3.40 in NKY.

Speedway on Donaldson was $3.15 last I checked. But a couple other places are up to $3.49.

Prices are usually exactly the same wherever you go in Maysville. However, they ranged from $3.18 to $3.29 yesterday. Can't wait to see what Friday will bring...

I splurged and spent $10 on gas tonight, 3 gallons at 37mpg, 30 miles to work each day, I should be good until Monday.

There's a picture in today's Maysville paper showing a long line of cars waiting to get gas at a station offering the price of $2.99.

 

Amazing. People backed up, waiting to get gas at the bargain basement price of $2.99.9 per gallon. How I long for the good old days of mid-April.

It's amusing to compare the posts in the "Gas Up 30 cents Overnight" thread and this one. For example, there was a post on April 11th (that's about 6 weeks ago) to the effect that gas was $2.89 in Ashland and that we were getting fleeced. Another post dated April 13 from one of the stalwart defenders of the price hikes stated that gas was only up 9 cents from the previous year, translating to inflation of less than 4 percent. Anyone care to grab paper and pencil and do the math on that one today - a month and a half later?

 

Let's face it. The big oil apologists are going to continue to come up with reasons for the price hikes. Some make some sense; some don't (I really thought that "tensions in the Mideast" was humorous. And to blame China and India was a bit of a stretch also. Gas was $1.97 in October here in Maysville. Did China and India start hogging all the oil after that?). And I still can't get over the fact that transport costs has been trotted out as one of the culprits.

 

On the flip side, to place the blame solely at the feet of the President isn't totally accurate, either. I don't really think that the ulterior motive of the POTUS is to line his OWN pockets. Now, is he interested in helping big business in general and big oil specifically? Of course he is.

 

On this thread, I see posts like:

 

"gas prices are still a bargain" (not compared to the run-up to last year's election, they're not)

 

"glad they are making money"

 

"simple economics" (I can't claim to be an economist, but is going from $1.97 in October to $3.29 in a span of seven months really that simple?)

 

"no such thing as excess profits" (okay, how about obscene profits? Ridiculous profits?)

 

"back to Soviet Russia with all your talk about the common good" (Love it or leave it, but don't even think of trying to change it for the better)

 

"couldn't tell you how much I paid for gas ever" (I can - it was $3.29.9 today)

 

I guess I'm in the camp of those who say that we need to put our money where our mouths are and actually do something - and that group seems to be a mixed bag of folks. In my case, it's a combination of driving vehicles that are easy on gas and purchasing only enough fuel to get me from point A to point B. If it's $6.00, I buy less than 2 gallons. If it takes $30.00 to get there and back, I buy $30.00 worth. Not exactly a "sea change" in personal habits, and I can't say that I've taken a politically activist role either, but it's a start.

I sometimes forget that not everyone has had the opportunity to learn as much about economics as I have. I'm glad to see that at the very least you recognize that this isn't a problem you can blame on a single entity. I'll try to explain the rationale for the quotes you posted, since most of them are mne.

 

"Gas prices are still a bargain" - I think this was mine, I'm really not about to reread 4 pages. If you talk to people abroad they'd kill for 3.50 a gallon. In fact, they'd have killed for it for the last 5 years. Most have been paying in excess of 4.00 for quite some time now.

 

"Simple economics" - Supply and Demand, very basic stuff. It really is that simple. You increase demand (due to summer driving, vacations, and our general need to suck down fuel) and you decrease supply (the refineries shutting down, maintenance issues, yada yada) and I'm honestly suprised that it has only risen to 3 and some change. I am just trying to point out that 1. This is the American way, capitalism, maximize profits. 2. There is no "conspiracy" to screw the average American person. It is simply the effect of market forces on the market.

 

"no such thing as excess profits" - Obscene? Sure I'll buy that. But again, that is the American way, the capitalist way, to make the highest amount of profit that the market will bear. In fact, making less would be considered "underproductive" or "misallocating resources".

