Griping About Gas Prices...in a New SUV

All the more reason to raise the gas tax to cover the additional cost of wear and tear on our roads.

 

This summer's hurricane season will be interesting... I don't have a
problem with higher gas prices, it's the artificial shortages,
unjustified gouging, and potential violence near gas stations that
will inevitably occur that scares the crap out of me. This sort of
thing seems deeply enough rooted in human nature [especially the
self-important "me first" american culture], that maybe eliminating
80% of them if not more and starting over *is* the right answer.
.
So who's the first up against the wall? Lawyers. Marketing people.
Useless, busy-work corporate middle managers and a few CxOs. Fashion
consultants. Salesdroids. The list of societal "fluff" could go on
and on ... but no, it'll probably wind up being the people who really
hold the infrastructure together instead, and then there won't be
any infrastructure.
.
_H*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DAT1 @ May 18 2006, 10:24 PM) [snapback]257823[/snapback]</div>

Of course you do!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eyeguy13 @ May 19 2006, 09:46 AM) [snapback]257994[/snapback]</div>

Why wait for a new president in 2008, let's throw the bums out of Congress in 2006.

 

<_< QUOTED: "All the more reason to raise the gas tax to cover the additional cost of wear and tear on our roads."

SO... What makes you believe that gasolene taxes are actually used to improve and maintain roads and highways? This reminds me of the "logic" used to promote the Lottery in Texas some years back... "The money is going to support and improve our schools." So where did it go?? = you guessed it - THE GENERAL FUND. During the BIG WAR (WW2) a tax was imposed on movie tickets "for the duration of the war" - it's still there.

Now with the Texas Legislature passing the School Tax reform to reduce school taxes at the expense of collecting more taxes on businesses and raising tobacco taxes, they have approved allowing school districts to raise the tax rate. **SIGH**

The point: Don't believe that added revenue from raising gasolene taxes will be dedicated to highway and road construction, improvement and maintenance.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JEBster @ May 19 2006, 12:29 AM) [snapback]257883[/snapback]</div>

Honda Civic Hybrid MSRP: $22,150
Honda Civic EX AT MSRP: $19,260

Difference = $2,890

Ford Escape Hybrid FWD MSRP: $26,900
Ford Escape XLT Sport FWD MSRP: $24,185

Difference = $2,715


With hybrids currently commanding MSRP (or more) and non-hybrids receiving some type of discount (even minimal), the $3,000 premium over a similiar gas-engine model is entirely plausible.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusenvy @ May 19 2006, 03:52 AM) [snapback]257939[/snapback]</div>

I agree with you. My teenage son constantly shakes his head horizontally from side to side in an oscillation when he sees or hears something he disagrees with. I just remind him that half the people out there are below average. And what's even scarier is that we have to drive on the same roads as they do. On a two lane road as they do. Driving toward each other at 60 miles per hour with only a painted strip on the pavement. AHHH! It makes my head hurt.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Whitestar @ May 18 2006, 06:39 PM) [snapback]257728[/snapback]</div>

Good One!

Has anyone else noticed the truck/suv dealers offering incentives to buy their vehicles? free gas for a month or year... We see it alot here in Fla...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bgdrewsif @ May 19 2006, 09:00 AM) [snapback]257780[/snapback]</div>

Depending on your psychological outlook, you can either foresee "Mad Max Road Warrior" or a more benevolent picture of the future. No doubt, though, that things will be very different by the time you're 60.
Once we get over the hope for cheap fuel, we can begin doing what Americans seem to do well: inventing our way out of the mess. It will be sticky for a while because folks like Bush and Exxon will resist change because they are ideologically bankrupt, but ultimately, things will be better when we stop burning fossil fuel.

Americans will not suffer anywhere near what Africans will; already poor, their continent will be devastated by climate change that is already inevitable from carbon dioxide already spewed into the atmosphere.

On the bright side, there will be huge sums of money to be made by corporations and inventors developing carbon sequestering technologies and alternative energy sources. with every new development, the carbon burden in the atmosphere will be lowered just a bit. If we can keep carbon emissions at present levels for the next 50 years (quite do-able with current technologies), we have a good chance of halting the worst of climate change. Being pessimistic does nothing to help the situation.

In flying, we teach students to "fly the airplane" when things start going bad, rather than panicking. The plane may ultimately crash, which it would most certainly do if you did nothing, but it might not if you keep flying it. The analogy works for the oil crisis.

When we transitioned from horses to automobiles, there was huge disruption and bankrupt businesses whose products were no longer relevant. Same thing here, only much more difficult and challenging.
You bought a Prius? At least you are moving in the right direction. Start elsewhere by doing energy evaluations in your house (how much needless electricity are you wasting?), re-assess your buying habits (do I need new things when recycled things work just as well, etc).....by being pro-active, you become part of the solution and I guarantee that your outlook will change when you start re-assessing your life. Your lifestyle need not go to hell; you'd be amazed at how much you really don't need. You'll also begin meeting other travelers on this road, and develop a sense of community around saving the environment.

Good luck, keep thinking and don't despair. Your parents generation may have left you a screwed up world, but, like all "next generations", it's your world to re-invent.
Bob

 

I just cut the retraction out of a May 2006 CR, and put it in my wallet. Next time a person says "But CR says...", I'm ready to whip it out! :lol:

[qoute]I think you're giving people a lot more credit than they deserve. The average person out there is probably a lot less informed than you think they are. [/quote]

After driving around southeastern PA for a week, I have to agree. Those people drive like they are TOTALLY clueless when it comes to rising gas prices. 15-20 mph over the speed limit was the norm, just blowing the gas out their tailpipes. And, not a speed trap anywhere. :angry:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BobZ @ May 18 2006, 09:33 PM) [snapback]257795[/snapback]</div>

That's because in D.C., they're buying Escalades and the gasoline that they guzzle on the taxpayer's dime. The sky's the limit when someone else picks up the tab.