Nobody will be rv'ing with $10 gas. It will be illegal. Every vehicle will be issued a ration sticker with even or odd numbers, and will only be able to fuel at designated locations on even or odd days according to the last digit of the vin or registration number - no private vehicle will be able to buy more than 5 gals every other day --- or etc.
The social ramifications of $10 gas are beyond my comprehension. In my rural area, there simply are no jobs. People have to drive 100 miles a day in order to work, and they are already barely able to survive with gas bills of $600/month +. They will either have to move closer to their work or languish here in the kind of appalling rural poverty I remember as a child. And moving closer to work is nearly impossible for most because housing prices down in the Beaumont area are way beyond their means. These are modestly paid people with family incomes under 50K - in many cases, way under! The nearest full service medical facility is 60 miles from here and older people living on SS alone cannot buy gas to keep doctor appointments.
The whole country, which was built on the automobile and cheap gas, will have to be restructured along European lines - and that will take time. What worries me is the social chaos that will inevitably ensue while this restructuring is taking place.
It wouldn't be so bad if it had developed slowly, over a period of years, to allow people time to adapt. But this sudden, dramatic increase is more than
millions of Americans can cope with.
The TV pundits are saying this will be the #1 issue in the fall campaign. Congress will be addressing it next session, and they will have to come-up with some plan to provide basic gas to lower income, working people - maybe issue some sort of "gas stamps" that allow the worker a few gallons a week of govt subsidized gasoline.
That's probably what we should be discussing here - How congress can deal with this evolving crisis in America. It's a complicated issue that will not be resolved without firm government action - the people will demand that "something be done" after the election. Congressional inaction could well mean the end of the America we have known. If Congress is indecisive and does nothing, the people will take the matter into their own hands and the result would likely be a completely socialized economy and the death of the American free enterprise system. The capitalists hated FDR - but he was the best friend they ever had. If he hadn't taken action at that terrible time, capitalism in America would probably be an historical footnote today.
I cannot understand the number of posters who laugh off the ongoing crisis seemingly unaware that unless we see a sudden reversal, our lifestyle and standard of living will change forever.
It is fine for some retired fat cat to brag about rving no matter the cost, such statements are of small consolation, to the millions of families who are having the rug pulled from other them.
Even if domestic drilling were to double to-morrow, the results would simply be a stop gap measure, barely effecting the price of fuel.
New refinery's and the vaunted ANWAR are up to twenty years away if at all, little solace to the young families struggling today.
Hi its Bob from Wales UK my 1st post gas is 12$ gal Diesel 14$ gal we have RVs here and folks are still useing them and still paying 30$ a night in camping grounds if you can get on them so cheer up allis not lost bob
Hi Bob.
I will point out that your gallon, like our Canadian gallon is twenty percent larger than the American gallon.
How many miles would an average RVer drive in a year?
I realize this is a hard question to answer.
I ask because the American people feel that they drive much further so use more gas in comparison to Britain and Europe.
Alas, all is indeed lost as far as rv'ing is concerned here - at least for the overwhelming majority of rv enthusiasts on this side of the pond. Some have exited gracefully and parked their rig in a permanent campsite while others have chosen to fight history to the bitter end. It's all over, Bob. Even those fortunate few who have the money will not be driving their rigs because public opinion will be so negative and hostile toward them - not to mention their own feelings of guilt in wasting a precious commodity in short supply.
There is much weeping and gnashing of teeth, and some have vowed to fight on, but it's all over. The Age of Petroleum is drawing to a close, my friend.
Oil and it's byproducts are the life blood of our existence. We HAVE to have it to live. Right now at least.
Since it is so important to us it has great leverage and those whom control it are on the end of the lever. A type of black mail then ensues.
If you want you and your family to live, then you will pay up.
If you try to call for help by creating a viable alternative fuel source such as nuclear or the doubtful Cold Fusion, then you will suffer the consequences.
If Cold Fusion had been viable it would have turned the oil companies into steel junk yards with towering monuments to the old days before enlightenment.
So now the push is for Government to step in and save us, but they are part and parcel to the hostage holders.
Capitalism is very good for the many, but bad for the few. we may, in coming years, see a merging of Capitalism and Socialism and then a slow demise of the former.
More and more people want to be cared for now. To rid themselves of the basic responsibilities of living and thinking. And as usual, there are groups that are at the ready to take on these responsibilities, but at what price.
We are going through the "Blame Game" right now, but shortly, one group will be declared the winner in this game. It will not be a Political party, but rather an ideology. It will be costly, both in dollars and personal freedom.
Who was it that said, "There is nothing to fear, but fear itself".
Don't let them make you afraid with tales of horrors to come. This is how THEY gain power over us. If we keep our heads and use our brains and common sense it will all work out.
Be part of the solution and not the problem. Only Sheep can be fleeced.
What good will come out of higher fuel prices? On ABC news last night 6-24-08 they listed several US companies that have already benefited by shifting production back to the US. Couldn't find the ABC article without listening to the whole webcast but this article has some similar information:
"Stung by Soaring Transport Costs, Factories Bring Jobs Home Again"
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=10958
Those that will succeed will be the ones with a "can do attitude" and make lemonade from these oil price lemons. These times just make us put our thinking caps on, if we didn't rise up to meet life's challenges our brains would just go to mush.
Please keep posts directly related to original topic. While recent comments were interesting and thought provoking they were off-topic and very political in content.
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