I know last spring/summer they had some lameass excuse about OPEC and reformulating for summer but they really didn't start gouging us at the pump until atleast May 1. However this year the prices are already over $2.00 a gallon for 93. I was just wondering if anyone had any theries on this other than the fact that so many US oil companies are now owned by foriegners who have no problem charging $4.00+ a gallon.

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2001 RED Adopted 2/10/2001 at 11:00am
Bed Rug
Retrax cover (sweet unit)
Superchip R9
AIRAID
V 1

 

still 1.57-1.62 here, no big change recently.

Dan

 

Well, unfortunately the bulk of our oil supply comes from OPEC, which being a cartel is in and of itself the problem. Basically several large foreign oil firms get together and set prices (here in the U.S. it's called collusion and it's illegal). Unfortunately the U.S. government doesn't have a large say in what those prices might be, although we have negotiated better in the past. The only portion of the price that the U.S. government controls is the taxation, with additional taxes based on where you live.

The U.S. does have a "strategic reserve" of oil available, but the President has to give the go-ahead to dip into this, thereby adding supply and reducing prices.

Premium has been holding steady here in So.Cal around $1.75.

Sorry about the econ lesson...

 

Well if billy boy didn't release all that oil so the smaller guys could sell it to the foriegners and then have them resell it at a atstranomical price......


I personally think that if the prices of everything else in this world goes up, then the pay scale needs to be increased for the working man. Most everybody doesn't get a huge bonus every time the damn gas prices go up, do they? Minimum wage is still below 6 bucks an hour. Which I don't think somebody who works at McDonalds should get paid 20 bucks an hour, I do feel they should make more. Its only fair. right.

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Built 5/4/99
# 917 of 4000
2001 ET: With the barometer below 30 and the temp at 35 degrees and no traction at all:
Reaction: .658
60 foot, 2.433 on street tires
E.T.: 13.59
MPH: 108.23 !!!!!!
When the tailgate drops, the bullsh*t stops.
MY ZING ALBUM: http://www.zing.com/album/?id=4293132307

 

What is the average tax, local and fed? I'd guess about a third of what you pay.

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01L,Lowered, Black,Downey SST,Straight Pipes,Chipped,Wet Okole Covers........ Toy: 91 Heritage Softtail Classic/Lowered

 

People should get paid what the market will bear, IMHO. The more government controls there are (price controls, minimum wage, etc.) the worse it is for everyone throughout the chain from producer to consumer. For example, deregulation of the airlines in the 80's has given us several bankrupt airlines, many mergers, but, and this is key, COMPETITION. You pay less now than you did in the 80's for plane tickets. And that's not even adjusting for today's dollar vs. 20 years ago. Capitalism all the way, baby. If the government would get out of the way, and let this country build modern power plants, explore new oil fields (while making sure the environment isn't exploited, of course) I'm sure there are quite a few US oil companies that would love to sell you their oil instead of OPEC's, for a cheaper price. What's happened this year is OPEC cut production about a month ago, and thus prices have gone up because there is less oil, but the same or greater demand. And perhaps your local political leaders and/or voters have passed an increase in gasoline taxes that took effect April 1st. That is the usual day sales tax increases and the like take effect. Now, don't get me started on taxes.

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1999 Lariat 4X4 SuperCab Flareside 5.4; Auto, Tow Pack, Offroad Pack, 3.73LS, Factory Step Bars, 17" Chrome Wheels, Oxford White/Silver, Graphite Leather, Keypad Mod., Airaid, SuperChip, ARE LSII Bed Cover, Alpine CDA-855/JBL AMP, Polk dX7's, Custom cat-back exhaust.

[This message has been edited by rons (edited 04-11-2001).]

 

If you're looking for a reason why oil prices are so high, check the major oil companies profits for the last quarter of year 2000. Nuff said !

 

No don't stop yellin' about taxes, pretty soon we all will be payin' about 60% of what you make. Not just income taxes....FICA,Medicare,property,sales,gas,user fees(the lastest gov't tax relabeled),estate,wheel,tolls,value added, and on and on...............

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01L,Lowered, Black,Downey SST,Straight Pipes,Chipped,Wet Okole Covers........ Toy: 91 Heritage Softtail Classic/Lowered

 

Believe it or not? I drove by a SHELL station on my way to thegym and 90 minutes later the prices rose $.16 a gallon so don't tell me it is because OPEC cut production a month ago. It used to be stations would compete with each other for customers now tey just match the other gut and laugh all the way to the bank.
Enouth said; I had to vent on this issue because I hate spending $40 to fill the truck. At least I don't have to drive it to work everyday(25 miles oneway).

 

Yes, I would have to admit that prices are getting unreasonable. But the problem lies within the oil companies. Even Shell has to pay what they say or they wont have any gas to overcharge us for. There needs to be (dare i say) more government restriction on the price of the oil barrel.

 

Super Unleaded down the street from my work is around $2.25 a gallon. It's been going up a few cents every couple of days. Probably see $3.00 soon.

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01 Silver Lightning-no mods yet!
00 S281 Speedster - 312 rwhp 383 rwtq
98 GSXR-750 - 123rwhp

 

Any price over $1.50 is over inflated. I just spent $10.12 to fill up my 5 gal. propane tank to my barbecuer. A year ago I was paying around five bucks. Talk about hyperinflation. Last week I took a trip to Reno to visit family. In Oregon I paid $1.68, in California I paid $1.89, and in Nevada the price was $1.75. I'm sick of paying for outrages prices period! Then there is the increase in electric on top of it. $%#$ I need a nuclear power plant installed in my truck!

 

A big part of the rest of the world is paying $3-4 a gallon for gas and have been for some time. How long do we really think we will continue to get it for $1 a gallon?

People in the US are paying more for bottled water than they do for gas. Think about it, oil gets pumped out of the ground half way around the world, transported on a ship to a refinery in the US where it is processed. Then it has to be shipped to the distribution point and then trucked to the station where you buy it. Water on the other hand is pumped up locally, gets run through a coffee filter, put in a bottle and brought to the store on a truck.

Oh yeah, look at the price of a case of beer compared to a gallon of gas.

Gas will be $3-4 a gallon in the US. It's just a matter of time.

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Rick

White 00 #2236 of 4966

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<A HREF="http://a1060.g.akamai.net/f/1060/597/30minutes/www.zing.com/picture/p0903ca5788ed2e743923d60b1a060fed/feb8b2de.jpg" TARGET=_blank> </A>

[This message has been edited by ****** (edited 04-11-2001).]

 

Arlington, Va (Washington DC) $1.67 - $1.95

 

The price of Light Crude (per barrel) is about 28.15 down .33 since yesterday. Lcrude ws over $30 a barrel about 2 months ago, but the price for a gallon of gas is up, and continues to go up daily. Lcrude was just under $27 a barrel a couple of weeks ago, but the price for a gallon was still going up. Right now, IMHO, we are at the mercy of "Big Oil", as the price of Lcrude is still down, but gas prices keep going up. Watch the prices tomorrow, they ALWAYS go UP on Thursday...

Later,
Roger