Will gas prices climb as high as $5.00 a gallon?

[MNDEM2004]

I keep hearing on the news the fear of gas going up to a all time high because of Rita. Here in Minnesota gas is at $2.39 a gallon. Many people here are filling up because of the scare.

[karlrschneider]

1. Not for a good while. A year at least. IMO

...

[Maple]

2. It's already over that

in Canada, and far worse in the rest of the world.

You guys get cheap gas. Count yourself lucky on that score.

[QC]

22. Yes, we are all quite well aware of that,

in part because you rush to post that same bit of info every time someone, somewhere, says something about the high cost of gas.

[slor]

24. Do not knock our Canadian friends...

He/She is pointing out a fact that Americans need to hear. We have had it good in this coutry, and it has inspired people to buy wasteful ugly behemoth machines. If we had been paying the price everyone else has, we would have better public transportation, and farmers would be growing Hemp, and most homes would be solar equipped. Instead we find ourseleves in this pickle, with an idiot at the helm.

[QC]

25. Any American who hasn't heard that fact a thousand times already

has been living in a cavern in the mountains of Borneo.

[slor]

27. Well as you know, there are plenty of Americans that think...

the chimp is a good leader, and Saddamn was behind 9/11, so maybe they need to hear about the world, outside of America for a change.

[QC]

28. Do those Americans frequent DU?

I hardly think so. And besides, there just something very tacky about those who respond to genuine hardship with smug lectures about what "you people" need to do.

Higher energy prices are going to mean people freezing to death in their homes this winter, among many other ugly things. This is not just a matter of yuppie couples with matching Hummers having to pay more to get little Brytneighe and Dakota to soccer practice.

[pengu1n]

3. hope so

Needs to hit $10 a gallon to get the Chimp out.
You are still not getting it guys!
High gas prices are GOOD FOR THE PLANET.
Stop complaining you greedy people!

[Pooka Fey]

4. We won't get Chimp out until the voting system is fixed.

And high prices for gas ARE good, when that price includes taxes to support public transportation and alternative energy development - like it does in Europe.

Here the high gas prices go directly into Big Oil's pockets, and their astronomical profits are then used for numerous abuses of power: Big Oil systematically dismantled all civic public transportation systems that were constructed during the early to mid 20th century, including the famous Los Angeles Red Car system (watch "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"). Another name for Big Oil is the Republican party: Lying the U.S. into Iraq to use our military to steal oil and protect pipelines for Halliburton, prevent US automakers from producing fuel efficient vehicles, prevent the US from exploring alternate energies, prevent us from having a usable National Train system - politicians only spend public money on highways and roads - thanks to Big Oil.

2004 Election Fraud links - spread these around, please:

http://www.projectcensored.org/newsflash/voter_fraud.html

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/092005G.shtml

http://whatreallyhappened.com/2004votefraud.html

Many Americans don't 'get it' - you are correct, but MANY people here on DU, (Americans no less) do "get it". Welcome, PenquIn. :hi:

[misanthrope]

7. Not that I'm doubting your sincerity...

...but I've often heard that claim about oil companies driving public transportation under in the early 20th Century. Does anyone have any evidence to back this up?

Not that I don't believe they would do it if they could, but I would like to have some evidence to back up these hypotheses if possible.

[DefenseLawyer]

13. A lot has been written

about General Motors, Firestone and Standard Oil forming a holding company called "National City Lines" which bought up streetcar lines in several American cities and dismantled them in the 1930's and 40's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_conspiracy

[pengu1n]

9. Thanks for the smiley!

I have a good working knowledge of whats going on, so the links. are no use for me - but thanks for taking the time to point them out.

Most of the people here in Europe I discuss world events/news - are well aware that the US is in a dire position - and that it is not ALL the people that are to blame.

We have the same forces at work over here, they are just not as advanced in their development. Corporate globalism, and fascism are on the march - make no mistake. Everywhere. Voices like those at DU - can still be seen in the mainstream here in Europe

DU is cool - but there are still a lot of voices here bleating about the cost of gas. Get used to it. It is a blessing in disguise.

Love posting - enjoy discussion. Sorry to be so down on the "gas price" threads - but I get annoyed. BTW - in the UK almost none of the gas tax goes back into public transport. A lot must go into bombs & SAS pretending to be "terrorists" - oh... and propping the dollar up!

[Armstead]

26. It's not a blessing in disguise

Americans have been stupid enough to set up a society that puts us totally at the mercy of the petrochemical industry for transportation, heat, etc.

We had a wake up call in the 1970's about it. But we didn't do anything about it then, and we're not likely to do anything about it now. The oil and auto and building industries are the ones calling the shots, and the rest of us have to live with the consequences.

I'm not defending it. But just saying that the "markets" are not gonna solve anything. It only penalizes those who are the least well-off, and those without the political/economic power to change the situation.

