Random Thoughts
Posted by Rich on 23 May 2008 at 09:20 am | Tagged as: General, Renewable Energy
Oil Prices, isn’t that on the top of everyones list?
One part I hardly hear mentioned, but then again I don’t watch TV, is that the American economy is tanking. We knew this right, but how does it affect gas prices….Well it’s a foreign commodity. If the value of a dollar falls, which it has and continues to do, the cost of foreign goods goes up. Maybe the cost of oil isn’t changing much in the Middle East, but maybe our money isn’t worth much there anymore. I think that’s a factor to why the prices keep going up. I thought the $100/barrel concept seemed to be an outrage as we hovered close to it. No one wanted to see it. Now that we passed it, record prices come day after day. No one tries to stop it.
Then again, we need to suck it up and get used to it. I’ve talked to my worldwide business partners, and 1-2 years ago, we compared fuel prices. Fuel here is cheap, the government subsidies it. Why do you think Europe has public transportation and fuel efficient small cars? High fuel costs forced them to think about it, and do something.
We were pampered with cheap fuel, and huge SUV’s. I’m tired of hearing people complain of the cost of a fill-up when they commute 40-60+ miles a day in a Yukon, Cherokee, or large truck. Maybe we need the expensive fuel so that this country is forced to act. Bush wants to up the fuel economy in 10 years to match what Europe is running now? What kind of progress is that?! Detroit continues to complain about Honda Hybrids outselling thier large gas-guzzlers?
Driving is a privilege, not a right. Complaining gets you no where. Time to bike, walk, carpool, take public transportation, etc. Wait, what’s that? Oh yeah. We hardly have any. Trade down to smaller cars, go hybrid, go electric or burn veggie. Something drastic will have to take place to change the amount YOU spend at the pump. No more being pampered.
Oh, and all you people who complain about China suppling all our goods, stop shopping at Wal-mart!! Didn’t you realize that 70% of their stock comes directly from China?. I thought 20 years ago, when I first saw a Wal-mart, they had ‘Made in the USA’ stickers everywhere. Where did those go? Now, everything comes from the lowest bidder, China. Progress in the form of shareholder dollars.
Oil is traded in the U.S. Dollar. The weakness of the dollar coupled with the increase in demand coming mostly out of Asia is causing oil to spike. Also petroleum Nationalism ( coming from countries that have no voters like Venezuela) is rearing its ugly head.
Greenhouse Gas Legislation will kill our country. If one thinks Russia, CHina and others will toe the line in “clean” energy they are dreaming.
Remember one volcanic eruption dumps more Greenhouse gas into the atmosphere than 10,000 years of SUVs. Global warming is a REALITY…Man made global warming is a modern day towel of babel.. a complete and absolute HOAX…created as a political contraption to garner votes.
Oh by the way Europe has less public transportation that us. We have more miles of public transportation than any European country. Perhaps those who push conservation should move from their acreages into the city to utilize Public transportation.
How far do you have to drive to get food?
Miles of public transportation. Without researching it, that almost sounds like a great figure that could be used to prove a point.
The US is bad at creating multi-use developments. We have miles and miles of twisty and non connecting neighborhoods, without a single grocery store, restaurant, or gas station anywhere inside them.
Many cities on our East Coast fare better than others. I can get around Boston and New York fine. Denver’s public transportation is a joke. Many of our smaller towns (50,000) do not have anything useful to offer. Compared to all of the foreign trips my team is on, we never had to rent cars, but used trains, subways, or buses.
How far do I drive?
1. Our town is a mile long. The grocery is about the longest stretch we need to make.
2. In the last week I biked 6 times and walked 3 times on errands.
3. I supplement my diesel with Waste Veggie Oil, with plans and parts to make a full conversion this summer.
4. To get the most of my food? 38 feet. Right now, we have over 3,000 sq ft of garden planted. Next year we plan on more, and chickens.
I have been looking for a cost of gas by Euro, to compare against the dollar, and they are only historical, I have not found any for 2008 yet. 2007 did end with quite a delta growing. The cost isn’t always going up, the dollar has been dropping more.
I think it was Gore’s viewpoint that it isn’t just warming. This was a wild winter all over, crazy tornado season already, more hurricanes, and more violent weather over the years. I’m sure we are doing something, and not many people take care of the small chunks of Earth they do come into contact with.
Thanks! I love people challenging my thoughts
38 feet to get food is a good. Wondering what things would be like if all people decided to live on acreages?
I haven’t driven a car to work since 2001. however its only becuase its 1.5 miles (one way) and I don’t want to trash my exhaust system on the car. I haven’t put gas in the tank since october of 2006 (10 bucks worth at the time) keep doing you thing.
More importantly…your site mentions road races. I have always wanted to give bike racing a try……I know all races are different but as a guesstimate…what is the average speed of a Cat 5 race?
Rich,
Looks like the U.S. is in deep do do.
I don’t see any relief from fuel prices…EVER. I am also convinced that there will be no efficient fuel alternative for at least 3-4 decades. Apparently Obama accused McCain for the high Gas prices. (which is an insult to the average Joe’s intelligence) McCain then acused Obama for having Jimmy Carter Mentality. (which is pointless) When people say things like I don’t want to hear people complain about high gas prices it makes me think of my dialysis pts who didn’t ask for the disease pile out hundreds of dollars per month in fuel to basically save their lives. Sure Joe SUV is bitchin but its the little guy who worked his butt off on the small farm for decades only to end up having to drive 20 miles one way for a life saving dialysis treatment. most of these people don’t have the resources to move to Metro areas..why should they have to? why shouldn’t they be able to live on their acreages like others?
End of SOb story.