gas prices too high or too low?

Don't know know if the question has been asked before, but humor me
for a bit and share your thoughts on gas prices and if ya think
driving an SUV is unpatriotic? In my own mind its a complicated
question that can effect US national security (the part where we in
the USA are dependent upon foreign oil). It was a topic that was sort
of covered in the last issue of national geographic so I posted
another rant on why I think in general SUVs suck.


http://www.phaster.com/road_trips/ar...patriotic.html


I just filled up my land cruiser and it took $100+, oh well its my toy
and its the only vehicle that can accomplish what I want it to do, so
I don't mind paying for the priviliage of driving the darn thing, but
with gas prices all over the news and oil prices now just dropping are
people going to ignore the recient gas price spike??????

"ben" > wrote in message
om...
> Don't know know if the question has been asked before, but humor me
> for a bit and share your thoughts on gas prices

Which thoughts exactly?

Relative to the world, I think we're far to low on
gas prices.

Relative to past domestic prices, taking into
consideration inflation, I still think we're too low.

On the other hand, in general, I think they're too
high -- but only because I'm a consumer seeking
to reduce my expenses. I've no idea what the "ideal"
price of a gallon is in the U.S, but I'd like to think it's
a helluva lot lower than we're paying now and I'd like
to think we actually have a chance of reducing the
current prices to that "ideal" price.

> and if ya think
> driving an SUV is unpatriotic?

Dumb question.

Is drinking coffee unpatriotic?

Is posting to usenet unpatriotic?

Is masturbation unpatriotic?

Who cares.

> In my own mind its a complicated
> question that can effect US national security (the part where we in
> the USA are dependent upon foreign oil).

It's a lot more complicated than that. A lot.

> It was a topic that was sort
> of covered in the last issue of national geographic so I posted
> another rant on why I think in general SUVs suck.

Everything sucks for *somebody*.

I happen to be in agreement. SUVs have a lot of suckage,
but definitely not, in particular, because they are "unpatriotic".


> http://www.phaster.com/road_trips/ar...patriotic.html
>
>
> I just filled up my land cruiser and it took $100+, oh well its my toy
> and its the only vehicle that can accomplish what I want it to do, so
> I don't mind paying for the priviliage of driving the darn thing, but
> with gas prices all over the news and oil prices now just dropping are
> people going to ignore the recient gas price spike??????


The patriotic folks out there have fought and died for
exactly the freedom to drive an SUV -- suckage or not.

Why would stroking your sausage be unpatriotic?


Refinish King


"Sgt. Sausage" > wrote in message
...
> "ben" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Don't know know if the question has been asked before, but humor me
> > for a bit and share your thoughts on gas prices
>
> Which thoughts exactly?
>
> Relative to the world, I think we're far to low on
> gas prices.
>
> Relative to past domestic prices, taking into
> consideration inflation, I still think we're too low.
>
> On the other hand, in general, I think they're too
> high -- but only because I'm a consumer seeking
> to reduce my expenses. I've no idea what the "ideal"
> price of a gallon is in the U.S, but I'd like to think it's
> a helluva lot lower than we're paying now and I'd like
> to think we actually have a chance of reducing the
> current prices to that "ideal" price.
>
> > and if ya think
> > driving an SUV is unpatriotic?
>
> Dumb question.
>
> Is drinking coffee unpatriotic?
>
> Is posting to usenet unpatriotic?
>
> Is masturbation unpatriotic?
>
> Who cares.
>
> > In my own mind its a complicated
> > question that can effect US national security (the part where we in
> > the USA are dependent upon foreign oil).
>
> It's a lot more complicated than that. A lot.
>
> > It was a topic that was sort
> > of covered in the last issue of national geographic so I posted
> > another rant on why I think in general SUVs suck.
>
> Everything sucks for *somebody*.
>
> I happen to be in agreement. SUVs have a lot of suckage,
> but definitely not, in particular, because they are "unpatriotic".
>
>
> > http://www.phaster.com/road_trips/ar...patriotic.html
> >
> >
> > I just filled up my land cruiser and it took $100+, oh well its my toy
> > and its the only vehicle that can accomplish what I want it to do, so
> > I don't mind paying for the priviliage of driving the darn thing, but
> > with gas prices all over the news and oil prices now just dropping are
> > people going to ignore the recient gas price spike??????
>
>
> The patriotic folks out there have fought and died for
> exactly the freedom to drive an SUV -- suckage or not.
>
>
>
>
>
>

"Refinish King" > wrote in message
...
> Why would stroking your sausage be unpatriotic?
>
>
> Refinish King
>
Depends if you're thinking of Osama Bum Laden while you do it I suppose. . .
.. . .

"Refinish King" > wrote in message
...
> Why would stroking your sausage be unpatriotic?
>
>
> Refinish King
>
Depends if you're thinking of Osama Bum Laden while you do it I suppose. . .
.. . .

