So You're Steamed Up About the Gas Prices
Gas prices have been the talk around the water cooler, at dinner parties, and even the presidential campaign. We're all steamed about it, and we feel we must blame it on someone. I have been hearing a lot of talk about how the current President of the United States is to blame because the current average cost is about double what it was when he took office.
I did not vote for the current President, but does that mean I should blame him? I am no economists but I still fail to see how all this could entirely be about his failures.
"Like most of the things you buy, oil prices are affected by supply and demand. However, oil prices are also affected by oil price futures, which are traded on the commodities futures exchange. These prices fluctuate daily, depending on what investors think the price of oil will be in the future. When traders think oil will be high, they bid it up even higher. This soon causes rising gas prices." http://useconomy.about.com/od/commoditiesmarketfaq/p/high_gas_price...
My question is this, What are you as a citizen doing to reduce the amount of fuel you use?
According to Nation Master.com the US uses more oil than any other country. In fact, the US uses more than China, Japan, and India combined, and they are industrialized nations as well.
I have been giving a lot of thought to possible answers to the posed question and have made some disappointing observations.
First, I have in the past attempted to make car pool arrangements with people I worked with. They could never work out a regular arrangement because they didn't want to go straight home after work.
"Gotta run by the store, then Junior has little league practice and Sissy has to go to dance class, and then........"
We are just too busy. Why must we do it all? That is another topic for future, but in the meantime I think if we put more effort into it we could work it out. Does every parent need to go to every practice? How about taking turns toting the kids around? When I was growing up I remember the little league coach driving around the neighborhood before practice. The guys would jump in the back of the pick up and off they'd go. Others would ride their bikes to practice.
Second, does Junior and Sissy really need to go to every social function they're invited to? In some cases that could be two 15 mile round trips. I have noticed a lot of parents, for whatever reason, have no problem toting their children here, there, and yonder at the drop of a hat.
Another observation I have made is that many people, simply because they can afford it, tend to make multiple trips a year to a favorite vacation spot. Just because you have the money to pay for it doesn't mean you should do it during times of stress. Maybe you should just move there if you love it that much.
A forth reason is sort of a pet peeve of mine, and I am sure will get someone's panties in a bunch, but it's my blog, right? I refuse to drive my kids to and from school as long as I pay taxes and the school has a bus service. Why pay the bus driver, bus maintenance and fuel for the bus only to turn around and drive your kids to school? That is like paying double.
There are many other things that we all can do if we care enough to do it. They all range from proper auto maintenance, to walking more, to coordinating trips to town with other necessary trips. Like anything new it will take time, practice, research, and desire. It can be done though!
Instead of stomping your foot and screaming because you have to pay more to do what you've always done, ask yourself what you can do differently to reduce your out of pocket cost. If we all use/demand less oil then the supply will go up and the price will go down. It is a tried and true act. Take some responsibility as a US citizen.... go ahead, I Triple Dog Dare You!
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Comment by Julia Bennett-Burch on April 5, 2012 at 9:17am -
Thanks for your input Caryle. It can be a very confusing topic. As far as more fuel efficient vehicles and the "plane" car you mentioned goes, they will definitely have to find a way to make things more affordable for the average Joe before they can have any real impact on our environment and world.
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Comment by Caryle Smith on April 5, 2012 at 8:47am
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Something to stop the traffic congestion problem. There is a car that is also a plane called the 'Transition'..the cost is $200k, Using gas and the wind. Think I will wait until the price goes down.
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OPEC controls the price of oil(we are in the group)l. Some oil, like the primo stuff from Iran, not as crude and requires less refinement, has sent warships to the Suez Canal. Israel, of course, thinks of it as provocation. If the Canal shuts down...that will be a very big spike at the gas pumps. Oil process an emotional ride just like the stock market. If there is an oil spill let's say in the Gulf of Mexico now, the prices will reflect at the gas pump within hours.
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Comment by Julia Bennett-Burch on April 4, 2012 at 8:37am
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Some very good points, and I had a lot more things that I feel about it, but don't like to jump around too much and confuse everyone. My main point was to get people to thinking about what they as individuals can do , because we have so little say in what happens regarding the pricing. All we can do is react, and it is primarily the reaction that I aimed at for this particular blog. However, having said that I must add that even thought they say they set prices based on "predictions" of future demand and so forth, that is very vague and really doesn't say what they are really basing it on. BBNX is probably on to something in that Iran has a lot to do with it.
I must confess, politics is one of my least favorite subjects because there is so much BS to dig through before you get to the truth, and the media doesn't help at all.
I understand exportation but if we demand more fuel than any other country I think we should find something else to barter with.
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Comment by Johnny Yen on April 4, 2012 at 8:25am -
The US is exporting more fuel now than it ever has.... Why not stop THAT and keep it in house...? That would drop prices wouldn't it...?
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Comment by CaseeAnn on April 4, 2012 at 8:21am -
I think conservation would help some.... Maybe not enough tho.
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Comment by BBNX on April 4, 2012 at 8:16am -
Great reading! I think the biggest issue driving prices up now is Iran's nuclear ambitions. Our fearless leader imposed sanctions that really don't take full effect until June/July. That is certainly not going to help. Conservation of fuel (car pooling, etc.) will only work IF there are extreme shortages requiring federal intervention. Americans, as you accurately noted are far too ingrained in their (my) ways.... We live in the USA and believe rationing is "below us."
Obama's Energy Secretary has gone on record saying he believes gas prices should be on par with prices in Europe. Not in a "I THINK they are heading that way", however, in a "I BELIEVE they NEED to be as high as Europe." A couple weeks ago he testified in front on congress and when asked how he would grade himself on his handling of the fuel situation he said he would give himself an “A minus” on “controlling the cost of gasoline at the pump.” Incredible! Another politician out of touch with reality.
It should be interesting to see if high fuel prices slow the economy, which is building, OR impact Obama's reelection bid. He has a billion dollars in the bank (literally) so I don't see "Mitt" making any headway.
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