pulse Report This Comment Date: March 30, 2012 09:12AM
I love how Americans complain about the price of fuel. It's been $8-12 a gallon
in Europe for the past 20 years, is approx $6 a gallon in Australia and has been
for 10 years, etc.
The time of dirt cheap energy is over, embrace our new oil toting overlords.
woberto Report This Comment Date: March 30, 2012 10:35AM
It's a market and it obeys simple economic rules.
A can of coke is 1/5th the price in Indonesia compared to Australia because
that's what they can get for it.
Same as Mexico v USA. Same product made in most likely the same place but a
different market to sell it in.
Capitalism FAIL.
pulse Report This Comment Date: March 30, 2012 10:45AM
Yep, or the fact that a Holden Commodore can be manufactured in Australia, they
can whack a Pontiac badge on it and export it to the US or the middle east and
sell it for 50% of the sticker price for 1/100th the amount of sales as they
sell it for volume in Australia 2 blocks from where it was made.
The world is full of such stories. It sucks, but what can you do about it? Aside
from, you know.. burning them all.
jgoins Report This Comment Date: March 30, 2012 10:51AM
Just because you can get a certain price for something doesn't mean you should
sell it for that. It's okay for coke because we can choose not to buy it but
gasoline we have to buy because for most people there is no alternative. A
majority of people can't just trade in their vehicle and buy a cheaper running
one so we are stuck trying to cut corners somewhere else to pay for our fuel
costs just to survive.
woberto Report This Comment Date: March 30, 2012 11:04AM
Boo hoo pulse , you get free Holdens anyway.
Mrkim Report This Comment Date: March 30, 2012 11:10AM
Since I'm not that well versed enough in the policies and such that have lead
to such outrageous gas prices in Euroland or Oz, I do have to wonder who here
has been played ... though I don't have to think all that hard to reach a
conclusion.
If you ask why we American complain about the more than doubling in the prices
we find when we hit the go-juice dispensaries in just the past cuppla years it's
because too many of us know the "why", and it riles us more than just
a tad.
When an administratons intent to discourage oil based fuels is at the top of
their stated agenda, in favor of even more outrageously priced energy production
methods that require huge govt subsidy monies (read: TAX dollar funded) to even
be able to come close to being competitively priced (and still fall waaay short
of that goal!), the outcome we're seein at the pumps today is the result of that
action, and we don't like it.
Maybe folks in the rest of the world are more gullible and think it's Ok to be
so duped into having such ridiculous gas prices foisted upon them, and I guess
that's Ok so long as you cats agree to it, but, don't try to coddle us into
thinking similarly by saying we're whining about attempting to be similarly
duped.
Seems all too obvious from here whom indeed has been duped into accepting the
overlords policies for far too long already, just dudn seem like it's us
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 30/03/2012 11:15AM by Mrkim.
fossil_digger Report This Comment Date: March 30, 2012 01:35PM
check out some time the Texas Railroad Commission and their regulations on how
much you can pump and how many new wells may be drilled, and tell me there's a
problem with supply. there is no problem with supply, only problems with the
bullshit regulations keeping supply down.
pulse Report This Comment Date: March 30, 2012 01:51PM
I'm not a bleeding heart greenie, far from it in fact, but I actually DO
believe we need to curb our fossil energy usage on a global scale. It's simple
supply - a non-renewable resource MUST have an end point, or at least a point
where it's simply too expensive to use. Nobody needs a 5L V8 engine in their
car, most people really can get away with a small runaround, and I'm well aware
that bigger cars make driving longer distances more comfortable but it's still
far from a necessity.
On a global scale, we're simply using too much. Cheap energy has been the call
of the last 100 years, and we're beginning to pay for it now.
Part of the reason fuel prices have jumped in the past couple of weeks is
because of the actions described here:
online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303863404577283532862521716.html
In a nutshell, SWIFT, the global inter-bank commerce agency, has de-listed all
Iranian banks after a EU/US joint directive. This means they are unable to
easily conduct foreign cash transactions with other banks. It also means foreign
countries are unable to buy Iran's oil. Which means that Iran is selling less
oil, and there's pressure on the other suppliers to make up the short fall.
