How would $4/gallon gas affect you?
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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
$4 a gallon, and maybe more, is the dire prediction for gasoline prices by this spring.
Gas prices have lagged behind oil prices for months, but it looks like they could soon be catching up. The price of crude oil spiked above $102 a barrel today for the first time ever and diesel prices continue to hit record highs on a daily basis.
One Harvard economist tells the New York Times, "The effect of high oil prices today could be the difference between having a recession and not having a recession." It's clear that higher gas and oil prices are just the latest bad news for our economy which is being buffeted by the housing collapse, the credit crisis, rising inflation and a weakening dollar.
If people are forced to spend more on energy costs, it follows they will have less money to spend on other things. Economists say that in December, Americans were spending more than 6% of their disposable income on energy. That's the highest level since 1985.
Regular unleaded gasoline costs an average of $3.15 a gallon today; that's up from about $2.35 a year ago. It also represents a jump of 20 cents gallon in just the last two weeks. And prices are expected to accelerate from here.
Here’s my question to you: How would gas prices of $4 a gallon or higher affect your life?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Jack from Fort Myers, Florida writes:
I would no longer be able to commute to work 5 or 6 days a week. It would mean leaving my very nice city home for a condo and a job that is near public transportation access, which would definitely pay much less, but would allow me to manage my finances for the next 12 years before I go into retirement.
R. writes:
It will affect us drastically. We have an RV that's become a guest house. We live in a rural setting, so everything is at least ten miles to town. This year, we paid $600 in public school bus passes because the state budget doesn't include increased gas prices and the district has to make it up somewhere. We have five nephews we are raising ...that's only for three of them. Home schooling is looking like a better option as public school is being priced out of our budget.
Barbara writes:
If the gas price goes to $4 a gallon, looks like we will starve to death trying to drive to the grocery store. We are on a fixed income and barely make it now.
Mike writes:
The more relevant question is: How many more billions of dollars do you think the oil companies are going to make in obscene profits?
Liz from Massachusetts writes:
We're already driving 50% fewer miles at current rates, heating 40% less of the time, rarely eating out and our grocery budget has gone from $120 a week to $100. So at $4 per gallon, it'll force us to walk, ride our bikes more, never eat out and cut our grocery budget by another $20. In short, we'll get skinny.
John writes:
As of right now, I can't afford a car so I am relying on mass transit. And soon I'll have a bicycle on the road. But once I can get a car, then gas prices may keep me from using it. If it's not one thing, then it's another. And frequently it's more than one at a time.
Brian from Fort Mill, S.C. writes:
I'd redesign my car's engine to run on milk. It's a lot cheaper.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Jack, US gas prices are among the lowest in the world. Here in British Columbia (Canada) we are hovering around $5.00 a US gallon. But don't worry, you guys will catch up soon enough.
my heating oil bill has more than doubled for my medium size, three bedroom single home,and i have a new heating system and the price of gas, didn't i hear in the beginning of the month that by the end of march it was going to drop atleast $1.00 and we are sending how much oil over to korea?????
I have not heard Clinton, Obama or McCain talk about the high price of gasoline. If the price goes to $4 a gal., looks like we will starve to death trying to drive to the grocery store. We are on a fixed income and barely make it now. I wish all Senators and Representatives would get the kind of raise people on Social Security get. Maybe, something would be about the price of gasoline and groceries.
Lets see, I was going to use my Goverment rebate check to buy food
and medication but I'll now use it to buy gas to get to the doctors office
and the suppermarket. Anyone have an old bike for sale for a Senior
citizen?
Jerry
Roselle,Illinois
Here in Ontario, Canada we have been paying that for some time, and are expecting $6/gallon ($1.50/litre) by summer! Gas for my boat was $6 last summer, probably going to $8. I'm shopping for a canoe!
It's pretty simple Jack. Like millions of others, I'll stay at home more of the time. Besides, traveling overseas is a non-starter with the freefall of the dollar. Nobody is talking about how the cost of oil is going to affect us in countless other ways as well, so the fallout will be far worse than just limiting our visits to Grandma. And what happens in Washington? Absolutely nothing. Not ONE politician is screaming like hell that this has to stop. Their silence is deafening! Why do you suppose that a visionary like Obama is America's only chance for recovery? If Obama gets the nomination, all he has to do is ask folks if they're better off than they were four years ago, and McCain loses.
Chuck in Amana, Iowa
I'd pay more for food and transportation and I'd travel less. I'd spend less on other things, clothes,movies, eating out etc.
It will affect us drastically.
We have an RV that's become a guest house.
We live in a rural setting, so everything is at least ten miles to town. This year, we paid $600 in public school bus passes because the state budget doesn't include increased gas prices and the district has to make it up somewhere. We have five nephews we are raising ...that's only for three of them. Home schooling is looking like a better option as public school is being priced out of our budget .
This also means less money for family vacations (if we can even afford to take one at all), extra-curricular sports, lessons and hobbies. It means our grocery bill will balloon, once again. It means possibly having to take on yet another job to just "get through" each month. With gas prices like this, it better be real close,
I'm seriously considering buying a horse and buggy.
Jack, I would like to see one of the canidates offer a plan to bring gas prices back to reasonable. Surely even they know that the high cost of gasoline and other oil fuels are the cause of inflation. Everything we buy gets to us by way of an oil burning vehicle, therefore as the cost of gasoline goes up so do the goods. I know that getting rid of the oil men in Washington would help but I really don't know if our politicans even know how important this issue is to us working blue collar and less than 50,000 income folks. Thanks Jack please please pass this idea on. David, Corbin Ky
I would have to spend more money for gas. Even as old retired folks who do some traveling it is not going to change anything except perhaps make me complain a little about the high gas prices.
I'd redesign my car's engine to run on milk. It's a lot cheaper.
Jack if gas is currently at 3.09 a gallon here in NW Iowa
$4.00 a gallon gas will most likely raise even further the high costs of good healthy food.
