Oil and gas price behavior under President Bush was positively puzzling. During his presidency oil prices certainly went up. They then dropped precipitously as part of the 2008 crash but have rallied back as strong as ever.

 

When President Bush took office in 2000, the average price per barrel was about $27. In 2008, his last full year in office and prior to the crash, it was trading most of that year at roughly $90 per barrel.

 

President Obama took office as the recession was in full swing; for most of 2009 it traded at about $55. So far this year, it's at about $87.

 

The markets were most friendly to President Clinton. While we were in the midst of the dot-com boom here at home, the Asian financial crisis bottomed out global demand. So Americans had purchasing power while the rest of the world fought through it but oil was at a mere $11-12 for most of 1998.

It is trading between $109 and $114 right now.

No doubt. I just wanted to point out that while gas was at 1.80 when Bush left office it had fluctuated consistently during his time in office. The post I replied to reads like gas spiked to 1.80 when Bush left office and that wasn't the case.

 

No, I was not meaning that it spiked at that price just stating that we were in two middle east wars and gas prices were at $1.80. My point was this has more to do with Wall St than it does Pennsylvania Ave.

It is trading between $109 and $114 right now.

 

Yep. Big climb. Up about $20 per barrel just since the beginning of the summer.

 

Assuming it drops slightly as we head out of summer, we're going to see that number climb close to a $100/bbl average for this year when everything's said and done. That's probably a terrible assumption.

I agree with you completely. It's not feasible for me to do it either. My whole point is, if you keep filling up and driving, don't complain about gas prices.

What is the alternative? You think the fact that most of us have to fill up to get to work and be able to provide for our families, gives us no right to complain about gas prices? That's crazy!!!

 

It's not like were complaining about beer, cigarette prices, Oreo Double Stuff's or even Red's Bengal's Tix went up in price...all thing we can live without and don't effect our ability to provide for our family.

 

Gasoline is a daily necessity for most Americans and if the price is too high we should and have the right to complain.

What is the alternative? You think the fact that most of us have to fill up to get to work and be able to provide for our families, gives us no right to complain about gas prices? That's crazy!!!

 

It's not like were complaining about beer, cigarette prices, Oreo Double Stuff's or even Red's Bengal's Tix went up in price...all thing we can live without and don't effect our ability to provide for our family.

 

Gasoline is a daily necessity for most Americans and if the price is too high we should and have the right to complain.

 

Then do something to try and change it. Complaining, while still filling up the SUV once a week, isn't going to accomplish anything. Seriously, what exactly does complaining about it accomplish?

Then do something to try and change it. Complaining, while still filling up the SUV once a week, isn't going to accomplish anything. Seriously, what exactly does complaining about it accomplish?

So we should just take it and never say anything? I thought you were the "Go Big or Go Home" guy and you just want to accept it?

 

What else can the average American do...it's not like NOT BUYING GAS is an option.

So we should just take it and never say anything? I thought you were the "Go Big or Go Home" guy and you just want to accept it?

 

What else can the average American do...it's not like NOT BUYING GAS is an option.

 

Car Pool, condense trips, take public transportation (not feasible for everyone) just to name a few. All of these would accomplish far more than complaining does.

Car Pool, condense trips, take public transportation (not feasible for everyone) just to name a few. All of these would accomplish far more than complaining does.

I think most people do those things now, but for many car pooling isn't an option. Public Transportation only reaches a very small percentage of Americans only a handful of cities in the BGP area have public transit.

OK, but when I ride my horse to town, and he takes a big hot n steamy :poop: outside your driveway dont come crying to me about.

Speculators chose the price of oil and in turn gas. They will run wild with this for few weeks because nobody will stop them.

 

When is the last time supply and demand actually mattered? Syria is a very minimal oil player.

Speculators chose the price of oil and in turn gas. They will run wild with this for few weeks because nobody will stop them.

 

When is the last time supply and demand actually mattered? Syria is a very minimal oil player.

 

Syrian production has nothing to do with it. Concerns over production issues in neighboring countries is what drove this increase.

Just wait until the first hurricane hits the Gulf this year. Pump prices will shoot up for absolutely no reason whether it does any damage or not. Anyone who does not think gas prices are fixed is crazy. Amazing how gas prices jump 30 cents at every pump in the area on the same exact day. And yet in South Carolina they manage to stay less than anywhere else East of the Mississippi.

So we should just take it and never say anything? I thought you were the "Go Big or Go Home" guy and you just want to accept it?

 

What else can the average American do...it's not like NOT BUYING GAS is an option.

 

What you're saying, JD, and what many have said is that while gas prices are becoming a problem it hasn't reached the pain level to force you to move to a city where public transportation is readily available. There probably is a pain level that would cause you to consider it but it just hasn't gotten that high yet. For some, it has.

Just wait until the first hurricane hits the Gulf this year. Pump prices will shoot up for absolutely no reason whether it does any damage or not. Anyone who does not think gas prices are fixed is crazy. Amazing how gas prices jump 30 cents at every pump in the area on the same exact day. And yet in South Carolina they manage to stay less than anywhere else East of the Mississippi.

 

You're incorret on "fixed", frank. They rise the same in an area due to competitive factors. If you're going to raise it I might decide to raise mine to in order to get that extra revenue. South Carolina dealers have lower costs all around including fuel transportation costs.

What you're saying, JD, and what many have said is that while gas prices are becoming a problem it hasn't reached the pain level to force you to move to a city where public transportation is readily available. There probably is a pain level that would cause you to consider it but it just hasn't gotten that high yet. For some, it has.

 

Which cities have plentiful public transportation, affordable housing and jobs for everyone to move to? Sounds like a plan, where do we move?