 

"Communist Russia" - This was in response to someone who was clamoring that the government step in and provide some form of relief for "the common people". This goes against all of the doctrines that this country was founded on including but not limited to liberalism, free market policy, lassiez faire, democracy, and capitalism. I'm not saying don't make it better. I'm saying that the government stepping in and taking over for the "common good" is socialism, not democracy. Now if you vote on the issue.......that's a different story. Government intervention is not the solution, as I've explained in previous posts........new sustainable alternatives are.

It's not really realistic to compare our gas prices to those in Europe, considering:

A) Because of the overall urbanization of the continent, mass transit is widely available and encouraged. In addition, families remain close together, usually in the same town. Bicycling as a means of transportation is also heavily used. People don't need cars there like we do.

B) Gas is extremely heavily taxed.

It's not really realistic to compare our gas prices to those in Europe, considering:

A) Because of the overall urbanization of the continent, mass transit is widely available and encouraged. In addition, families remain close together, usually in the same town. Bicycling as a means of transportation is also heavily used. People don't need cars there like we do.

B) Gas is extremely heavily taxed.

 

 

I agree with Jim!!!

 

I have traveled extensively in Asia, and there is no need for a car. Mass transit, (buses, trains etc..) can get you within 2-3 blocks of where you need to be.

 

I would glady take a train EVERY day from Halls Gap to Danville if it was available. Cars in Europe are not the necessity as they are here!!!!

I sometimes forget that not everyone has had the opportunity to learn as much about economics as I have. I'm glad to see that at the very least you recognize that this isn't a problem you can blame on a single entity. I'll try to explain the rationale for the quotes you posted, since most of them are mne.

 

"Gas prices are still a bargain" - I think this was mine, I'm really not about to reread 4 pages. If you talk to people abroad they'd kill for 3.50 a gallon. In fact, they'd have killed for it for the last 5 years. Most have been paying in excess of 4.00 for quite some time now.

 

"Simple economics" - Supply and Demand, very basic stuff. It really is that simple. You increase demand (due to summer driving, vacations, and our general need to suck down fuel) and you decrease supply (the refineries shutting down, maintenance issues, yada yada) and I'm honestly suprised that it has only risen to 3 and some change. I am just trying to point out that 1. This is the American way, capitalism, maximize profits. 2. There is no "conspiracy" to screw the average American person. It is simply the effect of market forces on the market.

 

"no such thing as excess profits" - Obscene? Sure I'll buy that. But again, that is the American way, the capitalist way, to make the highest amount of profit that the market will bear. In fact, making less would be considered "underproductive" or "misallocating resources".

 

"Communist Russia" - This was in response to someone who was clamoring that the government step in and provide some form of relief for "the common people". This goes against all of the doctrines that this country was founded on including but not limited to liberalism, free market policy, lassiez faire, democracy, and capitalism. I'm not saying don't make it better. I'm saying that the government stepping in and taking over for the "common good" is socialism, not democracy. Now if you vote on the issue.......that's a different story. Government intervention is not the solution, as I've explained in previous posts........new sustainable alternatives are.

 

Believe it or not, I do appreciate the additional explanations.:thumb:

 

However, it seems to an uneducated (in economics, anyway) fellow like me that a 67 percent increase in the price of a commodity as critical as gasoline (not much different than food and water to a lot of folks) can't be explained away by supply and demand. If the supply was half of what it was seven months ago, maybe I could buy the explanation.

 

Also, I'm just cynical enough to believe that the aberration may have been the $1.97 cost in October - not today's $3.29.

 

And if I can indeed vote - as opposed to standing by as the government intervenes - I vote for $1.97 gas.

Believe it or not, I do appreciate the additional explanations.:thumb:

 

However, it seems to an uneducated (in economics, anyway) fellow like me that a 67 percent increase in the price of a commodity as critical as gasoline (not much different than food and water to a lot of folks) can't be explained away by supply and demand. If the supply was half of what it was seven months ago, maybe I could buy the explanation.

 

Also, I'm just cynical enough to believe that the aberration may have been the $1.97 cost in October - not today's $3.29.