President Bush and Congress better get to work on a quarterly stimulus check for the American People to afford to feed their family's things like
eggs,milk,cheese, meat & produce you know the basics to sustain life.
As of right now, I can't afford a car so I am relying on mass transit. And soon I'll have a bicycle on the road. But once I can get a car, then gas prices may keep me from using it. If it's not one thing, then it's another. And frequently it's more than one at a time.
I would no longer be able to commute to work 5 or 6 days a week.
It would mean leaving my very nice city home for a condo and a job that is near public transportation access-which would definitely pay much less–but would allow me to manage my finances for the next 12 years before I go into retirement. I did not plan on 50% or greater inflation when I planned for my retirement.
It would be a big pain because companies would just raise prices again to make up the cost of delivery. This is an fine example of how George W. Bush and his cronies failed us. Because right now in my hometown of Sylvania Ohio. It costs $3.14 for an gallon of gas and I honestly think we are headed for four dollars an gallon. We need alternative energy and better ways to make energy to power our cars and heat our homes.
It would sustantially increase my costs directly. It would also push- up othr prices producing an undesirale synergistic effect. The life style of the middle class is already on the down-grade, this could be the knockout blow.
Jack,
That is like asking how the flu would affect me. I'd get sick because I have absolutely no control over it. I can't tell the big oil companies to give me a break and dillute their record profits. They know that I will pay the four bucks because my only other choice is to walk to work.
Take a set of retired grandparents, add two working parent, mix in a couple of teenage boys involved in high school sports at a priivate (Catholic) school that doesn't provide a sports bus. After blending, top with the need for a vehicle that can also transport friends whose parents also work, along with all their equipment.
Seniors are drowning in this furiously escalating inflation, but $4.00/gallon gas would seriously interfere with our ability to be fully involved grandparents, and that STINKS!
Anna
Nanticoke, PA
Wow, Jack that is a no brainer. It has already effected my life at $3.19 a gallon. I am on a fixed retirement income. All my basic expense have risen drastically, my grocery bill is up 35% compared to last year. I spend as much of my time as possible getting out into the country hiking and camping, but that will change very soon to being a stay at home person, walking the blocks more frequently and maybe even buying a bicycle. Its tough paying $75 ever 7-10 days for gas, but $100 wow when will it stop. One thing for sure the truck will be gone soon and maybe a small wagon or more economical vehicle purchased to reduce that expense. I feel badly for those that live on a social security income which is for most considerably less than my military and restaurant pensions.
How come gas should be $4 a gal,when the oil company made $50 billon in profit just last year!!are we being scamed!!you bet you
YES!
My life would only be affected by paying $4/gallon for gas is if the gas station can't afford to purchase the supply and there is no other alternative fuel.
As an oil company exec, $4 gas would allow me to buy another island in the Carribean. It would also give me more lobbying money to put another oil man in the White House and funnel to politicians to help kill off alternative fuel source efforts that might affect my bottom line – global warming and hostile oil producing nations notwithstanding. Since I'm NOT an oil company exec, however – I will just spend that much less in other businesses and affect THEIR bottom lines.
Hinesville, Georgia
I think its inevitable that gas prices are going to continue to go up and up and up until every last drop is gone. From the price of food to the cost of goods produced from oil – like plastics that are in just about everything, the increasing costs of oil will cause hardships that will affect almost everyone in North America excpet the super rich.
And yet none of our leaders, elected or soon to be elected are speaking strongly enough about ending oil companies reign on our lives. Bio fuels are not the answer – they are a short term solution. We need to get serious about cutting off our addiction to oil. Zero emission technology in the automobile industry would be a good start. North America is going to get left behind unless something radical is done to invest in our future – and soon!
I already at $3 per gallon go no where. I work from home and do all my calls now by conference call instead of going to the City where Business meetings are held. We have 5 cars with kids driving and I have cut their gas usage down as well. If gas at $4 per gallon we would start to take the bus or walk. We certainly do not now nor will we drive to the mall or shopping centers or anywhere else that needs to be driven long distances to. My oldest son is in college and I only let him drive home twice the first semester and once the second semester. It takes $90 to fill my SUV now. I would love to hop in my car and Drive to Florida to escape this miserable winter, but I will not do it. Exxon has made to much profits and I will not be giving them or Bush anymore of my money then I absolutely have to.
According to Reaganism it would affect me positivley. The energy companies would make more profit which would trickle down to me and make me richer. How could anyone refute logic like that?
It would have a major impact on many people who commute a long distance to work. Here in the greater DC area, we have many people who commute 50 miles or more every day to work because they can not afford close in housing. They would have to move in the City and face all its social problems because the commute would be more expensive than the housing price issue.
I already spend $100 a week on gasoline. If gas goes much higher, I will be eating dog food.
Here in the District of Columbia gas is already pretty high so a four dollar gallon wouldn't do much else to me except force me to invest in a better bike pump, three more pairs of long johns and maybe a new scarf. Also, I might get a little closer to asking my girlfriend to marry me (she drives a Prius).
I’m on a fixed income, and as anyone on a fixed income knows, there is no such thing; it is a constantly DECREASING income. So I can’t tell how much, but it will definitely affect me adversely, along with all the ripple effect we have experienced in the last few months.
Thank you for this question. We should be worri8ed about other things other than Obama and Clinton and McCain. It is going to hurt a lot of people. They have to pay high prices for gasoline tyo go to work for depressed wages. Gasoline prices, food priceshave goone through the ceiling and not one of these candidates have even address this situation. They are too busy pandering.
Nina
Maynard, Arkansas
Hi Jack. $4 a gallon gas will devastate me, my family, and most of my friends. Even now I find myself thinking what foods don't I need to buy (another mess all in itself) to fill the gas tank,
Unfortunately, it won't affect the upper class and they will continue driving the gas guzzling SUVs because President Bush gave them tax breaks.
I foresee a horrible, terrible future for this country, and only if people start waking up and demanding that Washington actually work for a living and work for the common citizens will we see any change.
I won't hold my breath.
