Gas Crisis? Huh?

[High_Side]

Canada our neighbor has started extracting oil from "oil sands" in the province of Alberta. Canada also has a new natural gas pipeline off the coast of Nova Scotia which is currently in operation. (not sure if its at full capacity tho) From what I've read Canada is exporting these two new resources to the US. Altho I don't know quantities. Yet the price of gas & oil continue to rise. Gasoline has risen at least 100% within the last 2 yrs and natural gas has risen at least 50% during the same time. Now wouldn't it make sense if you have more supply the demand would fall and so would the price ? Not to mention the lower transportation costs from Canada as opposed to getting it imported from the middle east or south america.

A little correction in the "facts":
Oil extracted from the oil sands costs a lot more to produce than traditional methods and is only truly viable at higher oil prices. Combine this with an extreme labour shortage (nope, I don't want to live in Fort McMurray either), and the tax that the Canadian govt collects ( not an issue in the middle east) and you have got more reasons for the higher prices. The fact that we keep putting in larger pipelines and the States can consume everything we put down them is another. It's supply and demand and at lower prices the demand can't be met....even at higher prices the demand can't be met...

[Gummiente]

From what I've read Canada is exporting these two new resources to the US.

And we are keenly aware that Americans know about our resources now, which is why we've been trying to keep y'all happy on the international front. We know that if we give you the slightest reason to get angry with us, Montreal would become part of Greater Vermont in no time.

Just don't get me started on the rx industry.

Ooohh, I work in the rx industry! What juicy tidbits do you have on us?

[jstark47]

Imagine how the old Wizz feels . When I first started driving I paid 18¢ a gal.
Ya could cruise all week on a $1.00 worth doncha know ......
Regards, Wizz

Walk to school up hill in the snow both ways wizz?

I can't match Wizzard's $0.18 /gal, but I remember $0.27 /gal when I was a kid. This would have been around 1963-64. This is real, it happened. Bread was $0.25 / loaf too. I remember when gas first topped $1.00 (late 1970's I think) we all felt raped. Now I'm just numb.

We have two campuses here at work, 8 miles apart. Teleconferencing just got real popular all of a sudden!

[CNF2002]

I agree with the original post. Most people I know complain about how the rising gas prices are running them broke, boo hoo hoo. Well, if instead of going to McDonalds everyday on your lunch break, try going eating at Taco Bell or something. There, problem solved. I think for the most part, people don't realize how much they spend on "poo poo" they don't need. Everyday, my girlfriend complains to me about how she can't afford gas, and it's just like "well, then don't go out to eat every "procreating" day, then you'll have money for gas and then some." It's all about managing your money.

Are ya kiddin? Any fast food is a ripoff and (frankly) not good for you at all.

I eat relatively healthy meals every day. I bring a packet of oatmeal, cream of wheat, or some other cheap easy breakfast to work, I have a can of soup or a microwaved dinner (which costs about 2 bucks) and a full, healthy meal at home. Sometimes I splurge and make myself a bag of popcorn in the middle of the day. I spend a fraction of what most people do on day-time meals.

Don't like soup? Make a sandwich - bread, mayo, and sliced meat will cost you perhaps 20 cents a lunch if not less. On a diet? Make a salad and bring it to work in a ziplock bag.

The best way to save money is to sit down with your receipts/statements/whatever and look at what you are spending on a regular basis, and figure out how to save.

[CNF2002]

and if Americans themselves drove more fuel efficient vehicles -
(Like the diesels that are everywhere in Europe - getting 50mpg on average)
the higher gas prices wouldn't be such a big deal.

We cant GET diesel in America. Most vehicles on the market now have diesel engines, but they dont sell them in America (my Jeep Grand Cherokee has a diesel option for Europeans).

Plus, diesel was far cheaper than regular before those engines became more popular in the US...once the govt saw that, they jacked up taxes on it and now diesel costs as much as or more than regular in most cases.

[MattL]

My Jeep cherokee with 3" lift, 31" mud terrains, 3.55 gears gets me ~7mpg


w00t! Under 10 club! Who's in!?

We cant GET diesel in America. Most vehicles on the market now have diesel engines, but they dont sell them in America (my Jeep Grand Cherokee has a diesel option for Europeans).

Be glad. Parts are expensive and a pain in the "O Ring" to find for that engine.

[dieziege]

and if Americans themselves drove more fuel efficient vehicles -
(Like the diesels that are everywhere in Europe - getting 50mpg on average)
the higher gas prices wouldn't be such a big deal.

We cant GET diesel in America. Most vehicles on the market now have diesel engines, but they dont sell them in America (my Jeep Grand Cherokee has a diesel option for Europeans).

This is so frustratingly true. My 2002 Jetta TDI was wonderful (before I gave it to a family member)... an honest 47MPG average, good enough performance to merge onto any freeway I've ever found and exceed 100MPH if you were desperate for a ticket... but I had to buy it as a gray market import from Canada! Oh, VW sold them here at the time, but they only imported totally stripped-down golfs or loaded w/ automatic transmission (I hate automatic transmissions)... they don't sell them at all in California any more. Nor in NY and a few other eastern states.

If BMW imported the 330d I would own one. If VW imported the Lupo I'd seriously consider owning one. If I could get VW TDI GTI I'd seriously consider that. Nope... I can't even buy a used TDI Passat in this state unless it has over 8,000 miles.

Plus, diesel was far cheaper than regular before those engines became more popular in the US...once the govt saw that, they jacked up taxes on it and now diesel costs as much as or more than regular in most cases.

The road tax on diesel is because diesel trucks "use more road".

[jstark47]

Are ya kiddin? Any fast food is a ripoff and (frankly) not good for you at all.

I eat relatively healthy meals every day........I have a can of soup or a microwaved dinner....

Be careful of the sodium in that soup. Lots of canned soups are pretty high in sodium.

[t_bonee]

There was a story in our local paper last week about gas prices. In it, they had a photo of pizza delivery man filling up his SUV and a quote from him whining how much gas cost him and it sucks being a pizza driver with high gas prices and he had to sell his smaller car to buy the SUV because he and his wife just had a baby and needed 4 doors instead of 2.

Ya know, because the only cars built with 4 doors are SUV's. Idiot.

[CNF2002]

The road tax on diesel is because diesel trucks "use more road".

I suppose, but its interesting that diesel was always so much cheaper than regular before diesel engines became popular with the average consumer, now they are dead even.