ORIGINAL: captinjohn
ORIGINAL: 049flyer
Considering all of the risk involved in finding oil in the most difficult parts of the world, drilling wells through thousands of feet of earth and rock, transporting the crude to a refinery on the other side of the continent, refining the oil, shipping the product to the retail stations and finally pumping out and into your tank, all the while contending with an incredible amount of government and environmental regulations, it's surprising the oil is as cheap as it is.
I consider it a bargain at even $5.00 per gallon. You can transport yourself and your family 20 miles or more down the road in air conditioned comfort protected from the elements and listening to whatever you please as if you were at home in your Lazy Boy, all on 1 gallon of gas which today in Texas runs about $3.50.
Would you walk 20 miles for that same $3.50? Would you ride a bike 20 miles for 3.50? Is there any other form of personal transportation that you think is more efficient or cheaper?
12 years ago I had a Suburban and it cost me $35.00 to fll the tank, now I have a Ford Focus and it cost me $35.00 to fill the tank. I see no problem, I just changed my lifestyle a little and the problem goes away.
Do you really NEED that Suburban, SUV or pick-up? Do you really NEED the boat, travel trailer or 4 wheeler? Do you really NEED that trailer for your 30% airplane? Some of us are spoiled, and prefer to blame others for choices we have made.
Change your lifestyle a bit and move on.
If you think the big bad oil companies are ripping you off then buy some of their stock. Maybe you will make some big money.
It sounds like you want us to sell everything except those .049 powered airplanes & fly them in our back yard. It is simple...GAS IS NOT A BARGIN.....
It is not a matter of what a person "needs" or "wants", it is a matter of being held hostage to the pricing dictated by the oil companies, and
not having a choice. Choice after all, is what freedom is all about, though true freedom is very hard to come by in this world of ours now.
Besides, you totally neglect the fact that while a person can perhaps "bite the bullet" and drive cheaper cars and give up their RV's and other gasoline using toys, they CANNOT avoid the high prices of virtually everything else they need, that are caused by high fuel prices.
Sorry to say buy your view is very limited, typical of many Americans, and basically the crux of the problem. If people understood all the dynamics, they would be more upset, and perhaps, perhaps, even try to do something about it. Here's another point... besides the gasoline taxes, how much do you think your basic income tax rate is based on fuel prices?? Well, calculate how much money it takes to keep a fleet of airplanes flying over a fuel sucking aircraft carrier with 5000 people on it in the Mediterranean Sea, and think backwards from there....
AV8TOR