Jack,Since im a retired steelworker and on a fixed income I guess it would make me more of a couch potato than I am now .This is a shame when foreign oil dictates the movemenys of our middle class people, thanks George for your non existant foreign policy.chuck
Higher gas prices have already affected my business; I have been passing it on to my clients and will raise those rates just as long as gas prices continue to increase. I hope what rhymes with the word recession dose not appear in any present or future generation.
Jack,
If were it only 4.oo a gallon gas, which by the way will ground me,, but as a 66 year old senior citizen I say we are being attacted financialy from all points,, bread ,, the price of wheat has rose 400%, corn products,, corn has risen 500%,, utilities have gone up because of the energy crunch,,,the only thing that has not gone up is these cheap ass shoe's I got at walmart, and we know where they were made,, and now my blood pressure is going up trying to keep up with all these giant increases and wondering what's next,,, well what the heck,, with Bush in the white house it's no wonder ,,the rich get richer, and the poor get hungrier.... DEL in rural Misouri
Its Supply and Demand – There wont be nearly as much Demand for high gas prices and the result will be a storage problem for the Oil Company's – Fact is, it cost MORE for them to store it than it does to sell it to you at a lower price. HOLD OUT AMERICA, THEY DONT WONT TO SIT ON THAT FUEL FOR LONG !! Curtail your driving and consolidate your trips because at the end of the day, the big oil companies dont really want you to conserve – they want to see how much they can get away with !
It would not effect me at all! I live in Egypt and pay about 80 cents per gallon, and they also have no income tax except for the very rich!
Let's see now. What life? Oh, you must mean the golden years where we now sit at home in the lap of luxury (NOT!) all day everyday waiting for the social security check to appear once a month?
Oh, yeah, and then by the time we buy gas, pay the monthly bills, go buy staples, such as milk, eggs and bread which rise in price by leaps and bounds from one day to the next, we are almost broke again, and find ourselves waiting again for the next check.
There is no entertainment, except for the tv, computer, and radio or stereo for music.
We are not poor, but we live within our means.
Makes me wonder how a person on minimum wage exists. Before he leaves the house his first hour of pay is almost gone baby gone. No wonder there are so many homeless walking the streets.
Mary from Florida
Jack, the news media has been very fair and balanced, with Hillary. Hillary has complained about and blamed a right wing conspiracy, for decades. Now she's decided the media is out to get her. Hillery should take responsibility, for her problems and not blame others. You can't play the blame game, when you're president. After last nights debate, I now support Obama.
dunno
Jack, $4/ gallon gas priced will devistate my family.
long overdue that we as world citizens pay proper prices ,would suggest raising tax on gas to audit & repair our nations infrastructure , LONG OVERDUE, DAVE.
I am retired so it won't affect me as much. But I do feel bad for the people that have to go to work everyday and have kids to take places.
Just like finding out I was pregnant at age 75 ! of course if I were no doubt could sell the story and be able to afford the higher price of gas and food.
Well since I am on the lowest rung of the ladder, it would affect mine greatly. At present I have cut out all unnecessary trips in my car so that I can put food on my table. Not only gasoline, but auto insurance costing $55.00 a month, and If gasoline goes to $4.00 a gallon, guess I will have to walk to my doctor once a month, but it is only about 5 miles one way. I already walk .6 mile to, and from my grocery store, and push my little cart to help carry my groceries (very few) back to my home. I remember when people ate dog food because they couldn't afford anything else. If things continue at the pace they are now, and nothing is done to slow it down, dog food may seem like a treat.
Hi Jack,
No one should be suprised when gas reaches $10 a gallon. The direction its going is pretty clear. America is a world leader in technological developments in space and military weaponry. Imagine if we concentrated our energies towards developing "green" technologies? We could be world leaders in this new technology. Not only would it protect our economy for the future, but we'd be doing our part to save our planet at the same time. Oil is the way of the past, the sooner we realise it the better.
Wayne Peltier,
An American citizen living in Canada
Let's see, that is about a 34% increase in one year. from $2.35 to $3.15 As a teacher, this might be okay, if my paycheck had increased the 34%–but it didn't. Think how difficult this makes it for those who work for low hourly wages and what the $4.00 will make all of us suffer.
Jack, out here in California gas is already $3.99 for a gallon of premium, & most of us here expect it to go up to $4.25 gallon for Easter vacation. I don't own a car Jack, but, I do take taxi's when I go shopping & I can tell you the drivers are PO'D. They've gotten a rate increase, it's now $2.50 just to get into a cab & $.20 for every quarter mile, but, drivers aren't making any money just because of the cost of gas. It takes a driver $70.00 just to fill their tanks for a day's worth of driving. And Exxon wants to get out of paying Alaska residents for the oil spill???!!!!??? Exxon is making enough to pay for that mess 10 times over!!! Oil companies need to get over themselves!!!
Patricia,
Palmdale, Ca.
IN MY AREA, FOOD PRICES HAVE ALREADY GONE UP 1/3 WITH $3/GAL GAS. AT $4/GAL I GUESS I WILL GET TO GO ON THAT NEW DIET EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT, THE STARVATION DIET. ANYONE KNOW ANY GOOD SOUP KITCHENS IN MY AREA?
Jack, that would mean 16.$ a day to get to and from work at 8.50 $ an hour.. the math is not hard..there goes the milk, eggs,bread, n so on..how do the candidates get to all there stops?how do they eat? oh the Millions that we give then, there all full of gas, n the worst is yet to come.
Jack,
Two word's, Mountain Bike.
Oh yes it will, it has a $3 a gallon. We have a race car and with the gas prices we just can't afford to travel even to the local track 35 miles away. We definitely won't be going on our 3 fishing trips this summer, while they are only 140 miles away $4 for fuel for our van, boat we just can't afford it. Looks like a boring spring, summer and fall.
Let's make sure the Oil Company CEO's are getting the multi-million dollar bonuses.
Would $4.00/gal gasoline effect my life? You bet it would Jack. I would need to get a second job. If I found it necessary to do that I would not be home to watch The Situation Room!
Here in Phoenix we are building a light rail system- better finish quick!
