Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 20:22:33 -0600
Reply-To: Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject: Re: Got Gas?
In-Reply-To: <001d01c52c26$a44f7fa0$9dc85e44@noner4688xfd1h>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
But Stan, I don't think this would do any good. The oil companies don't
have their prices set by the government, they have their prices set by
supply--usually--and demand--lately.
No matter where our oil companies would like to set their prices, China
and India are saying "send us more." And they will continue to buy more
and pay a high price for it because their economies are growing rapidly
and will continue to do so. The price of oil will continue to rise as
a result because we and the rest of the world are using lots and lots
of it; we will be competing with China and India now as never before.
It's the beginning of the agricultural season around the northern
hemisphere and the beginning of the driving season here. It will
probably hit $80 a barrel before labor day, maybe as little as $70.
As I have written before, India and China are using oil to fuel their
economies though agriculture and manufacturing, mainly. We, on the
other hand, are using it to haul our obese individual rear ends up and
down the highway in the most inefficient vehicles ever devised.
The only way out is to become more energy independent. It's no longer a
question of "when will we run out" but rather "how can we sustain an
oil-based economy in a world where it will rise over the next decade to
$100, $150 and even $200 a barrel?" And those prices are assuming that
there are no major disruptions for extended periods of time.
If our government has an active role in this today, the role is taking
the car industry's lobbying money for turning a blind eye to the
rampant consumption allowed by excluding light trucks and WSUVs from
the standards cars are held to. It's not setting gas prices high for
the oil companies to benefit. I am no friend of the oil companies, but
I don't see them at fault here.
If you want details on the awful truth of how needlessly gluttonous and
dependent we've become on oil, check this out
http://www.nrdc.org/breakthechain/
Also follow the link to Car Talk's Reasons Not to Buy an SUV.
Also check out how much waste is created in making a new car and smile
at that old one in your driveway.
Jim
On Mar 18, 2005, at 7:54 PM, Stan Wilder wrote:
> (Not my posting, it just came to me)
> Hi, Gang:
> I had an idea. Since the government in its
> typical fashion sits on its you-know-what, doing
> nothing about soaring gasoline prices while oil
> companies reap record profits, it's time for us
> all to get together and initiate a campaign to
> achieve a silent but meaningful protest that
> should get results.
>
> Here's my thinking: We have to purchase gasoline.
> There are no options. But we do NOT have to make
> any purchases in the service station "convenience
> stores." My idea is to get everyonewe know to NOT
> BUY ANYTHING in a service station
> other than gasoline. You want coffee? Go to
> Starbucks. Need a quart of oil? Go to an auto
> parts store. Want a hot dog? Try
> Wienderschnitzel. Want a Coke? Try the liquor
> store nearby. And so on.
>
> If enough people cooperate, the oil companies
> will get the message 'cause we'll be hurting them
> where it hurts the
> most: Profits among their convenience store
> operators who'll cry foul loudly and clearly,
> letting the oil companies know the public is
> taking action to rebel against high prices for
> gas at the pumps. In the words of that famous
> seamstress Ellen McKoy, "You won't know if it
> works unless you try."
>
> Just forward this email to as many contacts as
> possible and we can get the ball rolling. But do
> it today. And don't buy ANYTHING in a service
> station store. Only gasoline, because you have
> to.
>
> Stan Wilder
> Engine Ceramics
> 214-352-4931
> www.engineceramics.com
>
