Original Article

Living in an already-expensive world, here come rising fuel costs to add to the woes of the common man. The inflation in prices are an indication that the world fuel resources are depleting. What do you think about it?

-- Goku

This post has been edited by Goku: Jul 5 2008, 11:46 AM

We will have to get used to driving more economical cars,instead of Huge Gas Guzzling Polluting Monsters.
Forget about Status symbols, and drive future cars, like the Tata Nano.I'm not too proud.
We have to find alternate power sources. Whatever turns out to be the most economical.
The Tata Nano.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSEe3Y8t3eE

This is where it gets difficult, Doug. Most people are used to make a style statement and cannot live without putting up a status symbol. I would gladly use cars like Tata Nano but there are better alternatives like the Public Transport Services and cycles. Some of the doctors here have started going to their clinics on cycles to urge others to join the movement but as in many cases, there isn't much active participation from the public. I guess that such people will learn only when they suffer the effects directly that have been to their own creation.

-- Goku

One thing that may be easy to forget during these truly scary gas prices - some simply don't have the 'luxury' of either using a small car or taking public transit. And usually these same people are the ones living on a super-tight budget already because of being on a limited income. Gentle sigh.

"One thing that may be easy to forget during these truly scary gas prices - some simply don't have the 'luxury' of either using a small car or taking public transit. And usually these same people are the ones living on a super-tight budget already because of being on a limited income. Gentle sigh."

Fair point Mara but all the people have to do is try and adapt themselves to use the public transport system. They need to change their attitudes so that they can lower the tension on their budget. Taking a car to a nearby shop is not at all acceptable as you are burning fuel needlessly. You could take a cycle or walk the distance. This way, you would also stay fit and complete your quote of the daily exercises you need. And it is not necessary to buy a car. Private vehicles are also available in the public transport system if there is an urgency. At the end of the day, desperate times do call for desperate measures.

-- Goku

I understand exactly, what you are saying,Mara.There are exceptions.It's the general populace,that could drive a smaller economical vehicle to work,if there is no public transport.Although living on Sydney's outskirts,there is no Public Transport at 4am in the morning. I have no option but to drive 700 KLMS a week to run my Wife to work.
Looking at the Freeway Traffic here morning and night,Thousands of cars have only one person in them,and they are mostly 2 and a half ton monsters. Doesn't take a vehicle this size, just to get you here and there.
Probably once a week,with todays busy schedule, all the Family would be in the Car, at the same time.
I have a second Car,which is larger,and uses much more fuel.It hasn't turned a wheel for 10 months.
I drive the most economical of the two.

Edit Spelling.again.

This post has been edited by DSTM: Jul 5 2008, 01:05 PM

"There are exceptions. It's the general populas, that could drive a smaller economical vehicle to work, if there is no public transport. Although living on Sydney's outskirts, there is no Public Transport at 4 AM in the morning. I have no option but to drive 700 KLMS a week to run my Wife to work."

I understand that Doug but there are plenty of alternatives too. As you yourself said that most people drive with just one or two persons in their cars, we could use the same to facilitate ourselves. I have a friend whose mother has to go early to work as she is a teacher. At that time, the public transport system is off and therefore there is no other way to deliver her to the school. To resolve this, she and some staff members hired a private vehicle and used it as a public means of transport. The point here is that people with common goals can work together to help each other. I do not know you personally so I do not understand what restrictions you have but remember, there is always an alternative.

Some countries have tried to use brute force to deliver the message to their citizens. In Hong Kong, you get fined if there are less than four persons in a family car! Now, you see what I mean. Making several visits to and fro at the same place will just be a wastage of our fossil fuels. It would make much more sense to use the fuel exempted vehicles in such cases.

"I have a second Car,which is larger,and uses much more fuel. It hasn't turned a wheel for 10 months.
I drive the most economical of the two."

A really thoughtful and economical decision.

-- Goku

This post has been edited by Goku: Jul 5 2008, 01:12 PM

And while I applaud each that drives the smallest car possible and takes public transit when possible, many will still have to keep their gas guzzlers and pay over $100 for a full tank - or simply stay home, homebound simply because they can no longer afford to go anywhere except to the nearest grocery store - which may be the most expensive one - adding, once again, to their financial struggle.

Wonder if our governments - who are gung ho about "saving our fossil fuels" give much thought to each time they leap onto a plane ... one plane equals tons and tons of pollution.

The economic impact of the high cost of energy (not just gasoline---consider plastics) has been sudden, and it will take some time to make the necessary adjustments by all parts of society and government.
It makes no sense to demand of people that they take public transportation to work if such doesn't exist; and to be frank, public transportation has been neglected in all but a few very large cities. So local governments will need time to figure out how to provide it. It will also take a few years for the automakers (and government regulators) to design and retool their plants for producing more efficient automobiles. Americans, for example, will have to learn to look upon cars as a means of transportation only, and perhaps have to actually roll down their windows by hand; the mythos surrounding cars will have to be changed.
It will also take time to redesign and compact cities which have sprawled out to suburbia, and people will have to learn how to live closer to their workplace.
Right now, we must think of temporary stop-gap measures until these major changes can be made.
Z

Excellent points. Truth be told, in most parts of the US there is no public transportation. Yes, there are in the larger cities but the majority of the US is not in those cities. Approximately 100 million people live in our top 200 cities. I am not certain how many of those offer public transportation. But in New York, where there is a public transportation system, only 55% utilize that service. So, doing the math, that leaves approximately 200 million who are in small towns and are in rural areas. The question becomes, how feasible is public transportation in those areas?

The cost of gasoline continues to rise. And that means the costs of everything rises. As an American, I am amazed at our stupidity in this matter. We are sitting on very large oil reserves and yet we are not drilling. We do not have enough refinery capacity yet we are not building additional refineries. We are ruining our economy simply because of this idiocy.

Yes, the US needs to develop more public transportation. Yes, we need to develop alternative, cleaner, dependable, and affordable alternative energy sources. I am all for it as I am sure most are. But that is not going to happen overnight. So, we sit around wringing our hands and complaining about the situation while we have the means to offer up a temporary solution while the long-term solutions are being worked on. Drill and increase refinery capacity. If the US could get off buying oil on the open market, then the prices would go down which would help us and help the other countries who are buying oil as well. The concept is a new one....It's called supply and demand.

I remember reading once that an enormous proportion of our gas price comes from federal, provincial and local governments - even a larger proportion of the gas price than oil company profits.


If it's true and there's a true "shortage of oil", wouldn't the government(s) increasing taxes on gas constantly be nearly equivalent to 'gouging'?

I agree that while people are scrambling to cut back their consumption, 'home' drilling makes sense. The people who are being truly hurt by the high gas prices are not the wealthy - suspect paying $100 to fill their tanks doesn't cause them any concern ... but wonder how many jobs will be lost because once the gas prices are factored in, those earning lower wages could find themselves 'richer' without having to drive to and fro work.