I'm going to change cars next year. My current vehicle is a sedan and will be ten years old by then. Gas prices at $4 a gallon will force me to shop smarter and I will choose a hybrid vehicle. When I look around at all these huge SUV's that people are still purchasing and driving I ask myself....do they even have a clue?
I'll have to stop doing so much charity work. You Know the old saying don't you, Jack," Charity begins at the pump."
When gas prices hit $3.50 per gallon let alone $4.00 per gallon I will be sitting home. No going to the Mall every so often. No buying gas for the lawn mower as I'll have plenty of time to cut the grass with a pair of sissors. One question I have is what was the time spam from when Cheney had his secret energy meeting to the time that gas prices started to climb. You can bet that Bush and Cheney will be laughing all the way to the bank with oil at over $100.00 per barrel.
It's hurting now I can't even begin to imagine what people will do what when it reaches $4.00 a gallon. Our gov't gives us extra money and tells us to go out and spend it. You'll have to put most of the money in your gas tank to even get to Walmart. Every time the cost of oil goes up the oil companies' profits go up breaking records. That just doesn't seem right. People are up to their eyeballs in debt. They cannot borrow any more money. If something isn't done to control the profits and the cost of oil in this country I am afraid we will see a lot of bloated bellies walking around not driving around.
It would only effect me in some minor areas of life, Jack, you know, like cutting back on "eating", "staying warm", or buying those luxury items like "prescription medications" that I have to have. Other than those minor things, I'm not effected at all, Jack.
It would give me an excuse for when I forget to buy gifts for birthdays and anniversaries, sorry I just filled up the car. . Heck I could use it as an excuse to skip reunions and going to the in-laws too. Gotta look on the bright side Jack.
$4 a gallon. I thought I already gave my pay check to the gas station. I think will walk to work now.
Jack, gas at $4/gallon will devistate my familie's budget. Exxon made $14 Billion, in profits last quarter and that is just plain obscene. It's way past time, for congress to put a price cap, on energy products. Corporate greed is out of control and someone, in congress, with stones needs, to stand up to them.
In terms of how I drive day-to-day, not much. Just a few months ago the cost was nearly $3.50 in California, so what's another 50 cents?
But where I expect that will have a real impact in my life and the lives of everyday Americans is in the trickle down effect regarding fuel. Namely, that if the cost of transportiation goes up, the direct cost of goods transported will also go up. Our dollar will be losing value while the cost of groceries, household items, business items, nearly everything will go up. Our GDP will fall so hard we may be discussing the possibility of a depression, let alone a recession.
I would LOVE $4.00 per gallon of gas. Today our gas here in Vancouver B.C. is $1.15 (cdn) per litre which is approx $4.35 per US gallon. Please bring on the savings!!!
It is going to have a tremendous effect on the economy and the all of the American workers. It will not only dig into your pocket book to get to work, but will effect food, clothing, healthcare......etc. How much more can the "camel" bear before the final "straw" breaks it? Corporate America is in a serious financial delemina, and they are going to make up the losses buy burdening the American people on a "major" necessity to earn a livelihood......gasoline.........and every component of the economy is linked to "fuel." I think I will get my bycycle ready.........not only it is cheaper to travel, but it is a health travel mode.
Canada We are paying 3.29 a gallon in central Prov. The price is much higher out east and west. We are the biggest supplier of oil to the USA , even bigger than the arabs. We pay more than you and we have plenty to be self sufficient, but we sell to you guys. Strange how this world of ours turns. Ray
I will drive as little as possible until we bring back a non-gasoline powered car.
Minneapolis
I live in the midwest it's not only high gas prices for us, but we are getting a double whammy. Our heating gas has sky rocketed this winter, I paid 1.80 for LP last winter and 2.20 this winter. You not only have to cut out everything except the necessities, you have to make the necessities last a little longer. I enjoy spending time with my 4 year old Beagle named Linus so that's what I'll be doing from now on. I sure what be out spending any money because I won't have any to spend.
Not much. I work at home. I would hope it would start to help convince a growing number of employers this is a viable alternative to long commutes.
PS. I would still not like it, but it would be much cheaper than what I paid in the UK about 1 month back.
Jack,
Let's put it this way... I sold my car and I am walking to work every day!
I am losing weight and I feel great! 4 or 5 or 6 dollars for me wont make any difference. I do feel sorry for the big truck owners!
If it were for a reason, (like us going green) I could understand, maybe. But with Exxon and Shell, etc, making multi billion dollar profits, well ya know they are just ripping us off! They're nickel and diming the little guy to death! Along with higher food prices( for poison) , and everything else. I'm lucky I don't have a big commute, I can't imagine the impact on those that do. It's a viscous cycle, drive farther ,to work more, to pay more bills. Is anyone really happy with that? God, this country is crying out for economic reform so badly it hurts!
No doubt the price of gasoline as it stands now is unbearable. And it the price goes up to $4.00 a gallon, it would become more unbearable not only for me, but for millions. The bottom line is --if this country don't do something yesterday to stop this surge in gasoline prices the entire country is going to suffer and suffer gravely. The powers that be know who is behind this matter, but no one is doing or saying nothing.
I don't like it but what can we do? Stop buying gas or ask for a gas voucher.
Not much, I can drive for two weeks on one tank of gas in a Corolla... Since I know that gas prices aren't going to weaken over the next decade, I purchased a car that would best take advantage of miles per gallon.
Maybe I'd lose weight. I could afford to put gas in the car to go grocery shopping, but once there would have no money left to buy food. But as long as big oil is rolling in dough, I guess that's all that counts.
This country is going down Jack! Osama Bin Laden is winning. We are so screwed and you are busy bashing the only candidate that could have helped! CNN has pounded Hillary Clinton Daily and she will probably loose to Obama now! Hope your happy with your choice. Soon that show Jerico may become reality. Obama hasn't got a clue and it will drive a wedge in this country and the Republicans will have what they wanted all along.
