Fuel Rants & Raves

I will believe that fuel prices are high when I see that people stop wasting it and drivers slow down to the legal speed limit. When people start looking at getting a smaller RV instead of a bigger one so they have room for a 40" TV (or two).

Our "RV" averages 15 MPG and there are the Class B motorhomes like the Roadtrek that are built on the Mercedes platform and with the 5 cylinder diesel engine that average over 25 MPG. That assumes that people can forgo some of their creature comforts and the bigger is always better mentality.

Gas and diesel are more expensive in Europe but then they have protected pensions, free university schooling, free medical, great mass transportation systems (London to Venice entirely by high speed rail at 200 MPH), and work a month less per year than in the USA, and they live longer and they don't have to worry about their sons and daughters going off to fight and die or be permanently damaged in foreign wars for oil, so I guess it evens out.

Well said. I congratulate you fine understanding of how are system works. I have been told if I don't like it here I should leave. Oh haw I wish I could afford too.

Our rig only gets about 8 mpg. We just picked up a Ford Fiesta to use as a dinghy. We also have a Helix scooter on a Blue Ox rack, but that's not always the best way to go. We plan on getting to a central area and parking the MH, then using the Helix (60 mpg) or the Fiesta (30 mpg) for getting around. Hopefully, extended stays and using the dinghies can keep the cost of gas from eating our entire budget. That month last year burned up over $2000 in gas.

Western Canada has enormous oil and gas reserves, you would think fuel prices would be cheaper here than they are. Yet Canadians flock to the US for cheap fuel. Before we headed south for the winter, Diesel cost 1.45 per liter in Surrey BC and 1.00 or less per liter in WA. Here in Arizona we filled up yesterday for 3.67 a gallon or approximately .95 per liter. The US has some of the cheapest fuel prices in the world unless you want to compare with countries like Venezuela where gas is almost free. That comparison is useless though without comparing living standards and opportunities.

In my opinion the problem is globalization. Money knows no borders. Corporations are run by people who have only one goal, that is to be profitable and to earn performance bonuses. Investors, whether individuals or pension funds, have only dividends or capital gains as a goal.

Canada's oil and Gas reserves are owned by many corporations including government owned ones from Malaysia and China. Those countries are sitting on trillions of US dollars in reserve and are shopping for North American corporations that would serve their national interests. Our governments are all living beyond their means and are salivating at the thought of royalties on exports to Asia. At the moment Canada has only 1 customer for its resources and that is the USA. The problem for Canada with that relationship is that the agreement sells our resources for 30% below world price effectively costing our governments royalties and our corporations revenues. China is moving away from coal and is willing to build refineries in China and will buy our raw Bitumen for world price plus a hefty premium as well as all the LPG we will sell them.

At the end of the day Canadians are pretty much opposed to a pipeline sending raw bitumen across British Columbia. Americans are opposed to a pipeline to the Gulf of Mexico. This leaves our governments with a pipeline across the country to the Atlantic, or north to the Arctic Ocean. Canada has the gift of centuries worth of oil to fuel the world, but is cursed with geography and how to get it to market.

Bottom line is follow the money. Our governments are in bed with the big corporations. They smell tons of money and are advertising the benefits to come relentlessly every day in an attempt to convince people. Money will find the path of least resistance, palms will be greased, a pipeline will be built, fortunes will be made and we North Americans will all be poorer for it.

Just my 2 cents worth, thanks for listening, felt good to get that off my chest

We are, lets face it, held hostage by these oil companies. Tranportation, oil by-products, etc. depend on it and we depend on these services to be there when we need them. Alternative methods need to be taken to break this hold "big oil" has us held to. Oil companies have filled back pockets of the right people to insure that no ransom money to bail us out will be paid

and lets not forget as fuel prices go up so does the cost of everything. even that roll of tp you like so much.


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It's Official: $1.99 Gas Shows Up in Oklahoma City
http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2014/12/03/its-official-1-gas-shows-up-in-oklahoma-city/

A new Sheetz store opened in our town ( Powhatan, VA ) and the gas is listed at $1.699 per gallon. I'm loving it!!!! :B

Europe thinks we have cheap gas prices even when they are very high by our standards. A gas supply factory blew up in Los Angeles recently driving local prices even higher. Good times.

Who would have ever thought that we could buy gas again for $1.17 (Ethanol)
Regular gas yesterday was $1.35 here in Edmond, OK.