[CascadeTide]

5. I agree with you

Our main problem is that, for most Americans, we need to be transported long distances for various reasons. There are ways to do this without gasoline:

1. Develop alternative fuel sources for automobiles
2. Develop more liveable and sustainable cities and work environments
3. Build effective mass transportation

All three are really needed but a huge chunk of Americans (Democrats included) have no awareness of these issues and want to keep the status quo even though the status quo is less desireable than making things work the right way.

[DefenseLawyer]

12. You can't put "Saving the Planet" on the backs of the working poor

You are right that in the long run changing our way of life away from using internal combustion engines for transportation is "good for the planet". But for the working poor who have to drive to work every day to make 6 or 7 bucks an hour to feed their families, saving the planet is of little consolation when the rent is due.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. You Nailed It...

How is paying $10.00 a gas going to help anybody...


I favor a slow rise in gas prices to encourage folks to conserve and encourage companies to come up with alternative sources of energy... All $10.00 a gallon gas would do now is cause a depression...

I ain't willing to cut off my nose to spite Bush*'s face....

[MildyRules]

15. Fewer people are good for the planet too...

[expatriate]

6. Australians pay more than $5 per gallon

So do many other places. Americans have been lucky so far. We cope with it and make changes in how we do things.

After Rita it'll be up - it'll depend on how much damage has been done as to when it goes down - but eventually, it's going to go up, no matter what.

[Skittles]

17. Please stop comparing us to other countries

we do not get national health / dental and other services gas taxes provide in many countries and we too often do not have the means to go from any street to any street with a public transportations system

[expatriate]

21. I most humbly beg your pardon, sire.

Being an American, I do understand that, so no need for the comparative sociology lecture.

$5 a gallon is $5 a gallon, no matter where you're paying it. Yes, I'm glad that there are the programs you mentioned provided - which we pay for partially through the taxes on gasoline. But you still have to limit your spending accordingly, and watch your gasoline consumption, because gas you pay $5 a gallon for doesn't go any further than the gas Americans pay whatever for. Prices have gone up here too, and yes, people are having to adjust to the higher prices.

BTW, there is no nationalized dental care in Australia, and the public transportation doesn't take one from any street to any street either. Lots of people here are dependent on their cars, because the cities expanded during the days of cheap fuel. There is little to no public transport to many, many suburbs of all major Australian cities.

So we aren't exactly rolling around in luxury while being chauffeured in the publicly provided public transport - we cut other parts of our budgets, and drive a hell of a lot less, and use what public transport there is - just what Americans are going to end up doing when the gas prices inevitably rise.

That was why I had the temerity to compare America with another country. Just to let you know that higher gas prices CAN be survived, believe it or not.

[Skittles]

23. gas prices would not hurt me a bit (gas tank-wise)

I grew up in England and learned to conserve - a tank of gas in my Civic lasts me 5 -6 weeks and I always walk if I can.

I blame America's penchant for SUVs more than their penchant for driving - it is truly disgusting.

[misanthrope]

8. If they feel they can get away with it...

...or as an economics professor might state it, "if the market will bear it," then sure as shootin' it will happen.

However, the real effect of it all won't be felt for another couple of months following as the increase in fuel more thoroughly works its way down through every part of the economy.

We still haven't seen the full effect of Katrina yet on the marketplace.

[China_cat]

10. Yes

and you'll have to show proof you voted Republican in the last election to be able to buy it at that 'bargain' price.

[Zinfandel]

11. Of course...these are corporate oil men running this country...Profits!

You aren't silly enough to believe it's not for more profit, are you?

It's business as usual, we are indeed the pawns and their stupid consumers...what choice do we have?

It's been dictated for us at least since Reagan, their hero.

Even many years before, with the auto industry...now look what they are doing to all unions.

You think they want to finance alternative clean energy??? Where's the PROFIT?

Wake up and get real!!!

[Tace]

16. Here's A CNN Report That We Could See $5 Next Week

http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/21/news/economy/rita_threat/index.htm

[ladylibertee]

19. Did you vote? Look at it .Theres also a small survey.

[ladylibertee]

18. They will be $ 9.50 by the end of the week.LOL I HOPE I can call

that a joke.ooh wouldn't that be awful.Think, imagine for a second 9.50 per gallon.That would be a hour of wages for most Americans .

[Sabriel]

20. It's not gasoline I'm worried about

I can cut back on my driving to some degree and conserve, but heating costs here in Wisconsin and other cold states are going to be astronomic. I'm worried about all the folks on fixed incomes who barely managed to scrape by last year. This is a crisis in the making.

I had one student last year, who lives with her grandparents, who came to class in tears because a neighbor told her that her grandparents only turned up the heat when she came home to visit. The rest of the time, it was only warm enough to keep the pipes from freezing.

How many times will this scene be repeated this winter?