I took the picture with my cell phone on Nov. 1, 2008 in Loveland, OH, a Cincinnati suburb, a few days before Obama was elected. Unleaded regular for $1.94 a gallon. Prices are nearly double that now. Some places in Florida, they’re paying nearly $6 a gallon.
Of course, none of this has any relation to Obama’s performance as president. It’s not like he nixed the Keystone pipeline from Canada which would have brought us cheap, ethical gas. It’s not like he’s been slow walking drilling permits which also kills jobs. It’s not like he appointed an Energy Secretary who said, “Somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe.”
I’m sure he’ll figure all this out, as soon as Michelle gets back for one of her 16 vacations. The price of gas sure isn’t hurting their lifestyle. In the meantime, I can forget about paying the balance of my son’s college education, or saving for my daughter’s college expenses, or replacing my car that has nearly 400,000 miles on it, or….
Think I’ll go eat some cake.
How much do you drive?
Let’s assume gas is two dollars a gallon over what it ‘should’ be and that you use twenty gallons of gas in a week.
That’s an extra expense of forty dollars a week, which adds up to an extra $2080 a year.
Would two grand a year really pay for two college educations and a replacement car?
As usual, John – you miss the point, or should I say – What IS your point?
What’s your point? Are you really that literal? Energy costs are a part of Obama’s failed policies. Besides the cost of me driving to work and back, the grocery store and more, everything I buy travels on a truck, boat and/or airplane. Higher fuel costs are passed along to the consumer. Everything costs more. But, the government doesn’t include the price of food or gas in inflation calculations because
it would make them look badthe prices are too volatile.Plus, as Steve2 pointed out, we have poor people being neglected. Our deficit is rampaging out of control. Employment is still are low levels. Unemployment has only dropped because people have quit looking for jobs. And, you want to take a literal interpretation of my comments and not talk about the larger picture.
Let’s assume you don’t want to face reality and would rather prattle about how much gas I use and what I could or couldn’t pay for if gas was cheaper. Let’s assume you’re a died in the wool left winger with a mind rusted shut like and old steel trap. Let’s assume you wouldn’t take an objective, open minded look at anything that would make Obama look bad, even if it was freight train bearing down on you.
“What’s your point?”
That the increase in gas prices is small change compared to the cost of two college educations and a replacement car.
“Are you really that literal?”
You’ve been reading me for how long?
Yes – I really am that literal.
Not small enough for me to ignore.
Just for fun, let’s take your example. I happen to use 30 gallons week despite having a car that get 30+ mpg on the highway because of my long commute. That adds up to $3120 a year, or $56160 over 18 years, if I saved that money for college. If I saved $3120 a year with 5% interest compounded annually, which would be a lower percentage than I’m getting on my 104k, the amount would be $99,670.34 according to this calculator. That’s some real money.
My son has an 80% scholarship to play football a private school. That leaves us about $6,800 to pay out of pocket. I could by me a Mercedes and still pay for his college!
That the increase in gas prices is small change compared to the cost of two college educations and a replacement car
How do you think Walmart stocks it shelves? Have you ever looked out back at the number of trucks lined up to unload? Know how much it costs to fill UP one of THOSE? Same for grocery stores – their products don’t magically float in and plop down on the shelves in the dark. Do farmers have their own private wells and refineries to fill their equipment. Actually, John – the price of gas effects EVERYTHING in your life, because at some time up and down the supply chain, EVERYTHING you touch has to be moved. And the cost of moving is passed along to the consumer.
We have gas production at levels we have not seen in thirty years. Oil is higher than it has been in about 10 years.
http://www.aleksandreia.com/2011/08/26/obama-administration-opposes-oil-drilling/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/fact_sheet_expanding_oil_production.pdf
The US is now a net exporter of refined petroleum products.
http://www.econbrowser.com/archives/2011/12/us_net_exports.html#more
Steve
True. But, Industry leaders gathered in Houston say rising fuel output comes in spite of, not because of, the president’s policies and the pain at the pump will soon be excruciating.
…..
“These have been the most difficult three years from a policy standpoint that I’ve ever seen in my career,” Bruce Vincent, president of Houston oil and natural gas producer Swift Energy, told the Houston Chronicle.
