Need To Vent

[MasterChief]

When you buy a Heavy Duty Truck you shouldn't complain about the mileage, so if I am getting 15mpg or 20mpg I'm fine with that.



What I'm not fine with is paying $4. 00 a gallon for Diesel

Someone please tell me if I crazy but were getting ripped off and those wonderful public servants in Washington would rather spend their time investigating wether or not base ball players are using steroids, when they should be getting a handle these fuel prices. This much I promise you, I will not vote for one single incumbent until they start getting their act together.

"AND I DO VOTE"



Thanks for listening, I feel better

Mike

 

[Johnstra]

More domestic exploration and more refineries.

-john

 

[Radshooter]

AMEN Brother... ... . You're preaching to the choir on this board.

I also think they should do more domestic exploration and refineries, but that would take several years at best to get that fuel to market.

I don't know what the answer is, but I agree something needs to be done.

 

[klenger]

What I can't understand is someone posting here with a signature that states something like "4XX HP and 8XX ft lbs" and then complaining about how much it cost to operate the truck. In my book, that's kind of like someone who is morbidly obese complaining about the high cost of groceries. I bought my truck to do a job (pull the 5th wheel in my sig). If and when I no longer need the truck to do that, I'll replace it with a tool better suited to my needs.

 

[Buffalo]

I was speaking with a friend of mine who is a CPA & he was telling me that he was talking with a friend of his that is a financial advisor. They both agreed that they thought the fuel costs would continue to rise until people just quit buying & the market, pretty much, collapsed. At that point, they thought the prices would come down quite a bit. Might take a year or two, to happen, in their estimation.



Saw an interview with an oil futures expert, about a week ago. His thoughts were that the fuel prices would start coming down somewhere near the middle of this summer. His thoughts were that the damage created by Katrina to the refineries was now fixed & the refineries were catching up with fuel supply stocks. That would start to bring the prices down, in the near future.



On the other hand, I've also heard many suggestions that prices would just keep climbing with no end in sight.



I sure wish my "crystal ball" was not so foggy so I could make a more accurate prediction, myself. I'm a bit of a pessimist & think the prices will keep going up. If they come down, in the future, that will be great. But, I seem to have my doubts.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[pwr2tow]

Oh the market will crash one day but I highly doubt from not buying fuel.

Is everyone going to stop working? We need fuel to get to work!! World markets are on the uprise, us americans could slump into another great depression and the world demand will still keep fuel at top dollar.

My friends, there is no shortage, or supply and demand principals. Pure and simple greed covered up by excuses from the oil companies that if investigated would show they are gouging but that would be explained away by more lame excuses because all the top people (government, oil, rich, stock market) have their hands in each others back pocket.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

Ditto, I Always Vote Even If It Is Only For The Lesser Of Evils

 

[RMalone]

What I can't understand is someone posting here with a signature that states something like "4XX HP and 8XX ft lbs" and then complaining about how much it cost to operate the truck. In my book, that's kind of like someone who is morbidly obese complaining about the high cost of groceries. I bought my truck to do a job (pull the 5th wheel in my sig). If and when I no longer need the truck to do that, I'll replace it with a tool better suited to my needs.

So let me get this right, only people with stock trucks that use them to tow have the right to be upset about the price of fuel?? Seems like a whole lot of stock trucks get worse milage than some of the 500+hp trucks.

Sorry I have to go sell my truck now because I don't pull anything with it I am SO glad Klenger set me straight, I'll go buy a Honda Civic right away!!

 

[TCDiesel]

Oh the market will crash one day but I highly doubt from not buying fuel.



Is everyone going to stop working? We need fuel to get to work!! World markets are on the uprise, us americans could slump into another great depression and the world demand will still keep fuel at top dollar.



My friends, there is no shortage, or supply and demand principals. Pure and simple greed covered up by excuses from the oil companies that if investigated would show they are gouging but that would be explained away by more lame excuses because all the top people (government, oil, rich, stock market) have their hands in each others back pocket.

Back In the early 80s Koch refineries( Now known as Flint-hills) wanted to expand the refinery at Rosemount MN , the Local/State Government Back by the Community stop the expansion, The reason I know this Bio-Clean Systems regularly clean the Plant,Flint-hills was My customer, I was Running Bio-Clean at that Time, Koch fought for 5 Years and finally gave up. Now 25 years later The Public is *****en about The cost, They are partially to Blame also. . From what I heard back then it took 5 years just to get the air Permits in MN. I believe in regulation and Personal Prosecution (NOT Corporate this will Make the Person responsible NOT the Company this will stop the greed that is so prevalent Today "Corporate & Government") that is balance NOT this stop gap policy. .

 

[Tinman]

Oh dear. More non-sense about fuel prices. OK, I'll stir the pot.



It's not the government responsiblity to have anything to do with any price of any good. At least not in a capitolistic/free market. Gov. control of prices is called socialism/communism. Price control always leads to shortages. Wanting the gov. to do anything about fuel price is a tacit way of says you can not or do not want to be free.



The gov. should have absolutely nothing to do with ball players using steriods



The gov. has investiagated to oil companies. It's all public record. Go look for yourself. Profit margins are less than most all other goods and haven't changed.



You don't have a right to cheap fuel. Deal with it.



Fuel is no more expensive now that in the past if adjusted for inflation.



Yes, I think we will go thru a depression, and inflationary depression. This different from our previous depression which was an deflationary depression. An inflationay depression is what helped Hilter get into power. And we was elected.



