I hope the high gas prices last...into '06

[WI_DEM]

Why? simple--the gas prices are a big reason why Bush is looking at a 37% approval rating. When people start feeling it in the pocketbook they begin to pay attention. I know the high price of fuel is a real hardship on many people, but the biggest hardship has been Bush and the oil company loving GOP congress. If gas is still at $3.00 per gallon or higher in November, 2006 (and if the US is still in Iraq) I predict that combination will bring a swing in congress every bit as big of a disaster as '94 was for the Democrats.

[DIKB]

1. Some people

expect oil to hit over $100 a barrel this winter. With it sitting close to $70 right now, I wouldn't be surprised. This should BURY the repukes.

[tjdee]

2. Well I don't.

I'm a single mother just barely affording the gas now.

Part of my job involves driving here and there, too.

I am starting to get afraid by all of this. I don't want to live out in the street, or freeze my daughter to death.

[Bouncy Ball]

5. ...

:hug:

I know. We're going to cancel the cable. That's not a necessity and that will free up about $50 to spend on gas.

We've already stopped renting DVDs. No more pizza.

Just trying to cut some things here and there and focus on the basics.

:hug:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

3. I think you will get your wish

We're not dealing with an oil embargo this time, to account for a sudden rise in gas prices. This is what the market is naturally doing and, once those prices go up, I doubt they will come down to any significant extent, if at all. In fact, they will only increase, as demand is increasing throughout the world. Only a worldwide depression that undermines economic growth in such places as China and India could bring them down (or the sudden discovery of a major new energy source). Personally, I'm thinking of giving up city life and buying some cheap land in the country and maybe making my own ethanol to mix with gasoline. The Los Angeles area has no public transportation to speak of, with many major bus lines having buses run only once an hour. That's not public transportation, in my opinion.

Even if we regain control of Congress, it might be too late to begin major funding and development of an adequate energy policy. A lot of good people are going to be hurt by this, in any event.

[smbolisnch]

4. I sure as shit don't. Many of us cannot afford that.

eom

[Bouncy Ball]

6. And many of us have no access to any kind of public

transportation.

I've seen a lot of people out walking, grocery bags in hand, sweating. It gets up to 105 degrees here.

[halsaxby]

7. High gas prices???

We ain't seen nothing yet.

[RageFist]

8. Another upside is people will find a way

to get around it, and we (in theory) can kick the oil habit. I make $400 a week, so my budget isn't much, and I know what its like to have to scrounge (many make less than I do I know). What pisses me off is that the people who can afford to burn gas at 8 miles to the gallon do so while I penny-pinch to keep up my bottom line.

[alarimer]

11. That pisses me off too

It is unfair that someone in an SUV or big pickup is ALLOWED to burn as much fuel as they want while the rest of us are more responsible. I am very angry every day at work when I turn into a parking lot that is FULL of huge behemoths. No Hummers (because most of us work for the state). And then they have the nerver to complain to me about high gas prices. I want to say "you are to blame for this- all you selfish assholes in your trucks and SUVS". But I know we all are to blame at least a little.

[wuushew]

9. Why do you love inflation?

wage growth(if any) has lagged overall inflation for a long long time. High energy prices also impede overall economic growth which is one of the few ways people can make it in our so called capitalistic system.

[WI_DEM]

10. you obviously didn't read what I wrote

I don't like high gas prices but it will help do in the republicans and seriously damage Bush. Do you think anything is going to get better with the Bush republicans continuing to run things?