A different take on $4 gas...

[Pyrojodge]

I can't speak for others, but my income has not increased nearly enough to tread water in today's inflation.

Exactly!

 

[HUMPH]

3.38 on land here I use 7 5 galln cans a trip

There are regulations about filling boats at a dock with your own gas cans here. Get caught and it's a pretty good fine. I don't need to consider it since I can get diesel cheaper on the water.

 

[susanandlance]

This is funny, everyone bitching and moaning about gas prices as they fill up their big fuel guzzlers, and even trading up to larger ones or adding even a second boat to the fleet. I don't feel sorry for any of ya...........

 

[MonacoMike]

Ah, That's it, plain old GREED is the cause of gas prices.

Since I'm to dumb to figure it out could someone tell me who, or what entity is the greedy party raising gas prices?


MM

 

[WDCboater]

I wish I could be so cavalier about pissing away $50. You might widen your scope, and consider that groceries, home goods, building materials, electricity and just about everything else have increased in price due to the high price at the pump. You are focusing on just a tiny part of the big issue here, expand your view.

I can't speak for others, but my income has not increased nearly enough to tread water in today's inflation.

My point was not to discount the rising costs of everyday necessities.

A boat is a luxury item. For what all of us spend in both time and money those resources could be used for other things. We do it because we love boating.

My point on gas prices is that I make a budget for each season. I try to account for everything I will be spending money on that is boat related. Unfortunately boats run on fuel. If spending more in fuel is required I find a way to make it fit in my budget. This may mean fewer long trips, or cutting back in other areas, but I'll still find a way to enjoy the boat.

When looking at a season of expenses as a whole, $4 vs $3 gas is an expense, but not the biggest expense. Again, just looking at boating. I say this as someone who has for fork over nearly $250/more per tank at $4 vs $3. Do I like burning an extra $250. Heck no, but if I want to enjoy my boat I find a way to budget the added expense.

 

[WDCboater]

This is funny, everyone bitching and moaning about gas prices as they fill up their big fuel guzzlers, and even trading up to larger ones or adding even a second boat to the fleet. I don't feel sorry for any of ya...........

:grin: Hah!

 

[Woody]

Ah, That's it, plain old GREED is the cause of gas prices.

Since I'm to dumb to figure it out could someone tell me who, or what entity is the greedy party raising gas prices?


MM

I thought everyone knew...It's "them" aka "they" of course, you were just joshing us weren't you.:smt043

 

[AMFM3]

You can't reasonably say there's no reason for gas prices to be so high. It's a supply and demand issue first and foremost. There are more cars in use than ever before and, I'd hazard a guess, more boats and water toys than ever before. The more demand, the higher the prices. That's basic economics.

Then you add in taxes on each litre/gallon and away we go! All in, last season I was only $500 over what I had planned to spend. I'll account for that and then some this year.

Whining about gas prices is a great pastime for everyone, me included. But then again, the price of a case of beer has increased as much as gas! (Ya, whine about that too!)

Ill give up beer before boating! Just switch to wine!

Mark


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[MonacoMike]

There is no reason for the fuel prices to be so high aside from gouging and taxes.

I believe there is a reason aside from gouging, we all agree on the taxes part.

The simple reason is: your "dollar" ain't worth sh!t.

The value of commodities in dollars has jumped as we (US)keep borrowing to run our daily governmental needs. For the most part from what I can tell oil values are one of the most truly capitalistic commodities on our planet. Gasoline is in and of itself a commodity separate from the oil it is made. Gas is affected by the myriad of regulations and regional formulations, it also is affected by ObummerCare, other employee costs, high liability insurance, and environmental insurance. Go try to open a refinery and see what happens. There are two things we will likely never see in our lifetime, new internal combustion auto companies and new refineries. The enviros will never let that happen.

Blaming high gas prices on "gouging" is falling for their game, they want you to blame "big oil" and "greedy ba$tards" while they enact laws and regulation to end the middle class ability to afford to boating and other hobbies that need petroleum to be fun. I fear we may have lived through a very special time when average folks could afford a nice boat, as evidenced by our recent high boat prices thread. "They" want boating unaffordable to all but the eleites too...