But you guys wanted Obama! 5 dollar a gallon is close Jack and it will close this country down! you better start reporting on the DO NOTHING BUSH ADMINISTRATION!
Jack, $4.00 a gallon would prevent me from visiting friends as much as I would like!
We are a middle income family, but the increase in gas won't affect us much. However, we haven't ran up our credit cards with stuff we can't afford, we aren't driving the newest SUV on the block, and we bought a house within our means, not the exorbant amount the bank said we were pre-approved to buy. We would expect this to hit the minimum wage earners hard, but if it is seriously affecting anyone making a reasonable living, than we have worse problems than high gas prices.
It would be nice if higher gas prices would be a catalyst for solving our nation's energy problems and making people more energy conscious, but, more than likely, people will go with 'business as usual'. – Alexandria, VA
$3.00 a gal have hurt all of us on limited income. We retired don't get a raise. When milk,bread,and eggs cost $12.00. Thats a lot for us old people, living in small towns. But JACK I don't know what it will take for the young people to wake up. The parking lot at school is full of suv"s and great big pick-up trucks. I think the people from overseas will crash the (USA) this year, They hate (BUSH) so much that they will do anything to see us go under. (MAY GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY)
Jack
I could afford to pay $4.00 per gallon gas if I give up every not absolutely neccessary for my family . Begin to grow my own vegetables and work 10 days a month from home.
Dave Duncan, Stone Mountain Ga.
It would not . Being from Canada and paying a lot more makes me wonder what all the fuss is about here. And Great Britain pays double what Canadians do. Perhaps car makers will pay more attention to fuel efficient vehicles now and consumers will do more car pooling as we did in Canada. Its not like we did not know it was coming.
I hope it keeps going up higher and higher. Eventually we will be forced to get serious about alternative energy. A nice bump in the gas price would be a good motivator.
It'll affect me if I decide to fly somewhere... I haven't had to fill up my hybrid gas tank in a month because I take public transportation for everything but long road trips.
Well, I would say I'd be forced to take public transportation, but that's not an option. Despite living in my state's capital city, on a major street just 6 miles from my office, there's no bus that stops anywhere near where I live. I'm forced to drive and sit in traffic for up to an hour each day.
So, $4 per gallon would only piss me off and make me want to move to Mexico.
Already has! My driving has been only for necessities, e.g, groceries. I've gained weight, feel like hell, and the only saving grace is my dog...he "exercises" me. I can't wait for the weather to warm so I can hop on my Triumph.
Nothing Jack as long as the Bush tax cuts remain in effect, I'm an independently wealthy Republlican. Just kidding. I'm retired and we will not be able to see our grandkids as often, or take the wife out once a month, so what, we still have our freedom and can go get a job, maybe flipping burgers. Sounds like fun, want to join us. Darn, I only wish I had 50,000 shares of Exxon.
After reading this article I am feeling much less inclined to purchase the new $45k SUV I test drove last night. It's current EPA is 15 city 19 highway (22 gallon tank) If gas were to hit $4 per gallon that would really add to the expense of this vehicle. I like having a large SUV but it may be time to re-consider whether it's really worth the extra cost.
Yesterdays report from the University of Michigan on consumer confidence showed that confidence slipping lower than it has ever been before. This is one of the indexes wall street uses to predict the economic health of this country and which direction our economy is going. More of the leading economic prognosticators are predicting a recession than ever before. As gas prices rise causing grocerys and building supplies and every thing else that is produced and delivered to rise these prognoticators will stop predicting an impending recession and be talking depression instead. Ask grandpa and grandma the impact that had on their youth and you'll understand how these things will effect all our lives
Like anything we have to deal with it – Did you read the article on CNN about our credit card debt – Well that is how america is making their wages stretch – Just like the war – put it on my tab
the bush administration is all about oil and fattening themselves up for the hibernation period which will follow the november elections. bush, cheney and rice have made such good friends overseas that countries either want to raise the price of oil to recover some of the money we owe them or just shut us off. where's all the iraqi oil to help pay for the war and reparations ? it's a proven fact that george w bush would lie if the truth worked better.
Jack,
What everyone has to realize is this. The oil companies and their political hacks don't care how it affects any of us. The oil companies will make even more obscene profits than they are making now. That's all they care about.
Hopefully it will have a positive effect and get all the SUV's off the road and then I could see down the road again.
I'll just buy me a horse. They're more ecological, plus I can get new models without having good credit, or any for that matter.
Ahh, that Prius we bought is looking better all the time. Eat your hearts out Humvee drivers. We need to quit burning so much gas for numerous reasons: global warming, balance of payments, someday we're going to run out. Unfortunately, the only thing that seems to make Americans conserve is price, certainly not concern for the environment or the economic absurdity of sending all our money to Middle Eastern countries. I only wish that we had a sensible energy policy: subsidize alternative energy R & D, not oil companies (and not ethanol). It would be much better if the high cost of gas were due to taxes that were used to foster and develop alternative energy sources rather than due to record oil compatny profits (who still get subsidies from our tax dollars!! Oh, but look who's in the White House).
Take a trip over the border to Canada. Gas is already over $4.00 a gallon. In our family we have learned to purchase more fuel efficient vehicles and cut back on wasteful, repetitive trips for running errands; we carpool for work when we can and carpool for the children's activities. It's all about getting your ducks in a row and planning ahead. And by the way, there is still plenty of money left over for our mandatory healthcare system. Maybe another reason to look North for advice.
It means fewer visits to see my grandbabies who live less trhan 20 miles away because grandpa can't afford the gas. Or mommy, who's a single mother working at minimum wage, because she will not be able to spare the extra money for gas to bring them to grandpa.
Thank you OPEC, Exxon, Shell. I know what we could do without you.
Ern, Turlock,Ca.
It will obviously increase my cost of living. Its high time our government leaders get very serious about alternative energy.
Sweden has a plan to be the world's first oil-free economy and they expect to break their dependence on fossil fuels by 2020. And they don't plan to do it by building nuclear power stations.
America can do this too (maybe not by 2020 ) if we are willing to make the right changes and maybe a little sacrifice on the way.
