Three in Four Americans Angry About Gas Prices (Gallup)

[sabra]

http://poll.gallup.com/content/?ci=22660

Three in Four Americans Angry About Gas Prices
Anger mostly directed at oil companies

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- The most recent USA Today/Gallup poll finds three in four Americans are angry with the recent increase in gasoline prices. The oil companies are bearing the brunt of this anger, but the government, particularly the Bush administration, is another prime target. By a wide margin, Americans say they trust the Democrats in Congress more than the Republicans to deal with the issue. Americans favor a series of actions to address the issue -- including price controls -- but are more likely to oppose than favor the idea of offering consumers a $100 gas rebate.

Seventy-five percent of Americans say they are "angry" about the recent increase in gas prices. The April 28-30, 2006 poll finds that the average American is paying $2.93 per gallon of gasoline and expects gas prices to peak at an average of $3.62 this year.

A majority of all key subgroups express anger over the rise in gas prices. However, Democrats (85%) are much more likely to say they are angry than Republicans (63%), while independents are at the national average of 75%. There are only modest differences in opinion when it comes to income -- 77% of those with household incomes of less than $75,000 are angry, compared with 69% of those with incomes above $75,000. However, those with a high school education or less are more likely to say they are angry (82%) than those with a partial college education (74%) and college graduates (66%). One possible explanation could be that those with more educational background have a better understanding of why gas prices are so high.

The poll asked those angry about the increase in gas prices to say who they are angry with. Half of those who are angry are directing their anger toward the gas and oil companies. Twenty-six percent are angry with President George W. Bush or the Bush administration in particular, and another 21% are angry at "the government" or "politicians" in general. The public is less likely to specifically direct their ire at Congress (4%), American consumers (2%), and automobile manufacturers (less than one percent). But 7% of angry Americans also say they are angry with "everyone."

[Crayson]

1. Addicted

I wonder if the addicted were angry too, when cocaine prices soared during the "drug war".

Everybody who is addicted to something that only a monopolist sells will sooner or later be angry at him, but still buy the product.

What does the economic theory say about such situations?
Find a new market to buy your product or find a substitute product.

In other words: "drill for oil in Alaska" or "develope renewable energie sources".

And that's exactly what we see happening. With high gas prices it gets profitable to exploit oil fields that need modern technologie (drill deeper, offshore, in Alaska, on the moon) or to introduce new technologies like wind energy that couldn't compete until now.

So technically it's a good thing that energy is not that cheap anymore. It forces people to be more innovative and to start managing the limited ressources we have on this planet.

[AuntiBush]

2. And is it a Good Thing We're Run by 2 Top Oil Men?

Oil men that is, Texas tea. * even ran those companies into the ground, but not before making a profit.

[still_one]

3. and how many of those are driving huge SUVs

when there are only 2 to 4 people in their household

Energy has been a problem since 1973 when there was a created gas shortage, and lines around the block

Believe it or NOT Nixon actually tried to do something about it regarding energy independence, but he had other problems at the time,
and no one on either side of the aisle wanted to address the problem then

It is only going to get worse

[sarcasmo]

19. That DO NOT need to be driving that SUV.

Next time you are driving to work, count how many people are either in Large SUV'S or those super huge Trucks. If they use it for work I don't count it. You can see some have equipment in the back of the Truck then it doesn't count. I was on the highway heading to work this morning and saw plenty of single passenger drivers in that SUV paying their sixty dollars a week in gas to get back and forth to work. That's three grand a year.

[The2ndWheel]

4. I see geology isn't listed

Good to know. We're fine then.

[Demobrat]

5. Sure they're angry.

We went to war for cheap gas and all we've got is a bunch of dead soldiers.

[BigDDem]

6. Just wait until

Bush picks up the phone to "jawbone OPEC" - everything will be fine.

[KansDem]

10. He needs to turn on the ol' "charm offensive"

You know, that thing supposed "journalists" were gushing about during Campaign 2000. I even remember Cokie Roberts talking about the Bush "charm offensive" on NPR!

And nicknames! C'mon George, give all the OPEC members nicknames. It worked so well for "reporters" and members of Congress. You'll have them eating out of your hand!

Unless, of course, there's a charm offensive shortage...

[xchrom]

7. some consumer facts that makes the ''anger'' interesting.

gm and ford continue to take it on the chin -- but from what i can read -- companies like toyota continue to do well.
INCLUDING suv sales which for them were up 13%.

and from i read hummer continues to be popular{go figure}.

http://www.partstrain.com/blog/?p=38

US automakers report positive sales growth for January 2006
February 1, 2006


These bright sales reports are a spot of optimism after a barrage of bad news from GM and Ford. The two largest automakers have already set plans for shutting down plants and laying-off workers in the next few years to regain profit in the North American market.