“They’ve done nothing but restrict access and delay permitting,” he added. “The Obama administration, unfortunately, has threatened this industry at every turn.”
….
Only 2.2% of federal offshore land is currently being leased for production.
Then there are the 10 billion barrels locked up in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve, which would require drilling in just 2,000 acres out of 19 million.
The Obama administration recently rescinded 77 oil and gas leases in Utah and stalled oil shale research and development in Utah, Colorado and Wyoming, where the federal government owns most of the world’s oil shale reserves.
Out West, we may have a “Persia on the Plains.” A Rand Corp. study says the Green River Formation, which covers parts of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, has the largest known oil shale deposits in the world, holding from 1.5 trillion to 1.8 trillion barrels of crude — most of it locked up by federal edict.
http://news.investors.com/article/602069/201202231805/energy-abyss-caused-by-obama-policies.htm
Obama’s 5 biggest lies in his energy speech: http://news.investors.com/article/602120/201202231855/obama-high-gas-price-myths.htm
“Industry leaders gathered in Houston say rising fuel output comes in spite of, ”
You are setting up a heads he loses tails you win scenario. A bunch of oil and gas guys, statistically about 95% chance of being Republican, complain. Cant say I am convinced. The numbers speak for themselves. I am sure these guys would like to have no regulations and no restrictions on what they do. I think the same holds true for a lot of businesses.However, the bottom line remains what it is. Under a more friendly, supposedly, Bush administration, production was much lower.
Query- Were you implying in your post that approving the Keystone line would affect prices now?
Steve
OK- So gas went up about 30 cents a gallon in the last couple months or so. This is because of drilling permits that if approved now will not furnish a drop of oil for several years? Because a pipeline that would deliver Canadian oil to a seaport for export is not being built? You really believe this? Somehow because of this oil became $12 a barrel more expensive to produce?
This has nothing to do with the speculators bidding up the price of oil and lining their pockets while the neocons daily threaten Iran? Are you out of your mind or just refelxively against everying Obama does or does not do?
Are you out of your mind or just refelxively against everying Obama does or does not do?
Both. Just as you reflexively defend everything Obama does or doesn’t do.
Where’s the cohesive energy policy that keeps energy affordable for the average American? Where’s the cohesive policy that keeps anything affordable for the average American? He sure kept care of GM, Chrysler and Goldman Sachs.
Aren’t both extremes just as bad?
“GM, Chrysler and Goldman Sachs.”
Bailouts initiated under Bush suggested by a GOP Sec. of Treasury and backed by conservative economist Bernanke.
“Where’s the cohesive energy policy that keeps energy affordable”
Massive new natural gas production, modernization of coal plants, building new nuclear energy plants, large increases of domestic fossil fuel production and increased alternative energy. Things are going pretty well. However, if China and India have rapid growth, energy prices are going up. The world market determines oil prices, not the US.
Steve
This is because of drilling permits that if approved now will not furnish a drop of oil for several years? Because a pipeline that would deliver Canadian oil to a seaport for export is not being built? You really believe this?
Remember when Bush opened up offshore drilling? Even though it didn’t have an immediate impact, prices fell. All you have are more excuses for Obama and any excuse will do.
These are not excuses. These are facts.
“Remember when Bush opened up offshore drilling? Even though it didn’t have an immediate impact, prices fell.”
No, I dont. Citation please. Note, per my first link, that Gulf of Mexico production is about the same now as when Bush was president. Pretty remarkable considering that Brazil siphoned off a lot of the offshore drilling platforms.
Steve
No, I dont. Citation please
tp://www.nationalreview.com/articles/225055/drilling-offshore/mark-hemingway
So what happened? As is usually the case with markets, a variety of factors caused this dramatic drop. According to the Associated Press, the Energy Information Administration announced that U.S. crude-oil supplies rose by 3 million barrels; beleaguered banks have been selling off valuable energy contracts to pay for other debts; and there’s even some speculation that computer programs used by Wall Street may create a “cascading effect” once prices start to drop.