Supply, demand. Supply can't match global requirements right now, prices rise,
people complain, it becomes the new normal.
Interestingly though, as I said our petrol prices have been above $1 a litre ($4
a gallon) for as long as I've been driving. In 2001, they were around $1.10 per
litre, but the $AUD was worth $0.5 USD. Therefore, we were paying around $2.20
USD per litre for fuel, or ~$9 per gallon. These days, $1 AUD is worth anywhere
from $0.95 - 1.10 USD, yet our fuel is $1.50 per litre right now. On an
international scale it's gone down, yet to the pocket it's gone up.
The fuel excise on petrol in Australia is $0.38 per litre. GST is also charged
on top at 10%. This means, out of $1.50 per litre, 15c is GST and 38c is tax, or
35.3% of the total cost goes to the government.
That leaves a hell of a lot going to foreign oil companies, and frankly I don't
blame governments for trying to cut that. The trade deficits due to energy
around the world are massive, and I really do think need to be reigned in.
quasi Report This Comment Date: March 30, 2012 02:23PM
I agree with pulse. I love a fast car or strong truck as much as anyone but
we've become spoiled and wasteful with a finite resource and need to move on
more carefully and thoughtfully. A hundred years ago, when the city streets
became polluted with tons upon tons of horseshit, we moved on to the the
automobile as a cheap and clean alternative. Now it's time to realize that party
will one day be over, it's not as cheap and clean as we thought, and we need to
figure out where to go now.
fossil_digger Report This Comment Date: March 30, 2012 03:06PM
solar is the only answer. electric is a joke
BlahX3 Report This Comment Date: March 30, 2012 03:30PM
I agree. People making money off current energy systems aren't going to stop
until they've milked it for all it's worth. Electric cars were being developed
100 years ago and we should be well beyond that phase by now.
GAK67 Report This Comment Date: March 30, 2012 09:05PM
You're sounding desperate Mrkim - "it's all Obama's fault" seems to
be your catchcry. There are many factors that influence the price of fuel at the
pump and while I am sure your assertion of government interference has had an
influence I am also sure it is a small portion of the doubling of the price that
you claim.
BlahX3 Report This Comment Date: March 30, 2012 10:51PM
This shit goes a lot further back in time than that.
fossil_digger Report This Comment Date: March 31, 2012 12:51AM
if O'dipshit is serious about hurting the oil companies, he'd be drilling his
ass off every chance he can get. flood the market and guess what happens. he
doesn't want to because his wall street brethren are making a fortune
controlling the market....pretty damn simple guys.
pulse Report This Comment Date: March 31, 2012 01:23AM
And you seriously think any other president or government wouldn't do the same?
BlahX3 Report This Comment Date: March 31, 2012 01:41AM
1973. Nixon. Gas rationing. It goes WAY back before that, that's just the first
one to pop in my mind. They are ALL guilty. They are ALL out of order! It
astounds me that so many people think this is because of the left wing and that
is because of the right wing. It's all the same bird of prey. Get a clue. They
are all out to make money and have power. It has ALWAYS been this way. We
Americans and other democracies like to think grand thoughts about our system
founders intentions but it is always still the same bottom line. George Carlin
was right. Elections are public opinion manipulation processes. Ameliorate the
masses.
Mrkim Report This Comment Date: March 31, 2012 02:04AM
Hey GAK, for someone 1/2 a world away it never ceases to amaze me how you
continually portray yourself to be more in the know about US politics and
society than we folks who live here
If you'll polish up on some of those seemingly rusty reading and comprehension
skills then reread my previous statements you'd realise what I said was the
current ADMINISTRATIONs policies and actions.
Though Obozo is def a part of it all, so is the EPA, Dept. of the Interior,
Bureau of Land Management, Obozos "Energy Czar" Steven Chu and a much
longer list of bit players that all have worked diligently to stymie any new
efforts to utilize oil reserves we have available in the continental US and in
our offshore waters.