MM

 

[Woody]

I believe there is a reason aside from gouging, we all agree on the taxes part.

The simple reason is: your "dollar" ain't worth sh!t.

The value of commodities in dollars has jumped as we (US)keep borrowing to run our daily governmental needs. For the most part from what I can tell oil values are one of the most truly capitalistic commodities on our planet. Gasoline is in and of itself a commodity separate from the oil it is made. Gas is affected by the myriad of regulations and regional formulations, it also is affected by ObummerCare, other employee costs, high liability insurance, and environmental insurance. Go try to open a refinery and see what happens. There are two things we will likely never see in our lifetime, new internal combustion auto companies and new refineries. The enviros will never let that happen.

Blaming high gas prices on "gouging" is falling for their game, they want you to blame "big oil" and "greedy ba$tards" while they enact laws and regulation to end the middle class ability to afford to boating and other hobbies that need petroleum to be fun. I fear we may have lived through a very special time when average folks could afford a nice boat, as evidenced by our recent high boat prices thread. "They" want boating unaffordable to all but the eleites too...

MM

AH HA...I knew it...a conspiracy. Jesse Ventura might reach his political peak at just the right time.:smt043

 

[MonacoMike]

I thought everyone knew...It's "them" aka "they" of course, you were just joshing us weren't you.:smt043

Right Woody, as I explained it is "them" aka "they" perpetrating this on all of us.

AH HA...I knew it...a conspiracy. Jesse Ventura might reach his political peak at just the right time.

And, right again. That's two for two!!! But it is not a secret conspiracy, they told us and have for years. Two examples, Al Gore stated in his book it was a goal of his and his supporters to do away with the internal combustion engine. They have been and are doing all they can to take it away from us. Why? It is the single biggest implement of personal independence. Back to gas prices. The Obama administrations former Energy Secretary said “Somehow,” Chu said, “we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe.”

But Woody, you did get one part wrong Jesse Ventura is not a known part of it but he may if he runs for President in 2016 as rumored...

MM

 

[src]

Guys, get real. Oil is a GLOBAL commodity. If we won't pay the going rate, then China will. Any oil we conserve, some growing/developing nation will buy.

Oil prices are driven by the global market and speculation, not some liberal conspiracy. If you want to know where all your money is going, look at the fact that while overall Gas sales are DOWN in this country, oil company profits are WAY UP. That is pretty much all you need to know to follow the money. Sorry if it doesn't fit into your political persecution/conspiracy worldview.

 

[Woody]

Right Woody, as I explained it is "them" aka "they" perpetrating this on all of us.



And, right again. That's two for two!!! But it is not a secret conspiracy, they told us and have for years. Two examples, Al Gore stated in his book it was a goal of his and his supporters to do away with the internal combustion engine. They have been and are doing all they can to take it away from us. Why? It is the single biggest implement of personal independence. Back to gas prices. The Obama administrations former Energy Secretary said “Somehow,” Chu said, “we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe.”

But Woody, you did get one part wrong Jesse Ventura is not a known part of it but he may if he runs for President in 2016 as rumored...

MM

Well of course he's not part of it...he's exposed conspiracies galore and will tackle this one also when he becomes POTUS. I'm 3 for 3, I got the nuts figured out...now I gotta go get some tin foil.

For the record, Chu in a previous life made that comment, as Energy Secretary he said just the opposite http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73934.html

 

[AMFM3]

Guys, get real. Oil is a GLOBAL commodity. If we won't pay the going rate, then China will. Any oil we conserve, some growing/developing nation will buy.

Oil prices are driven by the global market and speculation, not some liberal conspiracy. If you want to know where all your money is going, look at the fact that while overall Gas sales are DOWN in this country, oil company profits are WAY UP. That is pretty much all you need to know to follow the money. Sorry if it doesn't fit into your political persecution/conspiracy worldview.

Here here. Well said.