…. the AP didn’t mention that on Monday — again, the day of the single biggest one-day drop in oil prices in five years — President Bush removed the executive order imposing a moratorium on offshore drilling in the United States.
No, I dont. Citation please
“After trading at a record high of $147 a barrel Friday, the price of oil saw its largest one-day drop since the 2003 beginning of the Iraq war on Tuesday, falling $6.44 a barrel. Wednesday, it fell another $3.71, to $135.03, and at one point was trading as low as $132.
So what happened? As is usually the case with markets, a variety of factors caused this dramatic drop. According to the Associated Press, the Energy Information Administration announced that U.S. crude-oil supplies rose by 3 million barrels; beleaguered banks have been selling off valuable energy contracts to pay for other debts; and there’s even some speculation that computer programs used by Wall Street may create a “cascading effect” once prices start to drop.
…. the AP didn’t mention that on Monday — again, the day of the single biggest one-day drop in oil prices in five years — President Bush removed the executive order imposing a moratorium on offshore drilling in the United States.“
ignore my first reply – I left out the first paragraph in the article, which also contained the opening ” marks…………. and I’m unable to delete the comment – feel free to do so, DADvocate
Yeah, like the pipeline would have brought us gas this week.
The story here in California is that there was a fire in a refinery that supplies southern California. The gas is having to come further now (temporarily) and thus costs more.
Here’s one source.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/LA-Refinery-Fire-Increase-Gas-Prices-140350063.html
http://www.ranken-energy.com/Products%20from%20Petroleum.htm
One 42-gallon barrel of oil creates 19.4 gallons of gasoline. The rest (over half) is used to make things like:
Solvents
Diesel fuel
Motor Oil
Bearing Grease
Ink
Floor Wax
Ballpoint Pens
Football Cleats
Upholstery
Sweaters
Boats
Insecticides
Bicycle Tires
Sports Car Bodies
Nail Polish
Fishing lures
Dresses
Tires
Golf Bags
Perfumes
Cassettes
Dishwasher parts
Tool Boxes
Shoe Polish
Motorcycle Helmet
Caulking
Petroleum Jelly
Transparent Tape
CD Player
Faucet Washers
Antiseptics
Clothesline
Curtains
Food Preservatives
Basketballs
Soap
Vitamin Capsules
Antihistamines
Purses
Shoes
Dashboards
Cortisone
Deodorant
Footballs
Putty
Dyes
Panty Hose
Refrigerant
Percolators
Life Jackets
Rubbing Alcohol
Linings
Skis
TV Cabinets
Shag Rugs
Electrician’s Tape
Tool Racks
Car Battery Cases
Epoxy
Paint
Mops
Slacks
Insect Repellent
Oil Filters
Umbrellas
Yarn
Fertilizers
Hair Coloring
Roofing
Toilet Seats
Fishing Rods
Lipstick
Denture Adhesive
Linoleum
Ice Cube Trays
Synthetic Rubber
Speakers
Plastic Wood
Electric Blankets
Glycerin
Tennis Rackets
Rubber Cement
Fishing Boots
Dice
Nylon Rope
Candles
Trash Bags
House Paint
Water Pipes
Hand Lotion
Roller Skates
Surf Boards
Shampoo
Wheels
Paint Rollers
Shower Curtains
Guitar Strings
Luggage
Aspirin
Safety Glasses
Antifreeze
Football Helmets
Awnings
Eyeglasses
Clothes
Toothbrushes
Ice Chests
Footballs
Combs
CD’s & DVD’s
Paint Brushes
Detergents
Vaporizers
Balloons
Sun Glasses
Tents
Heart Valves
Crayons
Parachutes
Telephones
Enamel
Pillows
Dishes
Cameras
Anesthetics
Artificial Turf
Artificial limbs
Bandages
Dentures
Model Cars
Folding Doors
Hair Curlers
Cold cream
Movie film
Soft Contact lenses
Drinking Cups
Fan Belts
Car Enamel
Shaving Cream
Ammonia
Refrigerators
Golf Balls
Toothpaste
Gasoline
“One 42-gallon barrel of oil creates 19.4 gallons of gasoline. The rest (over half) is used to make things like:….model cars”
OK, now you have me concerned.