You cats can all try your best to claim these policies aren't impacting gas
prices but the reality is quite simple, if you allow more drilling, hence
produce more oil domestically, which also means some damned good payin jobs HERE
instead of in the ME, generate more tax revenue (something all govts like to
receive and squander) and then not having to purchase as much oil from people
who basically are not friendly to us anyway, so yeah, all in all policies that
prevent drilling here seem to have multifaceted impacts here, and more than just
the price at the pump, though that too is undeniable.
I know full well the equation that relates to what gas costs at the pump is far
more involved than just the above, those details are not lost on me I assure
you.
And in response to Pulses last reply, yes indeed there have been people
occupying the White House who were much friendlier to the US economy, and have
acted differently. The imposter we have currently occupying the WH has done
more to damage the US economy than any other in my lifetime and ... his policies
will continue to impact the economy for some time to come even "if"
the electorate wakes the fuck up and gets rid of this fraud
BlahX3 Report This Comment Date: March 31, 2012 02:27AM
Stock market is up too.
GAK67 Report This Comment Date: March 31, 2012 06:05AM
Mrkim - it doesn't take a thorough knowledge of the intricacies of US politics
to know that your previous comment was an over reaction. My argument that you
seem to be blaming Obama for everything was only strengthened by your last
post.
So encourage drilling for oil domestically is your solution. In other words you
are wanting to pass the problem onto future generations by depleting a finite
resource now. Good option - not. How would that bring down the price at the pump
anyhow? If I was a producer of oil in the US I would be trying to maximize my
profit, so why would I sell domestically at a reduced price when I could export
for a higher price? It's not like there is a shortage of demand in places like
Asia. Then there's the money that is wasted on finding the oil - drilling is an
exploratory venture and it doesn't always work out, and as we know finance is so
readily available during a global financial crisis. Or are you suggesting the
government fund it and push the country further into debt?
As pulse said in his first post, welcome to the real world.
Mrkim Report This Comment Date: March 31, 2012 06:10AM
Yep, so are food prices (about 30% here in the last 2-3yrs), the national debt
is up an astounding $5,000,000,000,000 in just 3yrs, reported unemployment
figures are still above what we were told it would be at this point (not to
mention those stats are soooo misleading in telling the real employment story),
the number of government entitlement/welfare/foodstamp recipients is up by the
millions in the past 2-3 yrs, housing prices in most parts of the country are
seeing 20-30% decreases in value (also in just the past 2-3yrs), interest rates
are low, but just try getting a loan for anything besides a car and BTW 10-30%
down is the new norm for home loans, gas is up over 100% in the same 2-3yrs ....
Is it really so hard to see a pattern arising in all this?
Oh and BTW, the US is set to establish a new benchmark within the next week or
so as corporate tax rates are set to become the highest in the world, what a
GREAT accomplishment!
Anyone thinking any of this looks like progress quite obviously is using rose
colored glasses so thick even lookin directly into the sun must look like a
pinkish glow.
You might wanna keep those shades good and handy GAK, seems you damned sure
can't see what is reality in these United States from where you are anyway
One last comment GAK, if my statements are the over reaction you claim them to
be please feel free to post all the data you can find that refutes what I've
said above .... best of luck in that endeavor choom
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 31/03/2012 06:26AM by Mrkim.
GAK67 Report This Comment Date: March 31, 2012 11:08AM
You don't get it do you Mrkim? Please point out where I have doubted your
facts? What I find farcical in your posts is the "It's all Obama's
fault" mantra you're spewing out. Where are the facts that show that he (or
the current administration - don't want you getting all pedantic again) are
solely responsible. I don't mean patterns or conjecture. I mean concrete
proof.
Obama isn't in control of Greece, Spain or Italy and those countries are
completely bankrupt. Iceland has also gone through the same thing. It's a
GLOBAL financial crisis.
There is no reason that the USA would be immune, especially given the state the
economy was in when Bush handed it over.
Now, just so you understand, I am not saying Obama is without fault in his
policies and decisions, or that things haven't gotten worse since Bush, just
that you'd be in the crap to a greater or lesser extent regardless of who won
the last election.
Sadly I know that if Obama loses the next election and the economy continues to
decline you'll still blame him for how things were when he handed it over to the
new guy, and yet you don't acknowledge that Obama was handed a pile that was
already beginning to stink.
jgoins Report This Comment Date: March 31, 2012 11:44AM
Anyone ever consider it might just be the oil companies need to increase it
bottom line which is the major cause of higher gas prices?
