The Solution t This Gas ExtortionPrev TopicNext Topic

• Shane3

  

  Maryland
  United States
  Member #35,589
  March 20, 2006
  185 Posts
  Offline
  May 2, 2006, 10:50 am

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  Almost everyone is saying that there is no solution to the high gas prices at the pump. The politicians say we should throw up our hands and surrender to the current gas extortion. They say do more car-pooling, buy a smaller car and cut back on other expenses. They say be happy because Europe is paying $6.00/gallon. We all need to buy gas for our autos….that is understood, and I am not suggesting we all give up driving.

  But I say “Give-me-a-break”. I say something we can do something about it right now.

  The answer is….To Divide And Conqueror.

  If there are too many enemies massing against you and you are outnumbered and outgunned….then the solution is to divide your enemies. Find a way for them to turn upon each other….and there is nothing like money, profit and greed to cause even the closest bedfellows to fall out of love with each other.

  There needs to be an organized movement throughout the United States to select one gas mogul and not to purchase petroleum from them for a period of at least three months. I say there is nothing like starting at the head of the snake…..the biggest Honcho Exxon-Mobile. Start hurting them in the pocket and we will be surprised to see how quickly there will be a sudden surplus of gas….and all the other nonsense excuses for raising prices will disappear.

  As long as we continue to support these companies equally….they will have no reason to change their ways. So start with the big fish and let us see if he is motivated to communicate with his buddies.

  No more Exxon gas for me!

   J
• Clairvoyance

  

  United States
  Member #26,881
  November 23, 2005
  1,404 Posts
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  May 2, 2006, 10:57 am

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  Well I feel your pain. I about cried when I put gas into my car yesterday and the gage hardly moved but my purse was empty! 2.99 a gallon

   

  But does not Exxon-Mobile supply everyone? Even if you do not stop at their stations they would be the supplier for other stations? Just asking? How would a person know who the supplier was for every gas station? It may be a stupid question but it made me think of asking anyway LOL!
• konane

  

  USA
  United States
  Member #1,265
  March 13, 2003
  9,061 Posts
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  May 2, 2006, 12:01 pm

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  Latest data says China is using about 40% of the world's crude and that % is climbing daily.

  We haven't had a refinery built in 10 years due to "greens legislation" and our refineries are currently running at capacity.

  "Greens" have pressured us into not drilling in the small section of ANWAR which was set aside for oil exploration.

  Also these links to posts in my blog will give a more in depth explanation of why we are where we are with oil prices which are dictated by supply and demand on world markets.

  Thank the environmentalists while you're at it because the vast majority of our problems now rest squarely on their shoulders.

  https://blogs.lotterypost.com/konane/2006/04/green-politicians-add-to-gas-price-woes.htm

  https://blogs.lotterypost.com/konane/2006/04/high-gas-prices.htm

   

  Have fun and the best of luck to everyone!
• GASMETERGUY

  

  NASHVILLE, TENN
  United States
  Member #33,371
  February 20, 2006
  1,044 Posts
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  May 2, 2006, 12:01 pm

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  Gas is gas and it all comes from the same supplier.  Each large city has a "tank farm" which holds all the gas.  Each corner gas station orders from the same "tank farm".  The difference lies in the additives; additives which are added to the tanker truck while being filled.

  The oil companies do operate oil  rigs all over the world.  Some of  the crude oil is shipped to refineries in the USA ( I do not know who owns the refineries) and from there is pumped via pipe lines to various tank farms. 

  The oil companies will make money regardless of any boycott for they are all buddy/buddy.  However, I feel that a boycott is an excellant idea.  It would send a message.

  My question is this:  "Who gets the $75.00 per barrel?"  Do the Arabs get it?  Do the oil companies get it?  Who gets the money?
• konane

  

  USA
  United States
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  March 13, 2003
  9,061 Posts
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  May 2, 2006, 12:04 pm

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  Quote: Originally posted by GASMETERGUY on May 2, 2006

  Gas is gas and it all comes from the same supplier.  Each large city has a "tank farm" which holds all the gas.  Each corner gas station orders from the same "tank farm".  The difference lies in the additives; additives which are added to the tanker truck while being filled.

  The oil companies do operate oil  rigs all over the world.  Some of  the crude oil is shipped to refineries in the USA ( I do not know who owns the refineries) and from there is pumped via pipe lines to various tank farms. 

  The oil companies will make money regardless of any boycott for they are all buddy/buddy.  However, I feel that a boycott is an excellant idea.  It would send a message.

  My question is this:  "Who gets the $75.00 per barrel?"  Do the Arabs get it?  Do the oil companies get it?  Who gets the money?

  Actually I heard that the federal government gets more profit from gas through taxes than the oil companies do. 

   

  Also just heard on the news that 20% of our gas production facilities are offline due to damage caused by Katrina and will remain offline for awhile longer.

  Have fun and the best of luck to everyone!
• Fourwayz

  

  Godwin, NC
  United States
  Member #38,643
  May 2, 2006
  8 Posts
  Offline
  May 2, 2006, 12:52 pm

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  I try to do my part by driving my Honda 1987 Honda Accord (33+ MPG) and my 1988 Honda CRX (49+ MPG). Our truck and custom van are for "special" trips. That's where I'll hit them and "soften" the blow on my wallet!