Why would stroking your sausage be unpatriotic?


Refinish King


"Sgt. Sausage" > wrote in message
...
> "ben" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Don't know know if the question has been asked before, but humor me
> > for a bit and share your thoughts on gas prices
>
> Which thoughts exactly?
>
> Relative to the world, I think we're far to low on
> gas prices.
>
> Relative to past domestic prices, taking into
> consideration inflation, I still think we're too low.
>
> On the other hand, in general, I think they're too
> high -- but only because I'm a consumer seeking
> to reduce my expenses. I've no idea what the "ideal"
> price of a gallon is in the U.S, but I'd like to think it's
> a helluva lot lower than we're paying now and I'd like
> to think we actually have a chance of reducing the
> current prices to that "ideal" price.
>
> > and if ya think
> > driving an SUV is unpatriotic?
>
> Dumb question.
>
> Is drinking coffee unpatriotic?
>
> Is posting to usenet unpatriotic?
>
> Is masturbation unpatriotic?
>
> Who cares.
>
> > In my own mind its a complicated
> > question that can effect US national security (the part where we in
> > the USA are dependent upon foreign oil).
>
> It's a lot more complicated than that. A lot.
>
> > It was a topic that was sort
> > of covered in the last issue of national geographic so I posted
> > another rant on why I think in general SUVs suck.
>
> Everything sucks for *somebody*.
>
> I happen to be in agreement. SUVs have a lot of suckage,
> but definitely not, in particular, because they are "unpatriotic".
>
>
> > http://www.phaster.com/road_trips/ar...patriotic.html
> >
> >
> > I just filled up my land cruiser and it took $100+, oh well its my toy
> > and its the only vehicle that can accomplish what I want it to do, so
> > I don't mind paying for the priviliage of driving the darn thing, but
> > with gas prices all over the news and oil prices now just dropping are
> > people going to ignore the recient gas price spike??????
>
>
> The patriotic folks out there have fought and died for
> exactly the freedom to drive an SUV -- suckage or not.
>
>
>
>
>
>

Sgt. Sausage wrote:
> "ben" > wrote in message
> om...
>> Don't know know if the question has been asked before, but humor me
>> for a bit and share your thoughts on gas prices
>
> Which thoughts exactly?
>
> Relative to the world, I think we're far to low on
> gas prices.
>
> Relative to past domestic prices, taking into
> consideration inflation, I still think we're too low.
>
> On the other hand, in general, I think they're too
> high -- but only because I'm a consumer seeking
> to reduce my expenses. I've no idea what the "ideal"
> price of a gallon is in the U.S, but I'd like to think it's
> a helluva lot lower than we're paying now and I'd like
> to think we actually have a chance of reducing the
> current prices to that "ideal" price.
>

(cut)

I've seen this type of thinking before, though not expressed so explicitly.
If you could indulge me a bit, please take a bit of time to think about the
"ideal" price and try to tell me why that particular price is ideal.

I'm not sure what the right price is, because it is a very complicated
issue, for example how does an economist value the harm caused by
pollution (there are some estimates, but it economics is not a hard
science unlike physics, where I can work out a solution and a second
party can confirm my exact calculation).

the national geo article said the real price of gas is about $4.00
bucks plus a gal, and just looking at the illustration I could think
of additional variable that would add to the cost, but I guess it is
as good of a 1st order approximation that one could agree upon.

doing a google search on a paper on the price of gas I found:

http://www.worldwatch.org/press/news/2000/09/28/

I should let it be know that not too long ago, I met the author of
this paper when he was in town (I get all kinds of journals and
worldwatch happens to be one of them), it was a most of the people
there were egg head types who worked at scripps and UCSD (don't know
why I got an invite but figure what the hey why not go for the food
and drinks).

to tell the truth I don't know that would be a fair and just price, I
just figure that it should be at least where it is now or higher.

as it stands the free market system is not in effect as far as gas
prices are concerned (most of the general public would not be able to
live their current life style if they had to pay the fair cost of gas,
they have grown addicted to oil)

when ya think about it critically the problem is akin to a drug
addiction, at some point we need to kick our national addiction to oil
and I think it would be better if we slowly learn to live within our
means rather than let external forces make changes for us, in
economics there are two sides of the equation supply and demand (I
think it best in the national interest to work on the lowering the
demand).

if it were up to me, I would make it a law that everyone one else pay
that higher price (and adjust it for inflation) the exclude myself
from paying anything for gas (ya know kind of like how congress
excludes itself from many laws it passes, for example I think they
have a separate retirement system, medical system, etc.).




