Skid Row Joe

Texas

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crudeman wrote: topflite51 wrote: crudeman wrote: Back to the conspiracy theory, if it was that simple why did the oil companies not do this years ago, if its that easy as some suggest and its all this greed/conspiracy theory why wait this long? Heck they could have done it back in the eighties/nineties etc when they were shutting down refineries, and all the mergers of the late nineties and early 2000 time frame. I would think they would all still be American companies instead of losing some of those companies and others having foreign partners etc as the case is now. The biggest thing that blows the conspiracy theory is WHY ONLY 10%why not 20 or 25%? If you are in danger of going to jail, and you could if it were really a conspiracy, why not get as much as you can as quick as you can? Oh I understand, trust me. that has been my point there are countless threads with all the answers and greed, conspiracy seems to be the top ones on the list. Not may, says anything I better take care of myself and worry about the latter, but its always this big conspiracy and greed and again if it was that simple it would have been done long ago. Oil is 130 plus a bbl and there is no more cheap gasoline at that price. I worked in this business a long time and seen the bad times and some of the good times, but it has got better in the past year or so. I am not waiting on someone to do what is best for me, I am doing what is best for me myself. Its the same ol story every post, sorta reminds ya of those other posts that has WM in them.
I'm with ya....... I know of one with something like NINE or TEN vehicles, most of them GAS-GUZZLERS, with an X on the back of the oil executives, that cites GREED, present Administration and OIL COMPANIES as the price boogie-man. Too dim a bulb to figure it out. The country is exporting it's wealth for gasoline, and he's searching far and wide for an oil company executive to scalp. There is only oil company conspiracy on his brain. What a nutty doofus-brain.
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macira

bullhead city,Az

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I think we all miss the real issue. YES, fuel is out of sight, BUT many other things are following it. We are on our way to a recession that will make the 30's look like a picnic. The politicians we have and those that hope to take over either have no clue or are too crooked to be of use.
Mac USAF retired
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Sea Dog

Ontario Can.

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Amazing how many believe or try to convince themselves that in a few months the oil situation will sort itself out and we will return to prices of five years ago.
The trouble is, no one comes up with a reason for this to happen.
I have already told my adult kids we will not be giving them any large amounts of money to save their homes if it comes to that.
I explained that we now have lots of room for them to come home if worse comes to worse.
If I burn up my funds in a futile attempt to hang onto their houses, then we will all be broke.
What will happen then?
I hope non of this takes place.
On the other hand, I see no way that the fuel prices will turn around and return to what we have come to consider normal.
Life is short,Death is long,
Take a vacation.
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roaminaround

Bend, OR

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I just finished reading thru all this after reading a similar thread on a fishing site yesterday. The point is to get off oil as soon as possible. WE have made great strides in technology in nuclear, full cell, solar and wind in the last 20 years. In a free market economy alternative fuel sources become viable only when oil and gas reach certain prices. We are there folks. Its now a matter of national security for us and future generations to implement alternatives now. A return to cheap oil makes us forget today's prices pretty quickly. We will not be motivated until we are a little more uncomfortable.
1-conservation now- followed by stop gap measures like ANWAR to buy us time
2-implementation of a TRUE energy policy with emphasis on alternative fuels
Imagine a country with nuclear, solar and wind to produce all our electricity and fuel cells made from that electricity. Just the decision to implement that plan would make oil drop to $10 a barrel overnight. AS for national security; if the Saudis and terrorists (terms could be interchangeable) saw a 90% drop in revenues their influence would drop by the same margin. Iraq becomes moot, Iran becomes powerless, terrorists lose their revenue.
We used to invent things and make them. Then we only invented them and someone else makes them. Now other nations are inventing and making things. We have one more shot to remain the worlds premier nation and that is to be the innovators of whatever replaces oil. I hope to God we do it first because somebody will.
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sirdrakejr

Las Vegas, Nevada

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Come on folks, get real!
Last year I was paying about $2.90 a gallon for diesel. This year so far I have paid UP to $4.40 a gallon. So the difference is $1.50 a gallon more this year. So if I tow my 35 foot 5th wheel 1000 miles this year it will cost me about $135 more at 12 MPG when towing. So is it worth stopping what I enjoy for a measly $135?? Sure the total sounds bad but the real difference is not bad enough to give up a lifestyle.
It isn't like we were paying NOTHING last year to travel. You have to compare the true costs of RVing this year against the past. We aren't that bad off. Let the "doom and gloomers" wail and weep. If they stopped to think about it, they would agree, this year is bad but not enough to stop RVing.
Am I wrong?
Frank
2011 Palomino Maverick 1000SLLB on a 2004 Dodge Quadcab CTD Ram3500 SRW long bed equipped with Timbren springs, Stable Load bump stops, Rickson 19.5" wheels/"G" range tires and a Helwig "Big Wig" rear anti sway bar.
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Skid Row Joe

