Is $4 per gallon enough?

Posted on May 14, 2008 by sheyduck

The Senate voted yesterday to suspend daily deposits of 70,000 barrels of oil into the Strategic Petroleum Reserves.  Reports say this could save motorists between 2 and 5 cents a gallon.

Two of three presidential candidates have talked of suspending the federal gasoline tax for the summer months.  Such a measure would reduce prices an additional 18 cents per gallon.

Therefore, IF oil prices level off, these two measures together would save a maximum of 23 cents a gallon; approximately 5-7 percent of the current price.

While many would benefit marginally from such a cut, I am concerned about the bigger picture as I see it.

The bigger picture is this: it is time to find sources of energy other than petroleum.  If you don’t buy this from the environmental perspective, it seems to me you ought to buy this from the economic and/or national security perspective.

Gas prices have gone up - at least tripled - over the past 4 years.  Periodically during this time, when prices shot up, only to level off, or even back down a little from high points, we hear reports of people taking drastic measures to cut costs - traveling less, trading in for vehicles with better fuel economy, even using public transportation.

Then, as soon as prices plateau, it seems people make the necessary adjustments to go back to life as usual.

It seems as if we will only maintain the needed resolve if gas prices not only stay high, but continue to climb.

Are you ready for $5 a gallon?  How about $6?  What will it take?

Filed under: environment, green | Tagged: , , , , ,

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8 Responses to “Is $4 per gallon enough?”

  1. mudpuppy, on May 14th, 2008 at 5:08 pm Said:

    I agree.

  2. green4u, on May 14th, 2008 at 6:51 pm Said:

    There needs to be better public transportation systems that allow us all to use gas less but still get around!

    http://green4u.wordpress.com

  3. Dean Libby, on May 14th, 2008 at 7:09 pm Said:

    I really don’t think that $4 per gallon is enough to get most Americans to radically reduce their demand for gas/oil. I know that I hate paying that much for gas, but I am not in a financial crunch over it (read: I don’t have to choose groceries over filling up my car).

    I truly believe that Christians should be leading the way in demanding alternative fuel sources as a true creation care issue. If we don’t value what God has blessed us with enough to care for it the way God has asked us to, then we need to reread Genesis 1-2.

    I also believe that until a critical mass of consumers demand alternative fuels, the producers are not going to do anything about finding them.

  4. venturellak, on May 14th, 2008 at 10:40 pm Said:

    I think people are really affected right now. At the moment, I have seen news segments about car dealers who have not sold SUVs in months, and report that they only sell small cars with good gas mileage. I just hope these trends will continue.

  5. Richard H, on May 15th, 2008 at 12:02 am Said:

    I am peeved by those politicians who blame other politicians for causing the rise in prices while they also proclaim their desire to pursue policies that will raise prices and decrease demand. I’m waiting to hear an honest presidential candidate quit pandering and just fess up to wanting higher prices.

    For at least the past 20 years I have tried to minimize my driving. I have tried to have as fuel efficient vehicles as I can afford. I do not have the income to buy the most fuel efficient cars, so I do the best I can. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a few other folks out there like me.

    I’m not yet ready to think that all petroleum usage is an evil. I’m not ready to throw oil & chemical workers out of work just because I disapprove of the by-products of their livelihood. I’m not ready to let a billion or more people die just so I can feel better by going back to purely organic farming.

  6. Richard H, on May 15th, 2008 at 12:09 am Said:

    Here’s an old blog post on the subject: http://futurist.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/10/why-i-want-oil-.html

  7. Kim, on May 21st, 2008 at 11:20 pm Said:

    I would dearly love to buy a hybrid, an EV, or something else that would not guzzle the gas so enthusiastically. However, it doesn’t look like to me that what’s available out there will save me much money. I drive to Big Spring every week, and I also feel the need for a big enough car to feel that I have a chance should an 18 wheeler sideswipe me on I-20. Maybe it’s just emotion without logic, but the thought of being in a Smart Fortwo next to a big rig creeps me out.

  8. ryan k, on May 24th, 2008 at 9:38 pm Said:

    A couple of thoughts. Current hybrids are not any better (and some studies say they are worse for the evinronment) than a similarly sized gas only car. For Kim and others who want cheap (cost wise) and efficient try the Honda Fit. You get almost small SUV room in a car that gets over 30 MPGs for combined driving! It is also a very safe car and much more substantial than a Smart. In fact, as much as I love the Smart for it’s looks (and it is amazingly safe) the Fit offers 4 doors, seats 4 (really) and has a HUGE trunk. The Fit costs about the same AND gets just a couple MPGs lower.
    The key is to continue to move towards what is environmentally sound while balancing economic realities. I think that is as succinctly as I can put it.
    The fact is MANY Americans HAVE to drive. They have to drive to work to support their families. They don’t have the option to use cell phones and wireless internet notebooks to telecommute. I feel for people who are poorer, because this ‘green’ wave is in many ways the privilege of the wealthy. For some things no, but for others yes. It really is about having the money to buy organic foods rather than the cheap (processed and awful for you) Walmart foods. (sorry, had to throw Walmart under the bus when I can).

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