Mrkim Report This Comment Date: March 31, 2012 01:46PM
Sorry GAK but I have neither the time nor inclination to pen the book of info
that would be required to illuminate/educate you more clearly on how the
imposter, illegal immigrant we have occupying the WH has taken an already dire
set of financial and social circumstances here and made them indeed even worse.
But ... if you really are interested in more info just read back through about
the past 2 yrs of my posts where most of what you request has already made its
way onto the pages here.
It's neither my purpose nor responsibility to supply you with a detailed primer
on every detail that's lead to where we are today. It IS my intention however
to continue to point out that YOU have such a diminished understanding of the
intricasies of our political system and society in general that you are hardly
in the position to intelligently comment on it.
Why you continue to press such delusional, mundee mornin armchair quarterbackish
views and claim to hold some overarching capacity to have such an understanding
truly amazes me
pro_junior Report This Comment Date: March 31, 2012 03:47PM
tl/dr; gas is expensive and there aren't many other viable options...people are
angry or passive about it depending on the country they live in.
BlahX3 Report This Comment Date: March 31, 2012 03:55PM
And/or personality.
GAK67 Report This Comment Date: March 31, 2012 05:47PM
Thanks Mrkim. You have confirmed what I already knew. I have read most of your
posts over the last 2 years and there is nothing there that proves Obama, or the
current administration, is solely responsible for the position the US economy is
currently in. It is all conjecture, circumstantial, or at best only shows
contributory evidence. Sure somebody else may have done a better job, but
regardless of who was in the oval office the economy would still be in bad
shape, but I know you would never agree with that because then you would have
nobody to blame. And you have the gall to call me delusional. I do wonder where
your hatred will be directed when Obama leaves office, whether that be this year
or in 4 years time.
BTW, if you're so convinced he's an illegal immigrant/imposter file a suit in
court and bring the evidence to light, or is that just a "delusional,
mundee mornin armchair quarterbackish" view?
BlahX3 Report This Comment Date: March 31, 2012 06:36PM
Choose your battles. Looks like futile ground to me.
Mrkim Report This Comment Date: March 31, 2012 09:11PM
GAK, if you are so inclined to believe what you perceive then yes indeed, you
are the one who's deluded.
There's little if and doubt in my mind that Obozo is an illegal president as his
birthright alone (1 citizen parent and one British citizen parent), regardless
of his birth certificate having been forged still excludes his right to hold the
office of president.
I have supported every effort to get this issue before the courts yet the DOJ
teamed with Obozos legal team has managed to insure the issue will never see the
light of day so the truth can eventually be revealed.
Seems quite odd indeed that Russian newspapers are even reporting Obozos birth
certificate is a fraud and have given radio time to discuss the matter with
Sheriff Arpaio yet the press here in the US has clamped the lid down tight on
this issue and has basically refused to report on it .... nah, couldn possibly
be anything to such claims with foul fishy smellin crap like that afloat huh
fossil_digger Report This Comment Date: March 31, 2012 10:11PM
check out Sheriff Joe Arpaio's latest proof of how the birth certificate is a
forgery and how long it's going to take him to arrest the person who made the
"document". it's coming real damn soon.
GAK67 Report This Comment Date: April 01, 2012 09:49AM
So one country's media has raised the issue, and a country that has a recent
history of animosity toward your own. I'm glad you're in a completely different
jurisdiction to me as I'd hate to have you on a jury here if you believe such
flimsy evidence.
Mrkim Report This Comment Date: April 01, 2012 11:02AM
Thanks for solidly confirming once more that liberalism is def a mental
disorder
jgoins Report This Comment Date: April 01, 2012 11:27AM
If I am not mistaken Mr Kim blamed the president, congress and basically
everyone in power for the fix we are in. He just believes like a lot of us that
Odamna holds more responsibility because "the buck stops here".
