rely on. Things are going to suck when I move to LA later this year.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IAO @ Apr 5 2007, 10:44 AM) [snapback]418294[/snapback]</div>

It is not too far fetched in the Bay Area. There are so many new condos/townhouse communities built that it is not funny. This is more due to cost of home than gas. But gas will be another main reason to live near work if gas keeps going up about 50 cents a year.

Told you so.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Angelus @ Apr 5 2007, 03:12 PM) [snapback]418420[/snapback]</div>

uh, Brazil? It's the world's 5th largest country. England is big enough. The average american drives less than 40 mi/day so that size of the country isn't really a relevant detail. The layout of the cities is more important than the size of the country.So my question is why is demand so close to supply in the spring? It sounds like we're production constrained. Have the OPEC countries cut production? Time to start building EVs and bike paths.

Galaxee, I would imagine that you'd change you driving habits before you forked over $600/mo for gas.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Apr 5 2007, 01:41 PM) [snapback]418290[/snapback]</div>

A guy I know from the navy pays about $100 a week in gas right now. But then he has an old 93 suburban that he has moded out like crazy. 454 cubic inch engine, 4-inch lift kit, huge knobby tires, big exhaust, and a huge cold air intake with other engine add-ons he gets something in the 550hp range. Oh I forgot the obnoxious sound system in the back that draws so much power he had to switch to a duel heavy-duty alternator system to power it. He once told me he has something like 4 12inch subs drawing 800 watts each plus other junk. It is one of those vehicles that pulls up behind you and you suddenly can’t hear a damn thing other than wump wump wump. This is his every day vehicle and yes before you ask he complains all the time about gas cost.

So to the person who asked if we are a nation of immature babies that is just one example. Go hang around a marine bass and watch the people going to and from work. remember the people driving during commute time are married or high enough in rank to live off base. The lower enlisted live in the barracks and get picked up in a bus or march to work depending on weather.

Here were I live people have big ol trucks and cars with big v8’s. there are even a few vehicles similar to the above suburban but not that extreme but still up there on the list especially when compared to any hybrid. I also see a lot of people in there 20’s (im 27 so I belong to that group) driving the mustangs, chargers, and other v8 powered beasts oh and always the big suv’s.


Don’t get me wrong and take that all out of context there are people in the military who drive sensible cars. Not all marines drive crazy big trucks but they are popular.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IAO @ Apr 5 2007, 05:30 PM) [snapback]418502[/snapback]</div>

For now. I noticed the same thing about vehicle choice when I was in the Army (NG artillery). There were very few people who drove a sensible vehicle. My Plt SGT (who was a marketing guy) sold his Honda Civic and bought a tricked out Dodge 1500 crew cab. Most the the senior NCOs had similar vehicles. It was pretty sad, really. Not good role models. When I spent a year on active duty quite a few of the EMs bought cars. All new and none very practical. Most of them have probably sold them off now. I really doubt that those who bought trucks can afford the current gas prices let alone the cost of gas back at then end of '05.