Wana know why diesel is so expensive??

[Pawpaw]

Well said, Gary.



Remember Clinton's "New Economy"? What we're seeing now is the aftermath of all the air they pumped into the economy. Gee, it busted even worse than the "old economy"!



OK, I'll be a good boy and shut up now.



Bob

 

[DPinkston]

My opinion, FWIW is this: We cannot successfully compete in a world economy when our competitors (companies in China, Mexico, etc. ) pay their workers a fraction of what we get paid. We have enjoyed a standard of living far above the rest of the world since WWII. The logical conclusion is that our wages (or standard of living) are going to have to drop so that we can be competitive in a global economy. The standard of living across the globe will slowly equalize. Our's will go down while the rest of the world catches up. Not a popular theory so you won't hear politicans 'fess up to it. It's a Catch 22 situation. Our incomes drop or remain the same (if you work 70 hrs/week)so we look for the best deal or bargain in the items we buy, which are probably made elsewhere, thus taking even more jobs away from the natives. I believe manufacturing and other "value added" services are the backbone of an economy. Unfortunately manufacturing jobs are on the way out of this country. Education is not the answer because not everyone has the intelligence to go to college and get a degree in something that will provide them even the same income as their father or grandfather that worked in the auto industry got.

I don't have the solution and I can't lay the blame at the feet of any particular politician.

Off the soapbox now.

BTW, diesel is about $2. 10 in my neighborhood.

Danny

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I was partly wrong up above - it IS a "political issue" to a very great extent - if we visualize this planet as a large vehicle, we must also visulize that the "fuel tank" - as related to fossil fuels - is definitely getting close to empty!



And NO, it isn't simply about MY ability, to afford fuel for my truck and car - it's MORE about our society AND me keeping my home heated, clothes on my back and food on my table - ALL those things REQUIRE decent, and decently PRICED fuels! Fuel is MORE than a mere whimsical LUXURY, it's become far closer to an absolute NECCESSITY if our nation is to exist and maintain anywhere NEAR it's current production and economy levels!



This country reached it's current state BECAUSE of the availablity of reasonably priced fuels - and what *I* complain about MOST, is not so much the inevitibly rising prices, but the SCALPING and GOUGING we allow and encourage to be done by middlemen speculators and commodity traders that ARTIFICIALLY drives up the cost of fuels and lubricants. Nor does it help that the government is right there demanding THEIR cut as well - and doing so little on some fronts to EARN that cut, like advance planning and development of alternatives to the inescapable depletion of current fuel sources.



And THAT borders upon the criminal!



As to cost control, our society has LONG categorized and controlled some aspects of goods and services we rely upon for daily existence under control of outfits like the Public Utilities Commision and Railroad Commission, that ride herd on end costs and expenses to the general public, and provide at least SOME restraint upon radical and uncontrolled price increases. Perhaps it's time some similar constraints and controls are applied to vehicle fuels as well, in order to provide *reasonable* return on investment to oil companies for maintenance of existing resources, and development of new ones - but slam the door on speculators and commodities traders who currently take THEIR cut, but CONTRIBUTE nothing to a growing problem!



Yeah, our political system (Democrats and Republicans alike!) has LONG ignored the inevitable, IGNORED the looming energy problem, still taken THEIR cut, and given precious LITTLE in terms of long-range planning in return!

 

[CajunDieselMan]

I agree with Phil and John. I drive my truck at 65-70 on the interstate and get 19-20 mpg. One time I drove it 80+ (had to get to N. O. in a hurry) and got 16 mpg. When I drive 70 mph, I am obstructing traffic!! Hey police departments. . need some extra money--it's out there if you'll work a little extra with the radar guns! Anyway, people can't be too concerned about the cost of fuel if they can still drive their Hummers and Suburbans over 80 mph! :-laf



OK... I'm off my soapbox.

 

[Chris N5CWM]

The reason for high fuel prices?

TAXES. . TAXES. . TAXES.



And price-gouging. Just look at the latest financial reports in the petroleum industry.



Nuff said.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

TAXES. . TAXES. . TAXES.



And price-gouging. Just look at the latest financial reports in the petroleum industry.



Nuff said.

Ya know Chris - it totally baffles me the few guys here who seem entirely happy and willing to accept the obscene profits the oil companies are reporting - and THEN, loudly complain about the obscene SALARIES various CEO's of large companies are paid...



I guess it might sorta depend on how much oil stock you own...

 

[JBlock]

The strange thing is if check the fuel prices on the commodies market, regular unlead and diesl are the same price, I firmly believe people are jacking up Diesle prices at the pumps. I hate to think the taxes on diesel are higher than gasoling, but stranger tnigs happen.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

" I hate to think the taxes on diesel are higher than gasoling, but stranger tnigs happen. "



It has been stated here that part of the "Clinton legacy", was the tie-breaking vote by Al Gore related to a 17 cent INCREASE in federal taxes that has helped drive up diesel fuel prices...



Gotta LOVE it when local, state and federal agencies make MORE profit on a gallon of fuel - with NO investment in exploration, refining or transportation - than the oil companise do - and with NO risk at all...