Gas Prices!

[StarCat]

I hope I'm posting this in the right section...

Is anyone else REALLY fed up with the dramatic increase in gas prices, just in the last few weeks? It cost me $29 to fill up my Elantra today at BJ's for $2.44 a gallon. When I bought the car in September 2003, it cost me $15 to fill it up. I'm really dreading tomorrow when we have to fill up my husband's Trailblazer, which gets a whopping 250/300 (IF we are lucky) miles per tank...I would start riding my bicycle but I would probably look fairly stupid with 2 car seats hanging off of it

 

[Bogart]

You should buy an H2. Think of the children.

 

[hvp05]

Is anyone else REALLY fed up with the dramatic increase in gas prices, just in the last few weeks?

So is this not the right time to mention the estimates of $4/gallon (national) by mid-next year?

 

[StarCat]

Is there EVER going to be a point where enough is enough? Its not bad enough that housing here has skyrocketed, and you can pay $500,000 for a tiny house here, and pay the same thing for a compound in other places? It's like trying to get blood out of a rock...I am glad my son will be starting school in another year, because at this rate, staying home with him, isnt going to be an option much longer.

 

[Agee]

Well...

Read and Weep!

"There’s no question that the drain on the average American’s pocketbook has been a gusher for the big oil companies. Just look at the financial statements issued at the end of July. Exxon Mobil Corp.’s second-quarter earnings climbed 35 percent from the second quarter of 2004 (after excluding special items) to $7.64 billion. BP PLC, the world’s second-largest publicly traded oil company, said its net income increased 29percent, to $5.59billion. At Royal Dutch Shell PLC, second-quarter profits rose 34 percent to $5.24 billion. ConocoPhillips, the third-largest U.S. oil company, reported an eye-popping 51 percent jump in earnings, to $3.14billion."

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/editorial/12358264.htm

 

[Bogart]

Is there EVER going to be a point where enough is enough? Its not bad enough that housing here has skyrocketed, and you can pay $500,000 for a tiny house here, and pay the same thing for a compound in other places? It's like trying to get blood out of a rock...I am glad my son will be starting school in another year, because at this rate, staying home with him, isnt going to be an option much longer.

You should get jobs in these 'other' places then live like royalty.

 

[tomchamp]

So!

You think it's all the oil Co.s fault!

 

[StarCat]

I already know how it is in the OTHER places, we almost bought a house in Garrett County Maryland. It was huge, bigger than the house we live in now. Problem is, jobs dont pay well, but thats not the point, the POINT is, why are they making us pay such high prices? Just because they can. I just dont think its right, there are people who struggle every day, at jobs, driving LONG distances, just to take care of their families, and after paying for gas, and all the other outrageously priced things, have no money left. It just seems like, around here, you have to make a minimum of a couple hundred thousand dollars a year, just to live, especially with children. My dad worked for the government and is retired now, and my mom works for the county government. My dad says he doesnt understand how people do it, if he hadnt built his house and paid off the $64,000 he paid for it, he said he wouldnt be able to afford a house now, with the prices like they are. My point is, i feel like the average working class people are being milked.

I have noticed, that as soon as someone decides to voice their opinion, there is someone there who is quite ready to jump down their throat.

 

[Bogart]

I already know how it is in the OTHER places, we almost bought a house in Garrett County Maryland. It was huge, bigger than the house we live in now. Problem is, jobs dont pay well, but thats not the point, the POINT is, why are they making us pay such high prices? Just because they can. I just dont think its right, there are people who struggle every day, at jobs, driving LONG distances, just to take care of their families, and after paying for gas, and all the other outrageously priced things, have no money left. It just seems like, around here, you have to make a minimum of a couple hundred thousand dollars a year, just to live, especially with children. My dad worked for the government and is retired now, and my mom works for the county government. My dad says he doesnt understand how people do it, if he hadnt built his house and paid off the $64,000 he paid for it, he said he wouldnt be able to afford a house now, with the prices like they are. My point is, i feel like the average working class people are being milked.

I have noticed, that as soon as someone decides to voice their opinion, there is someone there who is quite ready to jump down their throat.

No one is making you do anything. No one made you to buy vehicles that get shitty gas mileage. No one is making you buy more house than you can afford. These are choices you make for yourself.

 

[Toxick]

You think it's all the oil Co.s fault!

Just cut to the chase.
Explain why it's not.

 

[Goofing_Off]

I already know how it is in the OTHER places, we almost bought a house in Garrett County Maryland. It was huge, bigger than the house we live in now. Problem is, jobs dont pay well, but thats not the point, the POINT is, why are they making us pay such high prices? Just because they can. I just dont think its right, there are people who struggle every day, at jobs, driving LONG distances, just to take care of their families, and after paying for gas, and all the other outrageously priced things, have no money left. It just seems like, around here, you have to make a minimum of a couple hundred thousand dollars a year, just to live, especially with children. My dad worked for the government and is retired now, and my mom works for the county government. My dad says he doesnt understand how people do it, if he hadnt built his house and paid off the $64,000 he paid for it, he said he wouldnt be able to afford a house now, with the prices like they are. My point is, i feel like the average working class people are being milked.