What a better future we could leave our heirs.
It's already affecting me Jack! My gas bill already went up $75 and I was cutting back because it was already too high!
Julie, NY
How would 4 bucks / gallon of gasoline affect my life?? Well about as much as a $8.00 can of beer, a $20.00 cigar and a $50.00 lap dance.
$4.00 to drive to the atomosphere that allows me to open my wallet and allow me to enjoy the finer things of life like that of my elected officals in D.C. is a bargin indeed.
My husband and I own 21 ice cream trucks that sell treats to children in the neighborhoods. Five years ago, we had a profit of $30,000 annually (with only 15 trucks). Profit has gone down steadily ever since. Last year, we broke even due to the gas costs. This year, we will probably lose the business.
Gasoline at $4.00 per gallon would be tough, but heating oil in that range would be catastrophic. Much of our driving is elective. Heating one' s home to a reasonable temperature and providing domestic hot water is not.
We should stop harping about the cost of gasoline and stop driving monstrous SUVs and huge pick-up trucks (not used for business purposes). Our teenagers should stop driving cars to high school. These steps would easily reduce the US gasoline use by 20%.
We are spoiled beyond belief in this wonderful country!
Just another nail in the coffin, buddy. Like most people I know, my income has not changed much in the last seven years. But everything else has. Insurance premiums, property tax, food, heat bills, etc, etc. Although my family is better off than many, we are still stretched to the limit. Sometimes beyond the limit. We are finally taking Suzie Orman's advice, and only buying what is absolutely necessary. The middle class has been blamed for not saving enough, and then for not spending enough. The thing that is really frustrating is that it did not have to be this way. We did not have to go to war, we did not have to give tax cuts and billions in subsidies to corporate America. The Neo-cons chose this path for us and we let them. While the" watchdog "media was keeping track of celebrity meltdowns.
I see a lot of people are paying $90 a pop to fill their SUVs, they have *5* cars in their household, and think gasoline is as readily available as water in the Pacific. Well, I HOPE AND PRAY that $4 a gallon gasoline will make people think twice about buying an SUV and having 5 cars in their household. I guarantee if they drove a vehicle that got more than 15 MPG, then $5 per gallon wouldnt be so bad. Folks, we are paying $5 because the oil companies know we will pay it. People, take a good hard look at yourselves, sell your SUVs, start a carpool, and ride the train if you can. WAKE UP!
It will affect everyone's wallet because inflation will rear its ugly head due to rising shipping costs that are passed onto the consumer at the retail level. But, the falling dollar is a huge problem that ties into this as well. One hope is that our European friends will come here and spend their Euros on our "cheap" goods. The war in Iraq has affected us far beyond the thousands of people who have died – huge debt, weak dollar, higher oil prices. Just another example of Nero fiddling while Rome burns. We are truly the pigs of the planet.
Thousand Oaks Ca
Well people don't want another Clinton in the white house but they want a muslin in there, and when Obama puts his hand over his heart during the National Athem then and only then I might vote for him maybe.
It would not surprise me one bit! Could even get worse than that. Personally,the price of groceries would go up because of trucking.Also clothing,home heating,airline tickets and you name it. Soon our dollar will be like Germany's fiat money after WWII. In 1993 one Euro was worth 90 cents. Today the Euro is $1.40something to our one dollar. Foreclosures,repossessions of cars,etc. America is already in a recession and coming close to a depression. Well,anyway Jack, I guess I'll have to travel less,keep the house cooler,and practice portion control while living the American Dream!
If someone would invent an engine that ran on hot air,we would never run out of fuel from all the stuff coming out of Washington,D.C.
Not much. I drive a fuel-efficient car and have chosen to live near where I work and shop and I commute by bicycle. What driving I do is infrequent, only what's necessary and usually on the highway. Ask the same of someone who bought an SUV, a house in that new subdivision five miles out of town and doesn't think twice about running into town just to pick up a gallon of milk.
For all you complaining about even higher prices in other countries you need to look at your monetary value compared to the US. Our dollar is weak and continues to drop. Did you forget about exchange rates? Next time you buy a magazine look at the bar code where the price is. The price for that magazine is usually a lot more in Canada then in the US because you have a different currency!!!!
The combination of high gas prices sucking up all of our discretionary income and the oil companies reporting earnings higher than any company in history, could cause a major political shift. For the first time, I understand why some countries turn to Socialism. When companies have so little reguard for the people and such a negative effect on the lives of ordinary citizens, maybe it's time to show these companies who runs this country. Of course I jest, the oil companies know they run the country. With their money and influence, they can do anything they want.
This would affect me greatly. I am a Sales Rep., so I drive all day long. I don't think my company will be in a hurry to raise my mileage expense, so it looks like it is going to cost me to go to work.
This is horrible, and are supposed to be the greatest country in the world?????????? Whatever!!!!!
Jack, I guess will use an old form of transportation: my feet! Hey, walking, is one of the best forms of exercise. There are many places that are close to my house; such as, the supermarket, a conveinent store, and the drug store.
Although gas prices will break my budget, at least I can get something positive out of it.....losing weight!
Paying $4 a gal, well, what choice do we have but to pay it. How out of touch all of those people who sit in Washington really are. Think about it, how many of them even pump their own gas to know what the current prices are.
Just take my pay check now!
Cambridge, MA
It affects where I choose to work. The jobs I accept now must be 50% closer than they were a year ago. Energy costs are a killer. This country must get serious about alternative energy sources. Detroit must also be dragged, kicking and screaming, into energy alternative solutions. If not, foreign competitors will put them out of business forever.
Jack, what else can you do but pay it? I mean, the short sighted politicians in Washington, who are on the take from big oil, knew this day was going to come over 30 years ago and did nothing about it then, so we can now pay their ignorance now. Perhaps we can send President Bush back over to Saudi Arabia and have him beg then for cheaper oil. Or we can get off our duffs and walk to Washington and demand accountability from our government.