BlahX3 Report This Comment Date: April 01, 2012 08:03PM
Attempting to rationalize with closed minds is what I like to call a waste of
time.
jgoins Report This Comment Date: April 02, 2012 11:31AM
When you know something is true without a doubt is that a closed mind? If you
know without a doubt that you cannot jump off a 1000 foot cliff without
assistance and survive do you jump anyway to show you have an open mind?
fossil_digger Report This Comment Date: April 02, 2012 12:48PM
the definition of Demo-chimp theocracy right there. ^^^
BlahX3 Report This Comment Date: April 02, 2012 02:01PM
There is verifiable and logical evidence that if you were to jump off 1000'
cliff like that you'd get hurt.
fossil_digger Report This Comment Date: April 02, 2012 03:12PM
not likely with a parachute or wing suit, or the guarantee you couldn't fail no
matter the risk
BlahX3 Report This Comment Date: April 02, 2012 04:21PM
That is not the situation that was hypothesized; it was specified "without
assistance."
pro_junior Report This Comment Date: April 02, 2012 05:12PM
comprehensive reading...what a bitch it is
BlahX3 Report This Comment Date: April 02, 2012 05:32PM
Evidently so.
fossil_digger Report This Comment Date: April 02, 2012 10:16PM
do you guys read all JG's posts?
GAK67 Report This Comment Date: April 02, 2012 10:38PM
Jumping off the cliff isn't the issue - it's surviving it that is the hard
part.
fossil_digger Report This Comment Date: April 02, 2012 11:11PM
not if you are a bird
GAK67 Report This Comment Date: April 03, 2012 12:50AM
Although it could be argued that birds don't 'jump' off cliffs, and if they do
they are not proficient flyers so survival is still an issue.
BlahX3 Report This Comment Date: April 03, 2012 01:44AM
Here Fossil, put this on...
Now go test your theory.
fossil_digger Report This Comment Date: April 03, 2012 01:50AM
sometimes they do jump and soar down and away. sometimes they spread their
wings and let the wind pick them up.
jgoins Report This Comment Date: April 03, 2012 09:19AM
How many humans are eagles?
fossil_digger Report This Comment Date: April 03, 2012 01:00PM
i'm a Mockingbird.
jgoins Report This Comment Date: April 04, 2012 11:18AM
I'm an old buzzard.
GAK67 Report This Comment Date: April 04, 2012 09:08PM
I'm a Kiwi.
woberto Report This Comment Date: April 04, 2012 09:45PM
I'm an archaeopteryx.
fossil_digger Report This Comment Date: April 04, 2012 10:38PM
if you are a Kiwi, you're gonna go splat.
GAK67 Report This Comment Date: April 05, 2012 01:57AM
Kiwi's are smart enough to not jump off cliffs unaided.
woberto Report This Comment Date: April 05, 2012 02:14AM
Kiwis are delicious!
fossil_digger Report This Comment Date: April 05, 2012 02:31AM
i can't stand all the seeds and the fuzzy outside.
GAK67 Report This Comment Date: April 05, 2012 04:56AM
Real kiwi (Maori words don't pluralise with an 's') apparently were delicious,
which is why they are endangered. I've never tried one though.
I don't like what you guys know as a kiwi (what we call a kiwifruit).
Jeremy Report This Comment Date: April 05, 2012 06:01AM
"The mutha ucka runs a racist uckin' grocery. The mutha ucka won't sell an
apple to a Kiwi. The shi- fight's gonna get vicious and malicious. Cut the cra-.
I need my red delicious."
jgoins Report This Comment Date: April 05, 2012 10:51AM
If you are going to use the language then don't leave off letters you can say
fuck, shit and crap.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/04/2012 10:51AM by jgoins.
woberto Report This Comment Date: April 05, 2012 11:41AM
That would be lyrics from Flight Of The Conchords, a great NZ export.
pro_junior Report This Comment Date: April 05, 2012 03:18PM
When I'm down to my socks it's time for business
That's why they're called business socks, oooh
fossil_digger Report This Comment Date: April 05, 2012 05:00PM
little miss muffet sat on a tuffet eating her curds and (don't know
spelling)
along came a spider and sat down beside her
and said "WHAT'S IN THE BOWL BITCH?!"
OH!
jgoins Report This Comment Date: April 06, 2012 10:21AM
Whey