 

And if I can indeed vote - as opposed to standing by as the government intervenes - I vote for $1.97 gas.

As do I. :thumb:

 

And I would tend to agree with you that the 1.97 would be more of the abberation rather than the norm. Excess supply (coming off high levels of production in the summertime) and decreased demand in the winter months.

It's not really realistic to compare our gas prices to those in Europe, considering:

A) Because of the overall urbanization of the continent, mass transit is widely available and encouraged. In addition, families remain close together, usually in the same town. Bicycling as a means of transportation is also heavily used. People don't need cars there like we do.

B) Gas is extremely heavily taxed.

I agree with you Jim, but my question is why is mass transit widely available and encouraged? Primarily due to the high price of gas right? So Europeans developed alternative methods of transportation instead of sitting on their duffs, complaining about high gas prices while sucking down fuel in their SUV's. Interesting.......

I agree with you Jim, but my question is why is mass transit widely available and encouraged? Primarily due to the high price of gas right? So Europeans developed alternative methods of transportation instead of sitting on their duffs, complaining about high gas prices while sucking down fuel in their SUV's. Interesting.......

 

They've had widespread mass transit in Europe for most of the 20th century, so I doubt gas prices were the issue behind it. The fact the continent is so heavily urbanized is the main reason for it. Same reason why there's been mass transit available for most of the eastern seaboard in this country.

 

There should be more available in this country — specifically train/subway/other rail — but shortsighted local leaders always shoot it down. How many times has the light rail issue arisen in Cincinnati, yet it's always shot down because of cost?

 

There should be more available in this country — specifically train/subway/other rail — but shortsighted local leaders always shoot it down. How many times has the light rail issue arisen in Cincinnati, yet it's always shot down because of cost?

 

I am not sure of the differences in sizes, but I would say they are somewhat similar... but, Kansas City just adopted a ligh rail plan that had been voted down for 27 years... something that mainly arose out of voter petition.

 

Some more relevant numbers: From 2000 to 2006, voters across the nation apporved 70 percent of transportation ballot measures. Just last November, there were 32-transit related issues on state or local ballots, and 72 percent of them passed... public transportation use is up 30% since 1990.

 

In other words, the people have to fight for public transportation. It will always be unpopular with the officials, but people have to keep plugging.

 

For citation purposes, this information came from my MAY 2007 Planning Magazine.

I am not sure of the differences in sizes, but I would say they are somewhat similar... but, Kansas City just adopted a ligh rail plan that had been voted down for 27 years... something that mainly arose out of voter petition.

 

Some more relevant numbers: From 2000 to 2006, voters across the nation apporved 70 percent of transportation ballot measures. Just last November, there were 32-transit related issues on state or local ballots, and 72 percent of them passed... public transportation use is up 30% since 1990.

 

In other words, the people have to fight for public transportation. It will always be unpopular with the officials, but people have to keep plugging.

 

For citation purposes, this information came from my MAY 2007 Planning Magazine.

 

Good stuff; I wasn't aware of that.

 

One of the main objections I've always heard (after the cost to build) is concerns over apathy by the general public. Like the line in the movie "Singles" goes, "People love their cars." I can't help but wonder if they still love them as much as 15 years ago when that flick came out.

 

Anybody know if bus ridership has gone up in L'ville, Lex, Cincy and NoKy over the last couple years as a backlash to high prices at the pump?

Here's a good read from MSN Money:

 

With gas prices at record highs, I'm sure you've got a few choice words to say about the greedy you-know-whats who run the big oil companies.

 

But I've got an alternative solution, and I don't mean ethanol: Don't get mad. Get even.

 

There's no point in getting mad at the oil companies, despite their record profits. They aren't gouging you, and the higher prices aren't their fault.

 

The blames lies a lot farther upstream. It lies with Congress. It lies with corn farmers. It lies with the Chinese. It lies in Europe. And, I'm sorry to say, it mostly lies with you.

 

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The lowest price I have spotted the last two days have been 3.19 in Hebron,Ohio. The highest price has been 4.20 in Columbus.