Fuel Prices still rising

[Regcabguy]

John Stossel last night had a show partially devoted to oil. He stated that here in Calif. the federal and state governments "earn" $0. 66 per gal of gas. The oil companies after all operating costs earn $0. 06/gal.



A nice quote from Dennis Prager, "Rational People Fear Big Government,Not Big Business".

 

[rbattelle]

He stated that here in Calif. the federal and state governments "earn" $0. 66 per gal of gas. The oil companies after all operating costs earn $0. 06/gal.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the taxes applied to fuels are not a percentage of the fuel price, but absolute values (thereby unrelated to the price of fuel). A subtle but important aspect to the government's take from oil sales. Usually a company will earn a relative profit, rather than absolute.



What seems crazy to me is why the government tries to minimize fuel consumption though things like CAFE. Shouldn't they want to maximize fuel consumption (and therefore tax revenue)?



-Ryan

 

[HBarlow]

Yes, it is stupid but a government rarely does anything other than stupid. The left does the same thing with cigarettes. They create all sorts of public anti-smoking propaganda to discourage smoking while increasing taxes to dollars per pack and robbing the tax revenues they claim are to "help the children" or other bogus bs.

Note: I am a fervent non-smoker who tried and rejected smoking long ago as a youth.

 

[rscurtis]

NY cigarettes are now over $10/pack.

 

[ringneck]

barlow have you ever though of running for govner of calif,we sure could use one.

 

[Tractorat]

Refined products, gasoline and diesel fuel currently in storage tanks and being sold was refined from higher priced crude and was purchased by retailers from wholesalers at higher prices while the WA refinery was shut down.

Nope, thats not true. Only one refinery was off line. The others continue to operate and stepped up production. We have not run out of gas.

Like the rest of the world, they would be getting their crude at the world oil price. In the rest of the US, prices went down, but not here.

 

[HBarlow]

Thanks for the compliment(?) but I'm not eligible. I'm a conservative, a military retiree, love my country, swore an oath many times to support and defend the US constitution and still believe in it, support business, believe in lower taxes, smaller government, less regulation, the power and goodness of the individual American citizen, support a strong military, tightly controlled immigration limited to those whose education and skills will benefit America, and hate communists, socialists, dumocraps and everything they believe in.

I was a squre peg in a round hole when I lived in KA back in the '70s and again in the '80s. I do occasionally enjoy visiting KA. I think San Diego is a beautiful city.

I do wish you and the American citizens who live there well, though.

 

[Tractorat]

Nah, stay away from ka. But if Mckenna loses here in Wash in nov, I would welcome you to run up here.

 

[HBarlow]

I forgot to add - I couldn't win an election for dog catcher because during my very first interview or questioning during a campaign appearance by a television propagandist I would clearly and forcefully express my most unpopular point of view in a rude and crude manner.

Besides that, I am old, stubborn, independent, and more interested in riding my Goldwing and enjoying my remaining days than spending time in the company of chamelions and rattlesnakes kissing babies and ***** like a politician.

 

[Tractorat]

HBarlow,

Speaking of your goldwing. Did you make that trip alone ? Or did you have a fellow rider the whole way ?

 

[HBarlow]

I rode most of the trip alone. I rode to VT where Dick Trombley and I joined up and rode the backroads of VT and NH then out to Bangor, ME.

Dick returned home from Bangor after our visit with Mike Wilson and I rode on alone from Bangor south down the eastern seaboard, crossed the Cheseapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, into Norfolk then west across the middle south back home.

I prefer riding alone most of the time.

 

[Tractorat]

I envy you. Thats what I wanted to do when I came home from vietnam, but it never happened. Maybe its not too late for me yet.

 

[HBarlow]

I remember reading a motorcycle magazine many years ago where one of the writers took a cross country trip by motorcycle. The story sounded like a great adventure and made a lasting impression on me. I've always wanted to do it but never figured I'd be able to.

