gas hits $3.00/gal for reg. unleaded in Northern California....

[mike_c]

$2.999 is the lowest price available at the pump in Blue Lake where I live, also in Arcata, Eureka (except at Costco), Mckinleyville, and Willow Creek. Costco is usually about ten cents less than the local retail price. Gas lines at Costco are getting longer every day.

on edit: I'm ambivalent about this-- on the one hand I know it reflects economic difficulties for most folks outside the energy sector, but on the other hand I hope it reduces fuel use and encourages conservation.

[Cobalt Violet]

1. I wonder what it will be come summer then?

$4.00-$5.00-$6.00. It's suppose to be another nasty hurrican season.

[mike_c]

5. I'm betting it goes up another $0.50 by July 4 unless the U.S. escalates..

...tensions with Iran even further-- then all bets are off. It's pretty easy to see what's going on-- the robber barons have a direct pipeline to the nation's economic engine and the Bush administration is working the pumps like mad. This is a stealth tax of major proportions in the sense that it transfers wealth directly from the folks whose labor generates it into the pockets of the energy and finance oligarchy. The middle class is the biggest target of all. And it's working. Oil company profits exceeded 100 billion dollars last quarter-- Exon Mobile alone cleared $82 billion in the first three months of 2006. That is genuinely obscene.

[Deja Q]

2. Oil is just a commodity for business. Take no notice.

Corporate execs haven't for decades...

[NMDemDist2]

3. Costco in PHX yesterday was $2.549

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

4. I hear ya, but here's the problem...

In Silicon Valley, there are P-L-E-N-T-Y of people who can afford it. Scores of soccer moms driving brand new SUVs and Chevy Silverados. All of the sharks who jumped the good ship Dot.com and moved on to more lucrative scams.

I respect the concept of "reducing fuel use and encouraging conservation" but not when it's brought about by high prices.

If everyone were affected equally by this, I'd have a different viewpoint. I do not believe that the best way to encourage anyone to take positive action is to inflict pain on them, unless EVERYONE gets the SAME AMOUNT of pain. You simply CANNOT accomplish that in Silicon Valley, CA...one of the most lop-sided areas of "distributed wealth" in the entire COUNTRY.

I don't think that working families should have to take the bus to get their groceries while some prick from Atherton drives EVERYWHERE simply because he / she can AFFORD to.

Just my opinion, and as I always say when I post this kind of thing, I'm not seeking agreement or approval. It's just my opinion.

:patriot:

[etherealtruth]

7. Agreed

The disproportianate negative impact on middle and low wage owners is obscene.

I'd just like to add, much of the country has little or no public transit. I use the Detroit area as an example. We have NO reliable and convenient (in terms of getting to and from work, school, shopping ....)mass transit.

[TNMOM]

6. I personally hate the high prices, but if there is a silver lining

maybe people will wake up to what a crappy economy Bush has created.
I have a thuglican friend in San Jose who thinks Bush has turned the economy around. maybe paying $3 a gallon will finally make him snap back into reality.

[mike_c]

8. oh it won't stop there....

I'm betting $3.50 or more by July 4. Exxon Mobile cleared $82 billion in the first quarter of 2006-- there's blood in the water and the feeding frenzy is about to begin.

[Deja Q]

10. Bush didn't create it. He's only made things worse.

Partly by doing nothing.

Corporations, who are claimed by the "touch nothing, no regulation" folks to do things right on principle, as usual, do nothing unless regulated to do so.

Who watches the watchers?

[tyedyeto]

9. Shit... by the time I get to Arcata in May for graduation

the price could be well over $3.50.