Jack,
It would dramatically change my lifestyle since my income is NOT goping up accordingly. I would travel less, buy less, and try to hold down costs for heat and electric all which will escalate with the cost of oil.
Jack
Honestly, as a retired couple, on a fixed income, my husband and I would go out less, travel less, and just stay home.
While I believe we definitely have to cut consumption, $4 a gallon would be crippling. We live in Pasadena, TX next to Houston and have no access to public transportation. Houston's is marginal at best.
Numbers: My wife and I live 7 miles from work, work at the same place, own one small SUV that gets 20+MPG and a motorcycle with 40+. We still spent about $250 last month on gasoline and we are not heavy drivers.
Rising prices make even the rare out of town trip cring-worthy. We are careful to consolidate trips, use cruise control, maintain our vehicles, and not make too many frivolous drives. (if you consider meeting friends for dinner frivolous) I don't know how people that must drive farther and who need more than one vehicle can do it.
We've adjusted conditions our variables about as much as possible over the last few years to save money on gas, both for financial and environmental reasons. With the recent rise of the last 6 months we are flat stuck. I know we are better off than many parts of the country as well.
How will it effect my life? I guess I'll be buying shoes by the dozen now.
Is anyone ever planning to retire? I mean come on... Gas, food, medical bills.... I'm making small changes like eating out less and taking my lunch to work more and driving a little slower to work in the morning. Still, I see these bubba's driving small cruise ship sized vehicles much faster than I'm driving. I guess they have 2 jobs...
4 dollars nationwide average? It's $3.59 now. Well living here on the north coast of california we pay 50 cents above the national average. So I guess the question is what will 4.50 cents a gallon mean. More belt tightening I guess. I will be down to a size zero soon.
The $4 / gallon gas prices wil affect my life by paying more for gas and transportation, as it will for most Americans. But at the same time, what else will motivate the American people to put down the chips, get off the couch and do something about it? The rest of the world, places like Europe and Canada, pay much more, and therefore forces them to find ways to conserve and look for alternative fuels. In the U.S., with the prices remaining relatively low, we continue to buy huge gas guzzling SUVs and don't hold our government officials accountable for increasing fuel conservation tactics and funding alternative fuels. Jack, it's simple economics 101 if we want things to change...
can ya say depression!!! honest people had better bolt, chain, lockup anything of value cause theft is gonna go through the roof. get ready to barter with anything you dont really need. this could be the end of the dollar as this country ends up in bankruptcy, but we the middle class will survive somehow, but it is gonna be fun watching the rich go down. hope it was worth all of the greed!!!!!!
HI Jack we here in Canada would love to pay $4 per gallon as we are now paying $5.31 albeit our gallon is larger and measured in litres @ $1.18 and rising. We also have regulated gas pricing but the oil companies can move them around a bit and raise them or lower them once a week.....silly I know but hey Jack that's how oil companies operate. Oh by the way Jack some companies will not accept American money, because the gas companies could loose on the exchange rate, these clowns do not miss a trick.
David
Dartmouth NS
I'll move to a tropical island and ride my bike.
If Obama & Clinton want to renegotiate the NAFTA agreement they might want think about where the majority of US oil imports come from. Negotiating is a two way street.
Not a lot. I live in a town that is often listed as the highest in the nation. We have already adapted. I walk to the store when the weather is nice. We drive efficient cars. We'll just carpool and combine more errands. Get a bicycle if you don't like it. Americans are just a bunch of whiners.
I bet the gas-guzzling SUV owners are going to be pissed. Ha!
I bought a diesel truck because at the time fuel was $.25 less than gas. The truck isn't even out of warranty and now diesel is $ .60 more than gas and in my area quickly approching the $4.00 mark. This means the motorhome and skiboat will be parked more than it is run. Imagine, it takes $ 20 just to cut my lawn.
Yes Jack I could quit my job because I could not aford to drive back and forth, fast food dont pay that much. I admit it would give me more time to watch you....but then who would pay the bills, oh well guess I can find something else to give up... let me get back to you on that , it may take me awhile to figure out what else I can give up.....
Jack:
The answer is easy. With all of the technology that exists today, I would bet 50% of us could work from home. Think of the impact that would have. The oil, insurance, and automotive industries would all colapse because of the sharp decrease in demand. Rush hour would be a thing of the past. The average American would then have a lot of extra cash to spend on Chinese imports.
Jack,
It means I'm going to have to cut down on the leisurely drives and cut in other areas. That seems to be a no brainer. The really unfortunate thing is that the oil company's have us in a vice and there is nothing we can do about it
I am retired and drive a '07 Toyota Yaris.....less than $15,000 well equipped. I get 38-40 mpg and sometimes over 40 on long trips. I purchased it because my son lives 400 miles away. I'll still visit once a month even if gas is expensive as long as it is available. I may curb my local driving even at 40 mpg.
Jack,
The high price of gas makes me wonder how much money President Bush and evil Dick, plus thier family members and friends with oil stock holdings, are going to pocket... Oh I don't drive.
C.I., New York
Please, Jack, explain to me why I have to continue struggling with my finances and tightening my budget so I can afford to put gas in my car and food on my table while Congress spends my tax dollars to investigate drug use in a silly sport. I would think they have better ways to spend their substantial budget, like forcing the oil companies to lower gas prices. Then again maybe Congress doesn't want to tick off their sugar daddies
Gas is 14 cents a gallon in Caracas, Venezuela. I kid you not. Let's nationalize OUR oil industry!
I'd be disappointed if it only goes to $4 a gallon. It needs to go to at least $5 a gallon for this country and our leaders to finally wake up, organize a sincere and massive effort to get us off of foreign oil (like Brazil did), capitalize on truly great alternative energy options (solar, wind, hydrogen – forget ethanol!), and rid ourselves once and for all of foreign dependency for our energy needs, not to mention the billions of dollars we send overseas – much of it to people who don't like us and some of whom actively plot against us!
On second thought, I want to see it go to $6 a gallon or more – because I believe we need that kind of "pain" to move to true action and beyond the hot-air, alternative energy PR baloney we're hearing from our politicians today!