I rode a Yamaha XS1100 when I was in the Philippines in 1980 but sold it just before I was married. I have wanted a motorcycle again for years since I returned to Texas but wouldn't ride one when I lived in Lubbock. Women drivers kill bikers frequently in Lubbock and drunk riders kill themselves.

After I moved out in a rural county several years ago I'd hear and see the riders go by on weekends. I was tempted. Finally, I bought myself an ST-1300 in 2010 after 30 years of not riding. I kept it six months and traded it for a new Goldwing.

I figured I was too old to take long tours on one but almost anyone not in a wheelchair could tour on a Goldwing. I quickly became addicted to it. I've ridden the Goldwing over 46,000 miles in a year and four months covering every state but NV, ND, SD, NE, and WI so far. I've got another trip planned in July that will cover all but NV. The Goldwing is so comfortable it is easy to cover 450 miles a day for a couple of weeks. I love touring on it.

New Goldwings are a little expensive but good used ones are very affordable and easy to find. They last almost forever with few if any problems. 150k miles on one is no big deal and 200k is not uncommon. One guy on the Goldwing website has 320k miles on one without major repair. The engines go forever. I've read of a few failed transmissions but who knows how they were shifted. Alternators fail after 150k miles and have to be replaced or repaired. Other than routine maintenance and replacement of wear parts like tires, brake pads, and lamp bulbs not much goes wrong with them.

Its not too late. I'm sure you're many years younger than I am. I'll be 70 next month! I never counted on living to be 60 and I'm still feeling good and still active. My plan is to enjoy living as long as I can.

 

[Tractorat]

Well, Im in my early 60's and the reality is I probably won't ever do it. But, at least it makes me think I still could if I get a wild hair.



I do enjoy hooking up my TT though and making the long cross country road trip by myself. (Im not very good company on a road trip. I just like to see the sights, smell the air, and listen to the radio) So, I guess that is my motorcycle.



Its often been said that there are only two kinds of motorcycle riders. Those who have crashed their bikes, and those who are going to crash their bikes. If I don't ever get a bike, at least I won't ever join one of those clubs.

 

[HBarlow]

There's no doubt that the risk of injury or death is greater on a motorcycle but everything in life offers risk. A person can devote his or her life to avoiding risk by remaining hidden in a house and die of a fire or drive by random round. Or die of boredom!

I prefer living my life and if the Goldwing kills me, which it could, I will have died having a good time.

Reading on the GW website there are many riders who have been riding 40, 50, or even more years. There are many old riders who have never had an accident.

Riding safety is greatly influenced by defensive driving.

 

[RustyJC]

Reading on the GW website there are many riders who have been riding 40, 50, or even more years. There are many old riders who have never had an accident.

56 years riding for me. I started when I was 8 years old on a Simplex Automatic out on the North Texas ranch where I grew up.



Rusty

 

[Tractorat]

There's no doubt that the risk of injury or death is greater on a motorcycle but everything in life offers risk. A person can devote his or her life to avoiding risk by remaining hidden in a house and die of a fire or drive by random round. Or die of boredom!

Not really too concerned about that. I didnt think I would make it past 21. But when I did, I considered anything past that gravy. But I got quite a bit of pushback from my wife when I used to fly airplanes. She would probably whup my butt if I came home with a motorcycle now.

 

[RBeard]

Diesel-$3. 55 near 78940 zip code

 

[forwardho]

Diesel $3. 49 a gal. in the DFW area. It was $3. 89 one year ago.

 

[HBarlow]

Gasoline and diesel fuel prices are, like almost everything else, ultimately regulated by consumers in the process commonly called supply and demand.

Our economy continues to decline, more people have lost their jobs or fear that they will, and many of those who can afford vacations and travel fear a coming economic disaster of some kind and are afraid to spend. Some economists are now predicting a serious gloom and doom scenario next year with continuing inflation or "stagflation", the term coined during the peanut farmer administration, or perhaps, something worse.

As spending contracts demand for motor fuels declines and so does the price.