Texas

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sirdrakejr wrote: Come on folks, get real!
Last year I was paying about $2.90 a gallon for diesel. This year so far I have paid UP to $4.40 a gallon. So the difference is $1.50 a gallon more this year. So if I tow my 35 foot 5th wheel 1000 miles this year it will cost me about $135 more at 12 MPG when towing. So is it worth stopping what I enjoy for a measly $135?? Sure the total sounds bad but the real difference is not bad enough to give up a lifestyle.
It isn't like we were paying NOTHING last year to travel. You have to compare the true costs of RVing this year against the past. We aren't that bad off. Let the "doom and gloomers" wail and weep. If they stopped to think about it, they would agree, this year is bad but not enough to stop RVing.
Am I wrong?
Frank No, Frank, IMO you're not wrong.
The fuel pricing-irony of last year vs. this year has eluded many. Last year the price of travel fuel wasn't an "emergency," but this year it is an "emergency." The bright spot for the economy has been the vast number of new economy car and hybrid buyers I'm reading about. After buying a new econobox, ironically, the gas hogs are being kept at home, with no intention of selling them. The irony of spending tens of thousands of dollars on an economy car, to save a few hundred dollars in fuel, is elusive.
According to HNN & ABC news today, between 25% to 33% of Americans polled, reported cancelling all Memorial Day weekend travel plans.
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stevelv

Living on the island

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Frank
In 2002 when my RV was new, diesel cost $1.35 a gallon - I enjoy seeing the US and travel $15-$18k a year - at 7mpg that was $3,500 in fuel. Today it costs $13,000 - so to some people it makes a huge difference in their lifestyle - in your case the impact is minimal unless you drive a 16mpg truck 30 miles each way to work every day - then you have a problem.
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eltejano1

Woodville, Texas

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No, Frank, you're not wrong. Your math adds-up, but, with all due respect, you are being short-sighted. I daresay any of us here could come-up with another $135, or $1000 for that matter, to take a trip, but we have to draw the line somewhere. It's mostly matter of principle with me, but I also see this situation getting worse and forced cut-backs in consumption, whether voluntary or by force of law, are absolutely inevitable. It's less traumatic for me to gradually make changes now rather than have it all come down on my head like sledge hammer.
We have a choice. We can either start to restructure our lives around expensive fuel now, which I choose to do, or we can "eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die." I like to be in control of my own life and refuse to be exploited, gouged and victimized by highway robbery at the pump.
For most of us that have rv's, it's not about the money, at least not yet - Joe's right on that. It's the principle of the thing. If you think I'm extreme, Joe, I know a guy who got mad at Entergy and cancelled his electrical service. He erected a soundproof building in his backyard and installed two GM 2-71 generator sets and a thousand gal diesel tank. His power cost him 100 times as much - which was worth it to him. On a lesser scale, I'm making the same statement to Hugo Chavez and the Saudi.
It's been fun and therapeutic - hope nobody has any hard feelings.
Jack
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Sea Dog

Ontario Can.

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stevelv wrote: Frank
In 2002 when my RV was new, diesel cost $1.35 a gallon - I enjoy seeing the US and travel $15-$18k a year - at 7mpg that was $3,500 in fuel. Today it costs $13,000 - so to some people it makes a huge difference in their lifestyle - in your case the impact is minimal unless you drive a 16mpg truck 30 miles each way to work every day - then you have a problem.
I think that the point being missed is that we RVers, wealthier than the average Joe by definition, are only seeing the direct cost of fuel for a trip.
When everyone and his brother diverts his discretionary dollars from restaurants, ball games etc to the fuel tank, that is when trouble will strike.
There is a big difference between a bunch of old farts spending their pensions and acumulated savings and a young couple spending a hundred a month or more on unexpected commuter cost.
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eltejano1

Woodville, Texas

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Sea Dog wrote: When everyone and his brother diverts his discretionary dollars from restaurants, ball games etc to the fuel tank, that is when trouble will strike.
I hadn't thought of that! It will be more than a ripple effect - it'll be a tidal wave!
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