Adjusting to the HIGH cost of energy

[slowrev]

That leaves more fuel for me.
//
You are welcome to it, you just have to pay for it /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Ben

 

[arthr31]

Don, I think a few of things have changed since the '70s crisis:

1. world demand has gone up, therefore pushing the price as more countries compete for the crude resource

2. the us population is more addicted to oil now than in the 70s (just my observation, I didn't drive in the '70s but remember the gas lines, etc.)

3. We as a population (us) are generally dumber, yet evolved since the '70s. capitalism / commercialism has created this effect, ppl strongly believe they need what they see advertised, and are willing to PAY for it.. no matter what. It astoundes me when I see ppl in spanking new cars, new clothes, speaking horrible english (us natives).

Jim's right, in MA the bus companies are going crazy wih the anticipated fuel costs.

finally, these are just my opinions. I'm not throwing rocks at anyone here!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I'm grateful for this forum and tbn in general since I don't have a lot of folks I could talk about this stuff with... thanks... -art

 

[OkeeDon]

<font color="blue"> "I'm not throwing rocks at anyone here!!!" </font>


What rocks? I didn't see any rocks. Your points are valid, and your opinion is even more so.

But, I do see less of a collective effort and more of a "me first" attitude in almost everything, from fuel to politics, than I did in the 70's (or 60's or 50's, I was around back then, as I was in the 40's but too young). Sure, there was polarization back then, mostly because of Vietnam, but even the hippies and the squares could agree that they all had to save fuel. The squares bought smaller cars and the hippies showered with a friend /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif .

 

[YanmarFever]

I will tell you whats really funny !
No one has replied that they are going to a smaller more fuel efficient tractor yet /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have cut back to conserve in this crisis too you know. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
I gave up pouring diesel in yellow jacket nests.
Now i just use my portable propane flame thrower & 12 ga.
Yes, I know it costs more, but what the heck its a lot more fun!
Ernie

 

[gsxr1100]

AS of today....gas (87) is 2.30 per gal...Diesel is almost 2.80.. I LOVE IT!!!!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[arthr31]

Yes, Don, I agree with what you've written here. I think the reason why too is that we have the "me" society...

Mike, your picture in your bio is what I look like after filling up my truck last week!!! (seriously, not too bad, only 21.xx, but that was for a measly 7/8 gals of fuel /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif )

 

[hitekcountry]

There are those that believe it’s just oil company greed. Well it’s not that simple, the oil companies profits/greed are just a symptom and not the cause. I’m not trying to defend the oil companies, sure, they’re in a great position to take full advantage of the situation to make huge profits, and they do, but they aren't the cause of the problem. the causes are many

There is a limited supply of oil available on this earth. And for quite some number of years, scientist and engineers in oil exploration have been warning that we are consuming more than we are discovering, and their predictions from years ago were that oil production (the amount of oil pumped out of the ground per day) would peak sometime around 2005 to 2010. (at which time the price of oil would begin a continual march upward) Now from what I understand the oil producing countries are presently pumping close to capacity. Then add to that the growing concern of instability in Saudi Arabia, Iran and the ongoing question of the outcome in Iraq. Also lets not forget that the US is producing less and less of our own oil, our own supply is running out. So that’s on the supply side of the equation.

On the demand side we continue to drive our big Suvs and consume more and more oil. And then there are the Large corporations that for the sake of short term boost in profits have shipped off huge numbers of American jobs to India and China. What does that have to do with the price of oil? Well there are many more people in China and India who can now afford to buy cars. I read somewhere that VW sold more cars in China last year than they did in the USA. China and India are net importers of oil. In short the overall world wide demand for oil is growing. So that’s clearly a supply and demand balance that can only mean higher prices.

Now complicate the equation even more with the drop in the value of the Dollar and also the revaluation of the Chinese Yuan and all the potential ramifications that that implies (hint ..I don’t see any good scenarios for us).

The point is that even if we were to string up all the oil CO. executives and maybe even over throw the government just for good measure, it won't change the amount of oil available and the overall supply/demand equation.

As I’ve said before the only response on our part that will do us any good is to decrease our consumption and our dependence on foreign sources of energy. I’m hoping this thread will be a catalyst for ideas that can move us in that direction.

Unfortunately our society is completely structured around the premise that energy will always be cheep and will always be abundantly available. The changes, the adjustments will not be easy. It’s only just begun.

Fred

 

[NewToy]

Fred,
I am in complete agreement with your thoughts about impending shortages. As the Chinese become more industrialized along with India tha situation will become dire. The USA will have to "circle the wagons" and become less reliant on foreign energy sources. We have the technological prowess to acccomplish almost anything if we work toward that common goal. Fuel cells, wind farms, cleaner coal fired plants and even the dreaded nuclear plants are our only hope to break free of our reliance on oil.


John

 

[OkeeDon]

What's wrong with the recommended policy of simply drilling more wells? Such as in the Alaskan tundra and the Gulf of Mexico off Florida? Haven't we been assured there is plenty of oil if we wink at the envirnoment just a little bit?

 

[NewToy]

Assured by who? Anyway, I think that's a very short term solution to a growing problem. There is a finite amount of oil and eventually it's going to sound like the tail end of a milkshake.


Regards,

John