Reposted from another forum:
Just an aside, last night on the local news, featured a story of Europeans visiting the US and laughing at all the whining about high gas prices, to them these prices are downright cheap in comparison. So much so that one of the interviewies was driving Route 66, complete with big American muscle car, and grinning that it only cost him $300 in gas so far. I think the biggest problem is that we've ignored our dependency on oil for so long that we now are having to face the dilema of that dependancy.
When asked what Americans can do to about these high gas prices, one interviewie summed it up nicely, "buy smaller cars"
To me this is the crux of the problem, we are spoiled absolutely rotten when it comes to our cars. I grew up in the 70's when all cars were smaller, and the then typical SUV was the now "small" Jeep Cherokee. We all drove smaller cars, I drove a V-dub for close to 10 years, a Civic after that and a Samurai for 10 years after that, guess what, I got by fine. My current truck (Frontier Crew) is the biggest thing I've ever owned, and I'm seriously considering trading it in for something more affordable. I like my truck but at 20 mpg and a $50 fill up, maybe its time for ME to make a positive change and get a PT cruiser or a Scion Xb. I can still carry most of the stuff I currently use the truck for, get better milage, and save some $.
To me, these high prices are a combination of a jittery world oil market thanks to the middle east situation, a limited refining capacity, and increased world demand for this limited supply. Now the one constant in this that will not go away no matter how much we cry is the last one, India and China are using more oil with each year, and that is not going away. Maybe we can build more refineries, yeah, they'll be up and running in 10 YEARS! I doubt more than one or two would be built becasue why would the oil companies spend any money to make their bottom line smaller? Its in their own best interests to keep a strangle hold on supply and keep their profit margins in the very black for as long as they can. So they dig up Anwar, so what?, thats 3-5 years away even if they started tommorow, and it would STILL be stuck in the refining bottleneck and prices would STILL be high due to the increasing world demand of a still limited supply of refined product. Most comment I've heard is that, yes. oil prices are high, but so is supply of crude. Its the other jittery stuff keeping prices way up there, not crude avalabilty.
There are options out there. Dont like putting $100 in gas in that Hummer H2 every week, well you were stupid enough to buy it in the first place, so trade it in (You'll still get a few bucks for it, dealers are giving minimum Bluebook for them (which is nothing) out here) and buy something smaller (and more reliable). In the market for a new vehicle? Dont buy a Toyota Tundra, buy a Tacoma. Dont buy that Ford Exploder, buy the Ford Escape. Get the idea?
Want ultra high milage? Prius, Civic, Scion Xa, Focus, Aveo.
Want cool + milage? PT Cruiser, HHR, Scion Xb.
Need a crewcab pickup truck? Frontier, Tacoma, Colorado, Durango
All get at least 20mph hwy or better. To me, theres no real excuse for most of the big giant trucks and SUVs out there (dont tell me about your boat/horse trailer/camper/job requirements yadayada--I said "most"), all could be easily downsized to a smaller more efficient vehicle with no real loss of comfort or performance. Its all getting over this stupid notion of entitlement, that somehow its our god-given right ot drive giant cars and pay nothing for gas, no it isnt, wake up and smell the coffee!
I FULLY expect to be paying $4 a gallon before this summers end. And will be doing so again next summer, and get used to it, the cheap gas fueled days of wine and roses are a long GONER! Whining about it will do this: Zip, Nada, Nil, Nyet, Nuthin'. So the sooner we all accept that and make changes on our own, the less painfull it will be for all of us.
My point is that if you knowingly buy a car that gets crappy milage, dont whine about it. Like me and my truck, I knew it was a gas-hog when I bought it, and we've had high prices in the past so its not like you were'nt forewarned that gas prices could go thru the roof again. Difference this time, is that they won't come down much again.
Now as to effect on railfanning:
Alot of us are going to have to stratigize our outings. I for one always try to combine outings. If I'm going to one of my favorite sites, I'll try to do any chores or stops (OHS, Sav-on, Home Despot) I can along the way, and while I'm watching or waiting, I don't sit with the engine idleing anymore. If I'm going to somewhere and can sneak in some trainspotting along the way I'll do that also. I'm also seriously considering trading in my truck for a more fuel efficient vehicle, a PT Cruiser or a Scion Xb, both would allow me to carry all the stuff I currently move around in my truck while still giving me a greater savings in gas cost. Its up to us to make things work for ourselves, waiting for the world change in your favor will get you nowhere. So I'll make the changes I can that work for me. I dont plan on stopping what I enjoy doing just because gas prices go up and down, but I can make descisions that will benifit me.
PS Note there are no intentional Political comments, blame, fingerpointing, or flaming, in any of the above commentary, j ust viewpoints on the real world things affecting our daily lives, and how we are the masters of our own destinies, and some small things we can do ourselves to deal with these real world affects of the world we live..[:D]
Welcome to the 21st Century Boys and Girls! Not what we expected is it?[;)]