Amen, to more domestic exploration and refining. I'd like to add using shale coal/oil and nuclear power to that as well. Why don't we have that now..... uuuhhh... . government. And the eco-nazis



Supply and demand are indeed the forces that determine price. I grow tired of people thinking there is some grand conspiracy out there just to make a few people money of fuel prices. If so, prove it. Crude oil is traded on the open market. You can see who buying what and how much. If there was some politician out there getting money off that, fine, prove it and we'll take him to the stockade. I'm not defending anyone here, I just realize the reality of the situation. There are plenty of media types out there trying to find stuff on big oil and politicians. So if what you want to believe where true, I think we would know about it.



If we are to come to a solution to our energy problem, it will be from big oil. They have the capital and resources to make it happen. And contrary to what many think, those evil profits of oil companies (and any big compamy) doesn't go to a few excutives. It gives many thousands jobs and many investors (including retirement funds for all kind of public servants like teachers and police, etc. ) money to survive. I don't like big business, because they have too much polictical/price power. I much prefer small business. But that's not the reality of our society.



Fuel prices will never go down again. They will only go up until a suitable alternative is found or demand goes down.

 

[Grizzly]

This is no time to hit the panic button and start selling our trucks. I agree with klenger, most of us bought our trucks to haul our RV's and whatever else we want to haul. If that's all we use them for, what's the problem. As far as our daily commuting, we should have a small Toyota or Honda or whatever you prefer. A small commuter car uses less fuel, cheaper fuel, less maintenance and far less $$ spent on tires.



Remember, this too will pass, let's ride it out.

 

[HBarlow]

I agree with Klenger, Tinman, and Grizzly above.



However, factual information and clear explanations are frequently not understood or accepted. Some folks have their opinions so facts and explanations simply don't matter to them. They believe what they want to believe and that is their right.



It is usually a waste of time to post informed explanations in the TDR but I continue to do it because, although many reject and argue with facts, there are often others who quietly read, understand, and accept the facts and go away better informed. For those few it is worth the frustration.

 

[JDiepstra]

Tinman who are you kidding??? "Diesel is no more now than in the past if adjusted for inflation"??? Last year (one year in the past) around this time I was buying diesel for $2. 95, maybe less. Now, one year later, 4. 19. That's a 42% increase. Inflation last year was 42%? I hadn't read that anywhere!

 

[BigPapa]

Supply and demand? Don't think so.....



Here's the latest "State of the Stocks" charts and charts on the Demand of Gasoline and Distillates. Draw your own conclusions... .....



Scott

 

[JDiepstra]

So it looks like supply is up and demand is down. Hmmmmm, I wonder why prices aren't going down??? Somebody is really taking it to us. I don't know who it is, but I'd like to!

 

[BigPapa]

Supplies are in line except for gasoline which is way up. Gasoline demand is in line with last year and distillate (which includes heating oil) demand is down from last year.



I personally think that it is a combination of gouging and weakening of the dollar. What's the answer? I don't know. I'm looking for a catastrophic crash of our whole economy. Look at the signs, increasing costs, jobless rate up, stock market unpredictable,... ... ...



The dollar is at a 12 year low. The yen and the euro are up and gold is way up. What about that "run" they had on that bank yesterday? Better hold on to your belt. We may just wake up one morning to another crash and depression.



Scott

 

[Cattletrkr]

The economy won't crash because of this. Profesional athletes will have to take a pay cut, Hollywood actors will have to take a paycut, basically any entertainment industry will have to lose money.

I really don't see a problem with that aspect of it.

Prioritize.

 

[HBarlow]

I'm afraid the sky is falling but everything will be okay if we elect a lightweight who has never had a job anywhere but in politics.

 

[RMalone]

What makes you think entertainers are going to take a pay cut. Revenues in baseball, football and basketball are at all time highs. Hockey not so much.



I disagree that most 3rd gen trucks were purchased just to haul. I see tons of diesel pickups running around empty.



I do agree that prices are never going be "low" again. As far as government involvment goes I am typically against it. But don't even try to compare baseball/steroids with a commodity product that has such a direct influence on the nations ecomomy. The government has no problem regulating natural gas prices.



I am not saying I have the right cheap diesel so I can drive a big truck for a daily driver. But the increases in the last 4years leave some questions to be answered. If it is simply the fact that Asia has enough money to push the price up then so be it, but keep in mind that will mean a drop in the standard of living in this country.

 

[ToddK]

Tinman who are you kidding??? "Diesel is no more now than in the past if adjusted for inflation"??? Last year (one year in the past) around this time I was buying diesel for $2. 95, maybe less. Now, one year later, 4. 19. That's a 42% increase. Inflation last year was 42%? I hadn't read that anywhere!

Heck, forget a year ago! One month ago I was paying 2. 799 per gallon at a Western station. Just 4 mi's north the Conoco was 3. 499. 15 mi's away in another town the Western store was at 3. 269. Now it is up to 3. 659, were it was previously 2. 799. 86 cents in one month. There is no way the Western selling diesel for 2. 799 was just trying to get people into the store for doughnuts and coffee. They also have big rig bays. If they were selling at a loss, they would have been losing big time! Yes, I know that the price of a barrel of crude is over 100. 00 and fuel prices will go up. I think that if America began to give the impression that we were going to start to harvest our own oil the prices may come down.



On another note, I was talking with someone in the oil industry and he was telling me that we can get jet fuel, kerosene and diesel from coal. It has been done since WWII. And we have enough coal to do this for up to 1,000 years. We have what we need. We're just not doing it. As far as the Govt not having anything to do with it, I think they do. Who is holding up the progress? Tree hugger types, enviros? They don't have control. They just spend the $$ to pay off the ones who do(govt).



I am not an expert. These are just my thoughts.