I was intrigued by the suggestion that the current administration wants higher gas prices as a way to break Americans love for the huge gas guzzlers.
"[Bush explained that] every year from the early 1970s until the mid-1990s, American cars burned less and less oil per mile traveled. Then in about 1995 that progress stopped. Why? He answered his own question: Because of the gas-guzzling SUV. And what had made the SUV craze possible? This time I answer. "Um, cheap energy?" He nodded at me."
So in that respect, we can blame the economic boom under Clinton and the resulting mad rush to buy SUVs that get 15 miles to the gallon for the pinch we're in now.
The other way to look at it is Bush is making his very wealthy friends even wealthier. But if the first theory is true, bless W's little heart. If the gas crunch encourages Americans to conserve and American cities to build and promote better public transport, it's a good thing.
Also:
"If you supported the war, then you can take heart that you are paying for it in terms of a lower real income and in a redistribution of wealth to those groups connected to the warfare state. And if you didn't support the war, then you can take heart in receiving a lesson of modern democracy."
Yay! We all lose, even the nimrods who wanted to go in there.
What do you think? Anyone had to change the way they live because of fuel prices? How so? Do you plan to change the way you use gasoline, either buy using a more efficient vehicle in the future, carpoolong, riding your bike, etc.?
colossus72 [c72] Customize.org Staff member relations, submissions.
09:40 am, Wednesday, August 31, 2005 (4 years ago)
This is a significant moment in history. With China beginning to wake up, demand for oil is only going to get worse. Despite the fact the Gulf crisis is only temporary, the events in the Gulf Coast are going become a catalyst in the proliferation of alternate energy sources and help Americans realize the significance of a triple bottom line approach to corporate and personal business in general. This is because traditional methods of business are going to become expensive, as the price for these non renewable resources (such as oil for example) climbs because of a fixed supply. Its ironic in that business, whether personal or corporate, is going to be forced to consider sustainable alternatives to conducting trade because actions like consuming oil and basically trashing the Earth are finally going to hit them where it hurts – the bottom line.
im an engineering student, all we have been talking about this year it seems is conservation and sustainability.
i have a jeep, but i only use it when i buy something bigger than what will fit in my backpack. With all the traffic around boulder, for simple errands, i get around faster than cars on my bike, and i can go much more directly.
fuel cell cars and a hydrogen economy will not work. the best thing we can do right now is to use less. turn off the lights when you leave a room, take the bus, if everyone actually tried huge strides could be made.
also ... some one should invent cold fusion. that would help us out a lot.
I ride public transportation everyday. It has its pro's and con's. $45 a month get's me where I have to go but it takes almost three times as much time to get there... Not to mention all the money I save on insurance and maintenance.
I had a car but it got stolen a few months ago and since I had the very basic insurance, I didn't get squat for it. Now, everytime I see what a gallon of gas costs ($3.09 regular, about 10 minutes ago), I feel happy I don't drive.
'we're not worthy' colossus. ... are you donating your brain to science or some other means when you die? it would be a good conversation piece you know, especially on a mantelpiece.
Man this blows with gas prices up man im pretty happy with motorcycle but come winter time....ehhh curse suvs and soccer moms...10 yrs ago was minivan if any still remebers
This issue is extensively covered in the most recent issues (July and September) of Scientific American and the August issue of National Geographic. My suggestion: Get a Prius, buy an energy efficient home, and throw a few solar panels on your roof; it will go a long way towards keeping the Earth a healthier place and padding your wallet.
whoever voted for bush is an idiot, like he cares about the oil prices, his father is getting rich off it, he has shares in his buddies w/e crap. gotta love bush.
History will decide whether all of this is Bush's fault. Right now we're in the middle of a huge mess and there are too many factors in play right now to really accurately speculate about what the root of our country's problems are. OPEC and big oil would be fucking us over no matter who was in office.
And let's keep petty namecalling out of this. Voting for Bush doesn't make anybody an idiot. We were given three candidates to choose from (If you're generous and count Nader). We got to pick from a weasly Democrat, a weasly Republican, and a deranged third party candidate. I tried to vote for the deranged guy, personally. Most of the people I know who voted for Bush dislike him, but disliked Kerry to a greater extent.
The great social problem of our generation is that we no longer have politicians who are representative of the interests of the people, or even of their party. The Democrats have become socialists, the Republicans are slowly moving towards a kind and gentle fascism, and BOTH parties are selling out to special interest groups and big businesses.
And since we NEVER get a rational, viable, charismatic third party candidate (Like, I don't know, John McCain or Wesely Clark), we're pretty much forced to vote for one of the two mainstream candidates.
We'd be just as fucked in every respect had Kerry been elected, and the next batch of presidential candidates is setting up to be even more extremist than the '04 batch.
So all of that being said...
I drive an import, and I actually follow all of the little tricks to improve gas mileage. I'm barely even feeling the difference. This fall I'm going to get a motorcycle for driving around town, which is mostly because I want a motorcycle, but it'll cut my fuel costs too.
If you're considering a motorcycle, get one in the fall or early winter, they're cheapest 'off season', and if gas prices really do hit $5 a gallon next year, it'll be harder to get a bike for a reasonable price.
In a weird way, this whole fuel crisis will be a 'good' thing. More expensive gas leads to more efficient and environmentally friendly cars selling better. More small cars on the road means fewer SUV moms driving like maniacs. More expensive interstate travel will be an incentive to people to do their shopping and socializing locally. The big chain stores will feel this more than the mom and pops, so we may see a return of the "town square" businesses and local economies flourishing again.
What's bad for our economy may be great for our society.
: I paid $14 for a T-shirt and all I got was this stupid T-shirt :
1) The above is just my opinion, and me kind of thinking out loud. If you disagree with me I'd like to hear why, but I'm not looking for a violent debate about the merits of the Green party or anything.
2) I didn't spellcheck or proofread any of that, either. ;)
: I paid $14 for a T-shirt and all I got was this stupid T-shirt :
