$2.20 Yikes!

[SpikeRoberts]

No Beckman, your reasoning doesn't make sense, there is not enough oil in ANWR to make a bit of difference in world oil prices. Under the most wildly optimistic scenario ANWR could only provide about 1%-2% of US demand in the 10-20 years it would take to exploit the fields. The impact on present world oil prices would be ZERO and, given a corresponding decline in North Slope production, the future impact would also be close to ZERO.

[fivebucks]

Beckman,
I guess I jumped the gun about the amount of oil exported. I was told once by what I deemed a reliable source that most of the Alaska oil was exported. I researched it and found I am in error, like you said only up to 7% is exported. Sorry for my misstatement. I did know that it wouldn't make much if any difference and I thank you Spike Roberts for bringing those facts out.

[SuddenlySummer]

I just did business with 6 gas stations today and I started talking with the owners about the price. They said that after July the price will begin to drop. It will level off at $1.50 or so.

By the way, Diesel is going up 8 cents tomorrow. Unleded is going up another 6 cents.

[beretta]

Heres a thought for you guys....we can put a man on the moon and we can perform brain surgery, but we cant make a vehicle that can run on somthing cheaper than $2.15/gallon gas? somthing seems a little messed up to me. I know they are "making" these vehicles, but how many do you see on the roads? What are the prices? and how many stations do you see selling the fuel? Of course I dont know all the facts but it shouldnt be that hard to find a cheap and efficient alternative. Just somthing to think about.
-Beretta

[Beckman]

Spike... never did I say it would make a huge difference in world oil prices, I know that the ESTIMATES show that there may not be enought to make a difference but I certainly wouldn't think it would hurt to pump some extra barrels from the good old USA to try to show we aren't completely at the mercy of foreign oil. People started talking about what can be done, and this is just an option I pointed out.

This is probably a better topic for the politcal forum...

[This message has been edited by Beckman (edited 05-24-2004).]

[Larry Brown]

The gas prices here around the Peoria (Illinois) area seem to reflect the same as what you all are paying up north! I will be up in the Bemidji area for 2 weeks in June and its 700 mile one way from my house. I have been vacationing in Minnesota for the past 14 years, staying 2 weeks at the same resort. Although inflation has caused the resort owners to raise their rates it doesn't even compare to what the fuel will cost this year. I drive a Tahoe and pull a Lund Pro Angler, there will be 5 passengers (2 adults & 3 children) so the load will be heavy. Could the day have come that half your vacation budget is for fuel?

------------------
Gun Dog

[Uncle Grump]

Here are some things to think about....

1) How much are you driving? Have you reduced the number of trips you make? Is there more than one passenger in that vehicle?

2) How hard are you pushing down on the pedal?

3) What are you driving?

4) How up to date is your vehicle maintinence?

I admit I don't like the gas price going up one little bit, but there things we can do to reduce the effect, and ease the sting on the wallet - and still hit the water.

Think about your habits, and then look at what you see on the road.

My 4WD PU is sitting in the garage, cause my rice burner gets better mileage (34 combined, 42 hwy). How about making believe that there's an egg under the gas pedal, and you best not break it?

Behavior modification anyone? I can drive 27 miles one way to work, or I can drive 6 to the park and ride, and then catch the bus. Which is easier on the gas tank? Remember, the metro bus strike pointed out that the buses are subsidized. If you live in the metro - you're paying for them (property taxes to the Met Council) - so use them.

Air filters, gas filters, tire pressure, etc make a differance.

From my perspective, its obvious that gas must still be "cheap", because I still see alot of single passenger trips being made -
and in the gas guzzlers to boot, lots of "jack rabbit" starts at lights and stop signs, and folks exceeding the posted limits on the roads.

All this stuff is what we do to ourselves. We can lessen the effect.

UG

[10 poyntr]

Well said, Uncle Grump! I said the same thing earlier. Unless driving habits change, I don't want to hear about high gas prices! I paid particular attention today at driving habits. Unbelievable! People are driving faster than ever! It's so funny(sad) to watch a car blow by me when just a block ahead is a light that just turned red. I come crawling up next to him, light turns, and he's off again, only to see him at next light, etc. Most everyone seems to enjoying life while driving fast, wasting gas, only to get home and complain to the wife how much gas was today! People seem to panic and are just desperate to be in "fast lane" and can't wait to pass the next car. Doesn't anyone else feel this way?