"charliew2" > wrote in message >...
> Sgt. Sausage wrote:
> > "ben" > wrote in message
> > om...
> >> Don't know know if the question has been asked before, but humor me
> >> for a bit and share your thoughts on gas prices
> >
> > Which thoughts exactly?
> >
> > Relative to the world, I think we're far to low on
> > gas prices.
> >
> > Relative to past domestic prices, taking into
> > consideration inflation, I still think we're too low.
> >
> > On the other hand, in general, I think they're too
> > high -- but only because I'm a consumer seeking
> > to reduce my expenses. I've no idea what the "ideal"
> > price of a gallon is in the U.S, but I'd like to think it's
> > a helluva lot lower than we're paying now and I'd like
> > to think we actually have a chance of reducing the
> > current prices to that "ideal" price.
> >
>
> (cut)
>
> I've seen this type of thinking before, though not expressed so explicitly.
> If you could indulge me a bit, please take a bit of time to think about the
> "ideal" price and try to tell me why that particular price is ideal.

I'm not sure what the right price is, because it is a very complicated
issue, for example how does an economist value the harm caused by
pollution (there are some estimates, but it economics is not a hard
science unlike physics, where I can work out a solution and a second
party can confirm my exact calculation).

the national geo article said the real price of gas is about $4.00
bucks plus a gal, and just looking at the illustration I could think
of additional variable that would add to the cost, but I guess it is
as good of a 1st order approximation that one could agree upon.

doing a google search on a paper on the price of gas I found:

http://www.worldwatch.org/press/news/2000/09/28/

I should let it be know that not too long ago, I met the author of
this paper when he was in town (I get all kinds of journals and
worldwatch happens to be one of them), it was a most of the people
there were egg head types who worked at scripps and UCSD (don't know
why I got an invite but figure what the hey why not go for the food
and drinks).

to tell the truth I don't know that would be a fair and just price, I
just figure that it should be at least where it is now or higher.

as it stands the free market system is not in effect as far as gas
prices are concerned (most of the general public would not be able to
live their current life style if they had to pay the fair cost of gas,
they have grown addicted to oil)

when ya think about it critically the problem is akin to a drug
addiction, at some point we need to kick our national addiction to oil
and I think it would be better if we slowly learn to live within our
means rather than let external forces make changes for us, in
economics there are two sides of the equation supply and demand (I
think it best in the national interest to work on the lowering the
demand).

if it were up to me, I would make it a law that everyone one else pay
that higher price (and adjust it for inflation) the exclude myself
from paying anything for gas (ya know kind of like how congress
excludes itself from many laws it passes, for example I think they
have a separate retirement system, medical system, etc.).




"charliew2" > wrote in message >...
> Sgt. Sausage wrote:
> > "ben" > wrote in message
> > om...
> >> Don't know know if the question has been asked before, but humor me
> >> for a bit and share your thoughts on gas prices
> >
> > Which thoughts exactly?
> >
> > Relative to the world, I think we're far to low on
> > gas prices.
> >
> > Relative to past domestic prices, taking into
> > consideration inflation, I still think we're too low.
> >
> > On the other hand, in general, I think they're too
> > high -- but only because I'm a consumer seeking
> > to reduce my expenses. I've no idea what the "ideal"
> > price of a gallon is in the U.S, but I'd like to think it's
> > a helluva lot lower than we're paying now and I'd like
> > to think we actually have a chance of reducing the
> > current prices to that "ideal" price.
> >
>
> (cut)
>
> I've seen this type of thinking before, though not expressed so explicitly.
> If you could indulge me a bit, please take a bit of time to think about the
> "ideal" price and try to tell me why that particular price is ideal.

"charliew2" > wrote in message
...
> Sgt. Sausage wrote:
> > "ben" > wrote in message

[snip]

> >
> > On the other hand, in general, I think they're too
> > high -- but only because I'm a consumer seeking
> > to reduce my expenses. I've no idea what the "ideal"
> > price of a gallon is in the U.S, but I'd like to think it's
> > a helluva lot lower than we're paying now and I'd like
> > to think we actually have a chance of reducing the
> > current prices to that "ideal" price.
> >
>
> (cut)
>
> I've seen this type of thinking before, though not expressed so
explicitly.
> If you could indulge me a bit, please take a bit of time to think about
the
> "ideal" price and try to tell me why that particular price is ideal.


Which part? The part about it being cheaper was just
me being a greedy consumer. I want everything. I want
it now, and I want it cheap. Ideally, everything I want
to consume would be free, but that's not gonna
happen! <grin>

For me, the true "ideal" price would involve a lot of
factors -- hence the above "I've no idea" -- these factors
involve things I'm not up to speed on.

The "ideal" price, for me, would be ... umm ... something
along the lines of "Everyone who wanted to cosume it could
afford it, and everyone who wanted to produce it could make
a reasonable profit".

But, that's really a vague concept. What exactly is "could
afford it" -- at what cost (not just at the pump $$$)?
What exactly is a "reasonable profit" ?

Whether or not such things actually have an answer or if
there is such a thing as an "ideal price" is a question I really
can't answer.

The more I think about it, the more I think the concept
of an "ideal price" is really just a Bunch-O-Hogwash. Please
ignore my previous post about "ideal" price.