I find it ironic that everyone (not just on here, everywhere) are complaining about gas prices when they are the ones who vote for the taxes that make fuel prices so high. They choose to live in states with insane fuel taxes. Not to mention the thousands of petroleum based products such as plastics that are abused regularly. How many throw away their grocery bags, how many don't recycle? I find it hysterical that people will complain about spending over $3.00 for gasoline, but they will spend exorbitant amounts on bottled water. Again, I am not picking on anyone specifically here. I just keep hearing this stuff on the news and from everyone I know. People complain, but drive gas guzzling cars, trucks, and SUVs. They drive everywhere. No one walks or rides a bike anymore. The truth of the matter is that we have to find other sources of oil and we have to vote for people who consider this an option. OK, end of rant. Sorry ladies, I just feel passionately about this. If you don't like it, do something about it.
I know what you're saying! Sometimes it seems like the people who complain the most just continue to buy giant cars and drive all the time. We have 2 little cars, and I wish we could get bikes to do close stuff, but we don't have many sidewalks in town and there is no way I am going to ride with ds in the busy street. It is about $3.30 here. In January it was $1.75. It really has no meaning anymore--it's like a game to see if you can guess what random number they have up this morning!
Yes, and you look at the price and try to decide if you should get some because it may be $.10 more by tomorrow. I think it's all a secret conspiracy. I wish they would make more areas pedestrian friendly. Most area are not set up for foot/bike travel.
Timkelmom, I wish I could ride a bike to do what I had to! It would definitely help my weight! I laugh with my kids that my first "car" was my 10 speed! The local Western Auto had let me buy it by making payments and let me take it on the spot. $100 was alot back in 1980! We live 7 miles to the nearest grocery and about 10 miles gets us the library, Walmart and other decent stores. I try to ration my runs and knock out everything at one time. I drive a pitiful little Sunbird but it is fairly decent on gas. I know where you are coming from, though. Everywhere I look there are huge vehicles and that seems to be the norm. I can understand a pick up, especially living where you have to haul things but these are definitely pleasure vehicles.
I agree. People will spend over 3.00 for cigarettes and alcohol. I wish I could ride a bike also. We live so far out in the country that would not fly.. we are about 20 minutes to town and minutes to the bigger stores. I would get slim fast though... We have a suburban but would love to trade down if it was worth it but it is not so we just go with it...
EXACTLY! If we were serious about energy conservation we would be building sidewalks and increasing public transportation options. Where I live, we don't have either one. I do a lot of stuff in the neighboring town, but I do our grocery shopping here and other errands and I wouldn't mid riding a bike if I felt it was safe. And I could certainly use the exercise, too! I try to keep my tank from getting below a half tank. That way if it goes up a ton, I don't have to fill it up all the way. Such a mind game....
Good point Tinkle mom. Thank God we live in a small town. Everything is close enough to walk if we felt the need. I have been walking to the school to pick up the kids when it's not too hot out. The heat don't bother me so much but my little ones HATE it. I end up having to carry them and that is WAY to much for me. 2 kiddos weighing a total of 60 lbs. Can't do it. I would LOVE a bike and a trailer to put them in. We have a biker/jogger trail that goes all through town. They would have a blast riding in it. Angela
You made really good points. However...choosing to live in a state with insane fuel prices is a bit harsh. Some don't choose it...that is where they live and are connected. I doubt many will decide to move to another state for the sole purpose of avoiding fuel taxes. I get out and vote...but regardless of how I vote I have to live with that the majority votes on. I will say that I do need to recycle more. I am glad you brought that up. I am a throw away person. I just don't think about it. There is a place nearby I can take plastics. I will give that a try. Than can I complain again??? Please??? Pretty please? LOL. Oh and I don't own a gas hog! However, there are people who need gas hogs....dependng on their job or their lifestyle. That doesn't mean they enjoy the high price of gas. What of families bigger than five who need minivans? Minivans are the biggest gas hogs...I know.. However, if you have to tow or have the ability to haul...you have no choice but to get a truck that is not good on gas. I think that we should do what we can. I would be more than happy to use an alternative fuel source or have a hybrid car. I will be more than happy to recycle. I guess there is a part of me that doesn't know if that will make a bit of difference anyway...as far as the rise in gas prices. At least with a hybrid car I won't have as much to worry about...but that is not solving the issue. Oh...and that E85 gas, the alternative gas....costs only pennies less than regular gas. That does not encourage those without FFV cars to go through the trouble of converting them. So, although I agree that we need to do our part...I am a cynical. Not sure if a change will actually happen. Doesn't mean we don't try, I know. Oh and geesh...I just bought a ton of bottled water! LOL. I will keep the bottles and get them recycled. I use them alot. My dh takes them to work...my dd takes them to Karate. Here, Toledo is supposed to have clean tap water also. I can get travel cups and just refill. Forgive my ignorance, but I never thought about bottled water and gas as connected. You mean because of the silly cost or the plastic bottles...or both? lol. Ok...so...can I go back to being ticked off that I have to pay so much for gas if I recycle and change a few things? lol. Ya know I am just joking with ya! I think you made excellent points that most never connect to the rise of gas prices. We do need to think about things in whole and not in part. seriously, thanks for the reminder!