  More hay Trigger? "No thanks Roy, I'm stuffed."
• Konformthismfs

  

  CA
  United States
  Member #4,429
  April 23, 2004
  426 Posts
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  May 2, 2006, 12:54 pm

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  Some mechanic needs to come up with a conversion kit from electric forklifts to cars. Forklifts weight 2-3 times that of a car and then lift and carry 2-3 times the weight of a car, all day long without needing a charge.  And what i've seen of them, the batteries are not that big. The cost of converting a car could easily be made up from savings on not buying gas, not buying oil changes, not buying tune-ups, etc...
  

  It's not what you got,  It's what you give,  It's not the life you choose, It's the life you live!
  
• jim695

  

  Columbia City, Indiana
  United States
  Member #2,978
  December 9, 2003
  381 Posts
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  May 2, 2006, 1:08 pm

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  An excellent idea but, unfortunately, the American people will not inconvenience themselves for a common cause. If there's a Mobil station on the corner where they buy their gas on their way to or from work, they won't drive six blocks out of their way to buy from Citgo.

  If you want to fight the high price of gas, buy crude oil options or invest in oil service companies such as Schlumberger, Inc. It won't bring the price of gasoline down, but you'll make enough money to pay for your gas for the next year.

  As long as China and India continue to develop their free-market economies, the demand for crude oil and all of its byproducts will continue to increase. Also, Iran is in a position to disrupt the entire world oil supply, should their president elect to do so, and I expect that he will, probably within the next sixty days. When this happens, we'll be paying around $4.50/ gallon or more, as the price of crude spikes to around $130/ bbl overnight. At this point, President Bush will order the release of our strategic reserves, but it still won't be enough; it might bring the price down by about twenty cents per gallon but that relief will only be temporary.

  If anyone is to blame here, it's people like me; investors and speculators who trade commodities and commodity options. There are only so many contracts to be had, so for every investor who makes money on a contract, there's someone else on the other end of the trade who lost an equal amount.

  It's not that difficult; if you've ever bought something at an open auction, you have the ability, with a little study, to trade commodities in your chosen market.

  Barring the complete obliteration of the exchanges, the price of crude oil will continue to rise, which means the price of gasoline will also continue to rise. As I mentioned, any relief will be temporary, since our government isn't going to sanction or otherwise impose unwelcome tax liabilities on the oil companies. Even if they did, Big Oil would only pass that liability on to the end consumer, and they would probably move their operations out of the country as well.

  Sorry to say it, folks, but we're stuck with high gas prices for the long haul. 

  Come, Pinky; we must prepare for tomorrow night...

  Jim
• four4me

  

  MD
  United States
  Member #1,701
  June 18, 2003
  10,731 Posts
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  May 2, 2006, 2:00 pm

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  It's not just gas prices that are affected by the rising cost of oil. Crude oil is also used in many products, all plastics are made from oil as well as tires, asphalt and automotive products. Where fuel is concerned there just aren't enough refining outfits to meet the demand for gas consumshion.

  What kills me is the automakers haven't come up with a viable engine which would run without the gas. Or use less of it for power. The automakers are in cahoots with the oil companies and oil has replaced gold in the money market so to speak.

  Because of this we will all suffer. If they don't come up with a plan to phase out gasoline engines they will continue to suck the oil out of the ground until it's all gone.

  Boycotting didn't work in the 70's and it won't work in the 2000's. About the only way it might work is if everyone in the US and other countries except for police, fire, and emergency vehicles. Didn't put fuel in their cars for say 3 days. And that aint gonna happen because many industries that deliver goods and services require the use of fuel and airplanes need to fly. These companies might be bankrupted as a result of such action. The oil companies know this and that is the mechanism that drives them === people needing fuel.

  hence the saying "they have us over the barrel"
  

   
• dnroth

  

  United States
  Member #37,109
  April 10, 2006
  43 Posts
  Offline
  May 2, 2006, 6:54 pm

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  Quote: Originally posted by four4me on May 2, 2006

  It's not just gas prices that are affected by the rising cost of oil. Crude oil is also used in many products, all plastics are made from oil as well as tires, asphalt and automotive products. Where fuel is concerned there just aren't enough refining outfits to meet the demand for gas consumshion.

  What kills me is the automakers haven't come up with a viable engine which would run without the gas. Or use less of it for power. The automakers are in cahoots with the oil companies and oil has replaced gold in the money market so to speak.

  Because of this we will all suffer. If they don't come up with a plan to phase out gasoline engines they will continue to suck the oil out of the ground until it's all gone.