I have noticed, that as soon as someone decides to voice their opinion, there is someone there who is quite ready to jump down their throat.

I don't know about you, but my job pays well.

 

[hvp05]

My point is, i feel like the average working class people are being milked.

So you say you want a Revolution? Well, you know we all want to change the world. (Catchy, huh?) I say: buy a hybrid vehicle if you want to slay the demons of big oil. Eventually we should all drive an alternately-powered vehicle. Of course, that is to say nothing about how you will heat your house this winter...

I have noticed, that as soon as someone decides to voice their opinion, there is someone there who is quite ready to jump down their throat.

I don't want to but it is rumored that big oil execs plant spies in forums just like this...

 

[StarCat]

No one is "Making" us buy houses we cant afford? What exactly is the alternative, to live in a box maybe? Being that all the houses i've been able to find have been well over 200K. I'm not going to defend myself, i dont have to, all i had to say was that gas is overpriced. As for jobs paying well, I thought my husband's job paid well, it pays alot better than any job before. But my job doesnt pay so well, I'm a stay at home mom, who just got involved with small business, in a desperate attempt to bring in some form of income so that i can raise my son.

 

[Nupe2]

No one is making you do anything. No one made you to buy vehicles that get shitty gas mileage. No one is making you buy more house than you can afford. These are choices you make for yourself.

Bogart, I agree with what you're saying but I think the issue is really that it seems that this might be the end of the trend for some middle class families to improve their financial and educational condition with each successive generation. I'm concerned about my sons and others of their generation and their ability to find affordable housing and to raise families in the future. I know that every generation when looking to the next is concerned about their ability to prosper but these times seem be more treacherous than any preceding times. I'm sure that's not the case but just the same I'm concerned about the younger folks being able to attain some of the material signs of prosperity and realize the American Dream.

I have always told my children that they need to get as much education and as many advantages as possible because with the global nature of the economy and the challenges we're facing now and will face in the future, those who are most prepared will find themselves in a much better position to survive and prosper in this society...whatever it is to become.

 

[Bogart]

No one is "Making" us buy houses we cant afford? What exactly is the alternative, to live in a box maybe? Being that all the houses i've been able to find have been well over 200K. I'm not going to defend myself, i dont have to, all i had to say was that gas is overpriced. As for jobs paying well, I thought my husband's job paid well, it pays alot better than any job before. But my job doesnt pay so well, I'm a stay at home mom, who just got involved with small business, in a desperate attempt to bring in some form of income so that i can raise my son.

Read the SOMD Weekly in the Post. Recently two homes in Leonardtown sold for under $100K. If your husband can't take care of the family perhaps you could move back in with your parents?

 

[Bogart]

Bogart, I agree with what you're saying but I think the issue is really that it seems that this might be the end of the trend for some middle class families to improve their financial and educational condition with each successive generation. I'm concerned about my sons and others of their generation and their ability to find affordable housing and to raise families in the future. I know that every generation when looking to the next is concerned about their ability to prosper but these times seem be more treacherous than any preceding times. I'm sure that's not the case but just the same I'm concerned about the younger folks being able to attain some of the material signs of prosperity and realize the American Dream.

I have always told my children that they need to get as much education and as many advantages as possible because with the global nature of the economy and the challenges we're facing now and will face in the future, those who are most prepared will find themselves in a much better position to survive and prosper in this society...whatever it is to become.

My American Dream is not about material signs of wealth. I guess I'm just stupid.

 

[StarCat]

My husband leaves home at 4AM some days earlier, gets to work at 5AM and works until 5PM some days later. He is doing the best he can to take care of us, busting his ass every day, we are not dirt poor, we still buy groceries, and still take care of our kids, ALL i'm saying is that prices are so high, that it gets hard to deal with after a while. I dont know alot about Leonardtown, or houses there, but i guess we will have to look into it. My husband works in DC though, and with his long hours, i think Leonardtown would be a really long drive...which obviously isnt going to help the gas situation. And with traffic, when would he sleep?

 

[Toxick]

Recently two homes in Leonardtown sold for under $100K.

The first one is even waterfront property.

<IMG SRC="http://www.sfgate.com/g/pictures/2000/04/07/surreal-shack.jpg">

The other has a Scenic Rustic View
<img src="http://www.hubbardbrook.org/research/gallery/logging_camps/Horse_hovel_near_Norse_Brook.jpg">

 

[Oz]

Move to Atlanta. A report I just read (The 10 Best Cities to Live) shows their median home price to be $164,000.



PS. I don't have anything against material signs of prosperity...

 

[Nupe2]

My American Dream is not about material signs of wealth. I guess I'm just stupid.

I just chose to address the material (house, car, etc.). Obviously, the American dream consists of much more than that (Freedom!, etc.) but that wasn't the issue in the preceding posts. No comment on the level of your intelligence....