We are at $3.59!! Not a good time to be driving to Florida...that's for sure...... but, I am not complaining!! We are way overdue for a visit with Mickey!! LOL
Ava, your points are valid too. Your right about the fact that change can't be made unless everyone is willing to do their part. I am not saying you shouldn't buy bottled water, drive any vehicle you choose, or drive wherever you want. I am simply saying that we shouldn't complain about the cost of fuel when, let's face it, we can't live without it. What good does complaining do anyway? We pay for it because we are dependent on it. I am not suggesting that anyone should move, but if fuel prices are of a concern to you, then maybe it is something to consider when making lifestyle choices. 13 years ago my DH and I made the decision to move over 1,000 miles away from everything and everyone we knew to make a better life for ourselves and our family. Living in NJ was just not cost effective. This was a difficult choice, but one we felt was right for us. I am telling you this to say that tough choices sometimes need to be made and the power is yours to decide where or how your should live. We pay far more for things we do not "need" and we don't complain about them. That's where my reference to the bottled water came from. No one complains about the cost of bottled water when they have perfectly good (actually better for you) water coming from their tap that they only pay pennies for. Also they don't even think about the petroleum that was used to make the bottle it came in. We use oil in so many ways other than gasoline. Oil is wasted every day. You can go back to being ticked off if you want (lol) but it won't help the situation and you'll just feel bad. (Ya know I love ya, right!)
I understand where you're coming from timkelmom, but feel it came across as if we are doing nothing but complaining. Here are some of my thoughts: Well, we live in Washington, which has high gasoline taxes, but no income tax. We have a minivan---but it gets as good or better gas mileage than some of my friends smaller cars that my family of 5 couldn't fit in. We have a recycle program in place in our city---they pick up recyled stuff every other week. We rarely use bottled water. Though some water around here is NOT better for you---it has things in it that are NOT healthy, so some people have to be careful with that. And one reason we don't get bottled water much is because of the price---we HAVE been a bit concerned about that. My dh has a job that is not available just anywhere. We made a sacrifice to move from the Bay area in California, to here, which is more rural, has trees and healthy surroundings. We live too far away from town and up on a hill, and would have to ride on busy roads to get anywhere, so that option is out for us too. Plus, there's no way for all of us to ride back up the hill---especially with all the groceries we'd be hauling! Though we do ride our bikes as a family just for bike rides, but not to town! I think what you're saying, timkelmom, has merit. But not everyone has the money or option to just pick up and move! It's great that it worked for you (and for us), but it costs thousands to move, and some people can't even afford their rent/mortgage payments as it is! What worked for me, may not work for you or others. Some people are just kind of stuck where they're at. They try to get ahead, but prices keep rising and they have a hard time making ends meet. So I feel it's very legit to come here and say, "Can you believe these prices?" because they can't do any more than they are doing, yet prices keep going higher and higher. Then others of us on here can lend support and commiserate with each other. Sharing our thoughts is what we're about here! Oh yes, and people DO vote for people that will make a change. But, as Ava Rose said, if more people vote for someone else, then that's who you're stuck with. I just honestly feel that people here aren't just sitting back eating bonbons and not voting and buying up bottled water, and doing nothing about the environment! When prices rise so high like this, it is a big concern, and people do have a right to share that concern!