  Boycotting didn't work in the 70's and it won't work in the 2000's. About the only way it might work is if everyone in the US and other countries except for police, fire, and emergency vehicles. Didn't put fuel in their cars for say 3 days. And that aint gonna happen because many industries that deliver goods and services require the use of fuel and airplanes need to fly. These companies might be bankrupted as a result of such action. The oil companies know this and that is the mechanism that drives them === people needing fuel.

  hence the saying "they have us over the barrel"
  

   

  One interesting thing happened shortly after September 11, 2001 in Superior, Wisconsin.  Superior is home to a pipeline terminal for Enbridge.  A rumor raced through the town that the pipeline was going to be shutting down, or something to that effect.  It sent people running to the gas stations.  Well, the pipeline didn't shut down, and gas prices plummeted after the rush on the stations...
• JAP69

  

  South Carolina
  United States
  Member #6
  November 4, 2001
  8,966 Posts
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  May 2, 2006, 7:15 pm

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  What kills me is the automakers haven't come up with a viable engine which would run without the gas. Or use less of it for power. The automakers are in cahoots with the oil companies and oil has replaced gold in the money market so to speak.
  ________________________________________________________
  
  I have seen and heard different stories in my lifetime where an Individual or small company came up with workings ideas for less gas consumption.
  
  The best one I heard was where an individual bought a car in N.Y. state and was getting about 80 miles to a Gallon. He wrote the automaker about how pleased he was about it. Well the car company came to his home and gave him two or three vehicles for that one.
  He was told that that vehicle was a test prototype and was not meant to be put on the sales floor. It got there somehow.
  
  Gas companies and auto makers have been sleeping in the same bed for a long time.
  
  

  Numbers are where you find them.
• JAP69

  

  South Carolina
  United States
  Member #6
  November 4, 2001
  8,966 Posts
  Offline
  May 2, 2006, 7:24 pm

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  They have been making gas powered engines for almost 100 years and they can not figure it out yet. Give me a break.
  
  There should be enough knowledge out there to come up with a powerplant that does not require gas power.
  
  I am quite certain space ships from other planets do not stop at the local gas pump.
  
  

  Numbers are where you find them.
• time*treat

  

  United States
  Member #13,130
  March 30, 2005
  2,171 Posts
  Offline
  May 2, 2006, 9:44 pm

  ▲▼
  Quote: Originally posted by JAP69 on May 2, 2006

  They have been making gas powered engines for almost 100 years and they can not figure it out yet. Give me a break.
  
  There should be enough knowledge out there to come up with a powerplant that does not require gas power.
  
  I am quite certain space ships from other planets do not stop at the local gas pump.
  
  

  True. The Voyager & Pioneer spacecraft are still "phoning home".

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_1 

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_10 

  It's not that the info is not there, it is that there is so much regulation in place. The gov't has been regulating the oil cos since the breakup of Standard Oil. Where you can build, what you can build, how much you can charge, etc. But the pols want to pass the blame in an election year. They won't even admit (or don't know) why oil is mainly priced in dollars on the world markets in the first place.
  

  In neo-conned Amerika, bank robs you.
  Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms should be the name of a convenience store, not a govnoment agency.
• cybero

  

  Michigan
  United States
  Member #7,752
  October 11, 2004
  222 Posts
  Offline
  May 2, 2006, 10:35 pm

  ▲▼

  You know what this country really needs? This country needs a little "revolution" to stir the pot up! Then we need another "tea party" but not with tea! Then we need to march to Washington and "Take America Back" from all the fat cat politicians, REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS!!
  
  
  Kick all their a@$es out of office and start over! The country is in sad shape, makes me so sick I am ready to fly north to the land of maple leafs! Just look at how many people vote each presidential election, it is pitiful.

   And yes I do vote, I vote every chance I get and if I don't like what u are doing I will vote to give yer a$% the boot! Nuff' said!

   

   

  CyberO
  __________________
   
  
  
• ryanm

  

  Morrison, IL
  United States
  Member #4,657
  May 13, 2004
  1,885 Posts
  Offline
  May 2, 2006, 11:18 pm

  ▲▼
  Quote: Originally posted by Shane3 on May 2, 2006

  Almost everyone is saying that there is no solution to the high gas prices at the pump. The politicians say we should throw up our hands and surrender to the current gas extortion. They say do more car-pooling, buy a smaller car and cut back on other expenses. They say be happy because Europe is paying $6.00/gallon. We all need to buy gas for our autos..that is understood, and I am not suggesting we all give up driving.

  But I say "Give-me-a-break". I say something we can do something about it right now.

  The answer is..To Divide And Conqueror.

  If there are too many enemies massing against you and you are outnumbered and outgunned..then the solution is to divide your enemies. Find a way for them to turn upon each other..and there is nothing like money, profit and greed to cause even the closest bedfellows to fall out of love with each other.

  There needs to be an organized movement throughout the United States to select one gas mogul and not to purchase petroleum from them for a period of at least three months. I say there is nothing like starting at the head of the snake...the biggest Honcho Exxon-Mobile. Start hurting them in the pocket and we will be surprised to see how quickly there will be a sudden surplus of gas..and all the other nonsense excuses for raising prices will disappear.

  As long as we continue to support these companies equally..they will have no reason to change their ways. So start with the big fish and let us see if he is motivated to communicate with his buddies.

  No more Exxon gas for me!

   J

  Actually, if you began boycotting one oil company, it might INCREASE the price of oil because if that action drives the company out of business, its competitors have less incentive to hold prices down. The only way to cure the prices is to just not use as much oil overall.