Gas Demand Decreases Across US

[webbie]

They already took care of that one! They sold (and are selling) roads and bridges to multi-national corporations, the idea being that these companies can increase rates and the pols will not have to take a popularity hit.......brilliant! Spanish and Australian companies will own our infrastructure....the Selling of America is almost 100% complete.

 

[Tessa]

So, any bets as to how long before we start seeing new and creative tax increases to cover the losses to state coffers from reduced usage of toll roads and bridges?

After being ticketed at one of those "red light cameras" a few months back I discovered that most of them (in Texas at least) are owned by private organizations who've worked out a deal w/the state. Every person who runs a light is issued something similar to a "citizen arrest" by this private corp; a letter is sent with a fine attached. The infraction is never reported to your insurance and a ticket is never issued so there is no possibility of a warrant. The catch is, if you don't pay the fine the company sends a notice to the DPS/DMV and you have a block issued on your registration so you cannot renew your tags when they expire. There was an article in a local paper talking about the state's increased revenue since the institution of the red light cameras; it wasn't a small amount by any means.

I'd imagine if people stop using toll roads (which is hard here, with most cities utilizing toll roads on the busiest highways/best routes), Texas would see an increase in red light cameras. Easy revenue, cheaper than a cop, very passive.

 

[webbie]

As an interesting aside, Lockheed Martin is the contractor for many of these Big Brother efforts - talk about the union of state and corporations! They build missiles and also keep DB of how you drive. Much more, too.

 

[BrotherBart]

That's happening right now in VA isn't it BB?

Yep. And guaranteed to be followed by the historic avalanche of "unintended consequences".

In Virginia we are not only subject to the National Religion which is education, we have a State Religion. Roads. Everybody seems to feel they have a birthright to buy a house 75 miles from where they work and have everybody else pay for a six lane road to get them to work. I did that but never complained about trekking a two lane cow trail to work every day. I knew it was the price of my decision.

I now have the pleasure of educating their kids, paying for their roads and listening to them groan about gas prices. Grrrr.... And don't even get me started on the demands for more parks and golf courses.

 

[webbie]

BB, they can also enjoy the beautiful view of the hills and mountains (through the haze) as they drive the 75 miles to work.

 

[fossil]

And people ask us why we moved away from Fairfax County. After 12 years there, I couldn't get far enough away fast enough. hh: Rick

 

[velvetfoot]

I think the guy in front of me at the store paid more than 7 bucks for a pack of cigs.

 

[BrotherBart]

I think the guy in front of me at the store paid more than 7 bucks for a pack of cigs.

Yeah I think it has reached the point where pot is cheaper than tobacco.

 

[Redox]

I think the guy in front of me at the store paid more than 7 bucks for a pack of cigs.

Yeah I think it has reached the point where pot is cheaper than tobacco.

Kinda like how electric heat is getting cheaper than oil?

Chris

 

[BrotherBart]

I think the guy in front of me at the store paid more than 7 bucks for a pack of cigs.

Yeah I think it has reached the point where pot is cheaper than tobacco.

Kinda like how electric heat is getting cheaper than oil?

Chris

Propane is the one I am watching. 15 years after we built on this place some people bought six acres next to us. Built a house and put in propane in an area where everybody else is all electric and at that time most heated with wood. Well, the new guys were no more than moved in when they started a petition drive to try to get nat. gas in here. Everybody else but us was happy with their heat pumps and I was happy whacking trees. Though I missed whacking them off of the the land they built on. I also knew that the utility right of way runs across my property so I knew where the ditch would be dug for pipe. Soooo... Here we are ten years later and they still have that truck backing up the driveway with the backup alarm ringing. That bill has just got to hurt. Three years ago I asked him how the propane was working out and he said fine but kind of expensive. He ain't seen nothin yet.

 

[Jags]

Checked with my propane supplier today, summer fill = $2.09 with the winter month lock in at high $2.20's to low $2.30's.

 

[begreen]

Wow, that is half our local price. Thanks Suburban.

 

[Redox]

I think it's all in who you know. I met a guy who married the daughter of one of the local propane distributors and he told me he was paying about $1.75 a year ago. I haven't talked to him recently, but he sounded like he was set for life!

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought propane was a byproduct of oil production. You can't drill for propane, it has to be separated out after cracking in a refinery. If this is the case, then the price would HAVE to be manipulated so that the market wouldn't go crazy. If the price was lower, then everyone would switch to it and supples would become stressed.