I have been so busy lately that I have not taken the time to notice what our gas prices are. I am almost scared to look! I am also due for gas. Where I live, people have to commute at least 45 miles to get down the pass to get to work, unless they are working up the hill. The majority of the better jobs are down the hill and beyond. California in general is a commuting state. Even people down the hill drive a good 30 miles to get to work. My husband usually has to drive 100 miles one way to get to work because usually his job sites are in cities that are far from here. The closest is 45 miles from here. So riding a bike would not be reasonable for him because it is illegal to ride a bike on the freeways in California , he has to pull a huge trailer and couldn't hook this to the back of his bike. Not to mention it would be heck to pull it up the pass with a bike being that he would have a three thousand foot climb. :lol: So to make his travels easier on his legs he drives a huge two tanked truck.:love: Many people around here have been driving long distances to commute to work because this is how they provide for their families. Nothing has changed as far as the way they live, yet gas is still rising. Most people I know who live in Southern California spend an easy 300 dollars a month or more on gas alone. Again, they did not opt for this 15 years ago or more when they took their jobs. As for me and Ems peddling to the market, our temps reach as high as 115,sometimes higher so unless we are looking for a rapid heat stroke, riding to the store, which is near, isn't an option either. When we have cold weather, it is cold. The high desert has extremes in it's weather pattern and honestly, I refuse to ride a bike on this street because it is a 50 mile an hour street and busy. We have fabulous water because we are sort of near Big Bear and Arrow Head but we still purchase bottled water because Ems uses it for ballet and Handsome uses it on the job because the water down the hill is undrinkable. However we recycle! That is a great thing. I am all for recycling. Regardless, I think we do have a right to complain to a point. As I put in another post, my uncle has numerous of gas stations in Los Angeles County and he admits himself that we are being gouged at the pump. Supply and demand is determined by those who use the gas, aside from other factors. We are a country that is dependent on gas. Regardless of what type of car or truck or tank we drive, we are still being ripped off at the pump. No doubt in my mind or my uncles, who I am positive is ripping people off. The only place we go to by foot is the park. We walk through the back of the yard and to the side street because our street is so busy we would not allow Ems to ride a bike on this road. So I understand where we are all coming from. We all live different lives and drive different vehicles for a reason. Sometimes it is for looks while other times it is a necessity. I can honestly down size on the size of my car, but I don't because I do not want to be driving our busy freeways and have to use my knee caps to protect me from the car in front of me. I am more for safety then what is economical. Handsome has no choice. Besides his truck has an awesome air conditioner that I would love in my car. Yes, this also sucks up gas, but you have to have it out here. Patty
Yeah, that was my point, I just forgot to mention that part! :lol: We ARE being ripped off, THAT is what people are complaining about.
If anyone is curious, here is a link I found listing some gas prices around the world. http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/global_gasprices/price.html We are still less than a lot of other countries. I think everyone has made this a good debate and added really good points. Complain if you must, and let's all hope we'll see some relief at the pumps soon. Although, I think that is unlikely,for the summer anyway.
Btw, I like to think of it as more of a "vent" than a "complaint"! LOL! I think the majority of us here, if not all, are reasonable folks who do the best we can with what we have and make the most of it. Honestly, how else could you homeschool if this wasn't the case!
And how could you not! You need to know that everything I say is with a smile. When I get mean...I get mean...:evil: believe me you would know it! LOL!!!!! That is a cool list of gas prices you gave the link for. Ok...ok...you convinced me... I will move to China where it is still under $2.00 a gallon. lol. I knew for the most part we were still lower than everywhere else. I only hoping it would stay that way!!! lol. I also heard a stat that said that 55% of Americans say that gas prices don't effect them...at least how much they drive and vacations, etc. Now, that was a stat so take it for what that's worth. However, I have noticed on the news lately talk of how we are still consuming gas as much as ever and the cost of gas was not changing anything. I am not sure at what point I will say traveling or driving a distance is too expensive. Than again, I don't have to drive everyday and my car is good on gas. I think most just take it because we don't have a choice. I mean you still have to drive to work, right? I know it isn't worth cancelling a vacation. Especially to see Mickey! LOL. Gas prices are just one of those things we can all connect on...like the weather...nice small talk because it doesn't seem anything can change it.
Not ALL Minivans are big gas hoggers. Thankfully. Because I have 4 kiddos and have my 3 year old niece 6 days a week I have to have vehicle who holds more people. Mine gets great gas milage!! That was one of the things I looked at when we bought it. Hubby wanted a suburban but I insisted on the minivan. It does as good as my little escort did. Angela