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[Woody]

What does that have to do with the refineries here in the states that take the oil and turn it to gas? With oil trading in the mid $90's per barrel, we should be at $2.75 per gallon historically.

Who knows what all the contributing factors are but to make your scenario work it would mean that absolutely nothing else could have changed in the last 5 years and I doubt that.

Food for thought...There are around a billion cars in the world now. There's a predicted huge increase in passenger autos during the next 20yrs(hundreds of millions) and the majority won't be in the USA...what impact do you suppose that'll have on our gas prices? http://energyforumonline.com/8033/increase-number-passenger-cars-20092035/

Maybe some new technology or something will save the day and gas will become dirt cheap but I wouldn't hold my breath. So far technological advances are enabling them to keep up with demand at a price that is tolerated...not liked...tolerated. Can you imagine what it'd be like without the improved capabilities of deep drilling, horizontal drilling, fracking, etc. When you look at the whole picture it appears the price trend will not be down.

 

[MonacoMike]

Guys, get real. Oil is a GLOBAL commodity. If we won't pay the going rate, then China will. Any oil we conserve, some growing/developing nation will buy.

Oil prices are driven by the global market and speculation, not some liberal conspiracy. If you want to know where all your money is going, look at the fact that while overall Gas sales are DOWN in this country, oil company profits are WAY UP. That is pretty much all you need to know to follow the money. Sorry if it doesn't fit into your political persecution/conspiracy worldview.

Agree oil company profits are up but only the gross profit because we use so much oil, not the profit margin which is WAY less than other successful companies as Stossel noted in the article. If anyone does not know that there are large numbers of politically active organizations trying to stop the acquisition and use of oil as an energy source I suggest they might want to read and study the written opinions of these groups. Some of their successes have been banning boats from parts of Florida waters, off-road vehicles from federal lands, and pressuring auto companies not to build tow vehicles like the Excursion, the wildly popular Ford SUV. They also oppose fracking, the Keystone pipeline and using our own coal, even with modern filtration systems. All this is done in the name of a utopian dream that it is possible to have successful society without leaving a footprint.

MM

 

[MonacoMike]

What does that have to do with the refineries here in the states that take the oil and turn it to gas? With oil trading in the mid $90's per barrel, we should be at $2.75 per gallon historically.

Scott, gasoline is itself a commodity not exclusively married to oil, though obviously oil is the major component. Gasoline is sold and in many cases exported to the highest bidder worldwide. This sucks for us but is reality. The only way to change this is to open up domestic sources of oil the governments have locked out and to ease refinery permitting and construction.

http://content.usatoday.com/communi...soline-than-imported-last-year/1#.UawWjcu9KSM

MM

 

[src]

One of the lovely little tricks to keep prices high is to take refineries offline whenever prices start to drop too fast. And yes, refineries do go offline for "normal" reasons, and there is also the fact that new refineries aren't popping up to provide a buffer to the system. But taking the refineries offline is a longstanding way to hold gas prices high even when oil prices drop.

And then there are the times they aren't really offline: http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2019684187_gasprices15.html

Global corporations are run for the sole benefit of the senior management and shareholders, and they will use every strategy they can to extract every penny they can from the market.

 

[IanBat]

One of the lovely little tricks to keep prices high is to take refineries offline whenever prices start to drop too fast. And yes, refineries do go offline for "normal" reasons, and there is also the fact that new refineries aren't popping up to provide a buffer to the system. But taking the refineries offline is a longstanding way to hold gas prices high even when oil prices drop.

And then there are the times they aren't really offline: http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2019684187_gasprices15.html

Global corporations are run for the sole benefit of the senior management and shareholders, and they will use every strategy they can to extract every penny they can from the market.

Interesting. In Australia they are closing the refineries down, and we will be a net importer!

Taking advantage of the Asian refineries that over produce, so it will be cheaper!

Yeah right, talk about putting the country up for ransom


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[src]

The simple fact is that it is a very complex issue, and there are quite a few economic and, yes, political factors that influence the cost of ANY good or service. But mostly economic.