Chris

 

[Jags]

Not sure how it is made, but a year ago I was paying $1.46.

 

[BrotherBart]

Here are details on propane sources and extraction.

http://www.madehow.com/Volume-3/Propane.html

 

[WoodMann]

I still can't believe that gas use is down, folks around here drive as if gas was $0.99 a gallon...............

 

[Jags]

Here are details on propane sources and extraction.

http://www.madehow.com/Volume-3/Propane.html

Thanks BroB, never knew and that filled in the knowledge gap. Interesting read.

 

[Res5cue]

Used to drive 75 MPH and get 20 MPG on the highway. Im setting the cruise for 66-67 MPH now and getting 29 MPG. I actually wouldnt mind seeing the old 55 signs back up as a big screw you to the oil companies.

 

[heaterman]

You'd think, bt that's not a big enough dent. There are still too many people like my sister that won't put of the trip to the Kalihari in the Wisconsin Dells via the Suburban just so her 2 kids will think she's cool.............

Tell your sister to check things out in the Dells before she goes. Last I heard there were a number of attractions there that will remain closed for the rest of the year due to flood damage.

 

[Telco]

Used to drive 75 MPH and get 20 MPG on the highway. Im setting the cruise for 66-67 MPH now and getting 29 MPG. I actually wouldnt mind seeing the old 55 signs back up as a big screw you to the oil companies.

Really doesn't matter on the 55MPH. I've had cars that get their best mileage at 45MPH, and had them that got their best mileage at 80MPH, and everywhere in between. It's not just the speed, it's the speed plus the engine's characteristics and power output plus the car's physical shape and weight plus the final gearing and transmission type that determines mileage. Change any one of these, and the speed for best mileage changes. The one I had that got its best mileage at 80MPH would return a third less MPG at 50 to 55MPH.

 

[Tessa]

Used to drive 75 MPH and get 20 MPG on the highway. Im setting the cruise for 66-67 MPH now and getting 29 MPG. I actually wouldnt mind seeing the old 55 signs back up as a big screw you to the oil companies.

Really doesn't matter on the 55MPH. I've had cars that get their best mileage at 45MPH, and had them that got their best mileage at 80MPH, and everywhere in between. It's not just the speed, it's the speed plus the engine's characteristics and power output plus the car's physical shape and weight plus the final gearing and transmission type that determines mileage. Change any one of these, and the speed for best mileage changes. The one I had that got its best mileage at 80MPH would return a third less MPG at 50 to 55MPH.

And on THAT note, I usually run around 70-75 on the highway (which is keeping pace w/the traffic, honestly..even semi's down here gun it). I'm getting better mileage than EPA projections on my car. Of course, I think SOME of that is the fact that I coast a lot on the downwards and level spots....and any time traffic gets jammy.

 

[Wet1]

What car gets better mileage at 80 mph than at 50 mph???????????????????????????????????????????????? Since it will take about 50+ more hp to overcome the increased wind resistance, I'm highly doubtful any vehicle will get better mileage at 80 than it will at 50-55...

 

[RedRanger]

What car gets better mileage at 80 mph than at 50 mph???????????????????????????????????????????????? Since it will take about 50+ more hp to overcome the increased wind resistance, I'm highly doubtful any vehicle will get better mileage at 80 than it will at 50-55...

Agreed: we don`t even have those kind of speed limits where I live.. I for one will be more than happy to see those gas-suzzling pickups and suv`s with one person driving them taken off the road. Just an absoulte waste of energy. You know, they were only invented in the first place for people`s vanity,, and how wasteful!! just a horrendous waste of non-renewable resources.

 

[begreen]

If you lived in Texas you'd be going 70mph. The state is a series of cities connected by highways through excruciatingly long sessions of boredom. There's a reason why a lot of hybrids are selling there. That and a long habit of having some of the cheapest gas in the country.

 

[Jags]

I for one will be more than happy to see those gas-suzzling pickups and suv`s with one person driving them taken off the road.

I would look pretty silly trying to pull my trailer or boat (just a small fishing boat, so don't get into an uproar) with a Geo prism. My road would swallow those little things and never even belch a tire back up. Believe it or not.....I actually WORK my truck and on many occasions, and I know this is a strong word, but NEED a truck. Hell, last year I got my big truck stuck twice to the point that I had to go back home and get my friggin' backhoe to get me out.

If a fuel sipping vehicle was available that could address my needs, you bet I would have one, but they ain't been invented yet. Now soccer moms......thats a different story.