However, these figures were dwarfed by the continued double-digit growth of most Asian automakers. Toyota Motors reported a January sales increase of 14 percent driven by high demand for the Prius hybrid and positive growth for the Scion brand. Toyota’s truck and SUV sales were also up by 13 percent.




Things were much rosier at Honda, which reported a 20.7 percent increase in sales for January. This is the automakers eighth consecutive record-breaking month. Honda car sales zoomed by almost 25 percent pushed by strong sales of the 2006 Honda Civic. Honda’s truck and SUV vehicle sales were also up 15 percent with the Honda Pilot SUV leading the pack of bestsellers.

Not all automakers, though, had a strong January sales performance. Nissan Motors’ overall sales were unchanged from last year. The automaker posted a small increase in car sales but suffered a 4 percent setback in truck and SUV sales.

Posted by Rowan Pierce under Automotive News , Ford , Toyota , Honda , GM , Nissan , Chrysler , Jeep



http://www.latimes.com/extras/newcars/

Less spectacular but with more long-term significance, the rise of crossover utility vehicles (CUVs) portends a spike that might well continue upward for several years to come, Taylor said. Strong year-to-date sales growth of nearly 19% for CUVs is most likely just the beginning. Roughly 1.5 million crossovers have been sold so far in 2005.
Lexus GS 450h
“Most of the new model introductions are crossovers, like the Hummer H3 and Jeep Commander, which look to be very successful,” Taylor said. “The attraction to crossover utility vehicles is much the same as large sedans. They’re smaller than full-size SUVs and get better mileage, but they offer plenty of comfort and versatility. They tend to appeal to younger consumers as well.”


http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/01/auto_sales_jan.html

GM is banking on a new line of large SUVs to help produce profits in the year ahead.

GM sales are expected to be down again in January as Toyota and Honda both rack up double-digit sales growth. Edmunds.com projects that General Motors sales will fall by 5 percent.

At the same time, Honda and Toyota sales are likely to show sharp sales increases this month. Honda's U.S. sales in January will be up 18 percent to 96,000 vehicles, and Toyota's sales will be up 16 percent to 164,000 vehicles, Edmunds.com estimates.

[KansDem]

11. "...and from i read hummer continues to be popular{go figure}."

That's the one in 4 Americans not angry about rising gasoline prices.

[xchrom]

18. interesting huh?

i keep trying to figure out where i read this -- but americans keep moving further out from the cities as well.

so you have companies like toyota still selling suv's well and americans moving further out.

i just wonder if there aren't some other wise well off folks in for a very rude awakening at some point.

actions aren't matching up with feelings.

[pauliedangerously]

8. And then there are those like me...

who are surprised that gas prices are as low as they are. It's no wonder most people are angry, and the educational correlation doesn't surprise me in the least (although I am dismayed that so many college grads don't get it either); this country has been living in denial for decades.

This is what watching too much television leads to. This is what what my mother meant when she told me that television rots your brain. Well, I hope everyone who was seduced by sexy car commercials got their rocks off cruising around in their hot little gas guzzlers.

But really, what's the big deal? So gas is almost three bucks a gallon. This is a good thing and I wish it would skyrocket. That would encourage people to carpool, use public transportation, and learn to work cooperatively with one another.

Soaring gas prices will bring people back to the cities, encourage building stronger communities, and ultimately result in a stronger, more cohesive middle class (at least that's what I like to think).

[Barrett808]

9. Here's the amazing Pollkatz graph:

http://www.pollkatz.homestead.com

[BiggJawn]

12. The fourth one must be here on DU...

...posting that "I wish gas would go to a Brazillion bucks a gallon!" bullshit.

[Mister K]

15. Believe it or not..Gas going totally out of control could prove useful

Way back in the 70's when we were all pushed to the limit, we all started to conserve fuel because we had to. This was the only way to survive in this type of environment.

Now, 20+ years later, the oil Tycoons learned from their mistake of the 70's and will not allow the same situation. In the 70's (with large price increases and shortages) because we would all be forced to conserve to survive again and all of the oil companies would lose big profits as a result.

The oil companies would much rather keep the prices at a high level but not 'killer' high because of the potential of large conservation efforts.

[BiggJawn]

17. I'll remember that while I'm freezing to death.

And we don't have to conserve fuel yet?
perhaps not, if you're in the Middle Class, but for the working poor, it's a different story.
It's already beginning to hurt.

[sakabatou]

13. That 25% is nuts...

[llmart]

14. What angers me most about this poll.....

is that you don't see 3 of 4 Americans being that angry about dead and wounded soldiers in an unjust war, but they sure can get angry about gas prices.

Shows where most Americans' priorities lie.

[magellan]

16. Yup.

Self-interest, a dependendable human foible that's been exploited by madmen throughout history.

[AX10]

20. Maybe he'll go on another PR tour.

That will work.....to bring his approval ratings down even more.