My car is already a compact. I guess I will have to cut out all the trips to the inlaws, please inform David from Natchez.
I would give my eye teeth to get fuel for only $4 per gallon! The weakness of the dollar is compounding an already higher base price, so that I am up to about $7.50 per gallon!
Quit your belly aching and take the freaking bus! Trade in that gas guzzling SUV and get a Hybrid! Share a ride with someone else! Park the car and walk or get a bike!
Give me a break. $4 is a half-price sale!
Paying through the nose in central Europe.
My guess would be it won't affect most people here in the great state of Texas. A booming metro area the roads are always full.
As for me and my family we will suffer, but when this whole economy collapses ( as it's sure to do) we will have nothing left to lose. So, bring it on!
Jack, has the news media been unfair,? Hell NO! Hillary jumped into the Presidential Race early after being courted by every news organization that had a camera and mike. Then when she made her move she was on TV morning, noon and night getting full coverage and shot to the top of every poll know to mankind. Heck Jack she was beginning to talk about being President in her soupy silly ways, then. "Along came Jones"....well Obama and as y'all say there is a new Sheriff in Town and the town's foke came out of hiding feeling a sense of joy and excitement. And dat old pal is not the fault of the news media. Hillary may have seen a light at the end of the tunnel too soon, because on closer inspection it was a train, the Barack Obama Express!
Jack; $4/gal gasoline? Drive less. Cut necessities. Watch oil corp. profits soar and gape at the multi-million dollar bonuses the oil CEOs grant themselves. Watch the oil PACs fund their minions in the federal government. Envy the top 10% of our population who own 90+% of the wealth as they enjoy the best money has to offer: health care, education, financial security, grand homes, etc.
But 4 is not the top. We will see $10/gal.
People don't have a clue. Waging a war, without raising taxes. Inflation will help pay for Bush's war. Inflation robs Social Security. An 8% inflation rate, while SS gets 2.3% COLA is stealing from retired people.
Did you know that beer was once and on average a penny a glass, yes, inflation is a funny thing isn't it.
I own a penny from 1919, and I wonder who's work was it that first earned that copper penny? And now about those air miles...
In the 1800's to adjust for inflation they just reduced the amount of silver a coin contained, or they just make the coins smaller in total metal weight, but now, and with national currency markets, global exchange rates, complied interest calculations, and morgage premiums... I know that the air is getting thicker and hotter but the overall amount present in this earth hasn't changed; its just with more people we each have a smaller portion to exploit to its ruin, and its getting harder to find those unspoiled reaches to exploit these days, but at least their is still China with to many people to ever reach equality with the west they can still offers national-by-populous discounts for all the useless X-mas knick-knackery we consume.
It is true that the amount of gasoline easily accessed from the face of the earth is diminishing at an exhausting rate, but that will just press alternative means of delivery, transportation, and revolutionize lifestyles, or it will cripple us.
But as we all know Might is right, so the rancher with the gun will still own his lands until the day someone pulls that gun from his cold hand and takes the posession of it from him.
Greed verse the sanctity of the earth, and greed will always win.
Yet it seems with all this carbon in the air, and with vast and deserted open spaces on the many equatorial zones, with a bit of inginuity and a little time, effort, supplies, and patients, and lastly with a bit of desalinated ocean one could return a bit of life to the earth paying the debt we owe the compound life interest which was over millions of years placed in oil instead of building yet another palace we will never visit, or building a new city without an oil-alternative supporting industry.
It will hurt. In MN they just overrode the governor's veto FINALLY (he had also vetoed a bill last year that would have raised taxes I believe on people making more than $200,000 a year – with Bush cutting out aid to the states and states cutting out aid to the counties, we end up with huge increases in property taxes!!) and for the 1st time in 20 years, our gas tax will be increased. Yes it will hurt, but I try hard to be smart about driving (grouping errands, etc) and you must remember the bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis last year? The gas tax will go to improving our roads and bridges.
I am not retired, but I have not had a raise in 5 years and in fact, I make less than I did 2 years ago. And all my other expenses keep going up (besides property taxes, my heating bills have killed me this season). But I favored this tax because something must be done about the roads and bridges.
Of course, didn't Bush say we would end up with cheap oil if we invaded Iraq? He wouldn't lie.
Gas prices at $4.00 a gallon will not affect me much. I have 3 vehicles and decided to use the one that gets the best miledge. MASS TRANSIT!
Inflation is a scary thing. And gas going up a dollar in the last year should be a huge red flag. But it isn't because Washington uses different math than the rest of the world. It is common sense if gas and groceries, and health care are rising at ridiculous rates, and we are lucky if we get a 2% raise (which IS the average here in Cleveland) that we can not keep up with these costs of living. Especially since this discrepancy has been occurring for over 20 years. Also keep in mind most people complaining are spending way to much because self-indulgence is out of control. However, I am complaining about not being able to keep up with inflation from the point of view of someone who is trying to control spending, buying a 4 cylinder Honda, trying to save, etc. The problem I have is that costs have gotten so out of hand, I can hardly save anything, let alone try to pay down some credit card debt.
Jack,
It would get me in better shape because I would start riding my bicycle to work. This time of year that would not be bad, but in the summer months when it is over 110 degrees in the desert, my co workers may not like it.
Jack,
Tax all these companies that have moving billboards that just burn up millions upon millions of gallons of gas each year. Cancel all non-essential congressional and executive travel, that is paid by tax-payer dollars; or make the leaders pay for it out of their own pockets.
Essentially, this do-nothing government we have in office is laughing all the way to the bank, which they've probably taken their profits and bought additional shares in energuy or gold to maximize their profits. Their foreign policy stances are driving the American public into the poor house quicker than Lindsay Lohan rehab visits.
It's only a matter of time before I start drinking the gasoline since we cut our home expenses already to the bare minimum...buckets to reuse water, burn sewage and trash for heat, 20 pairs of $3.99 sneakers to walk everywhere, five sets of replacement wheels and two jars of grease for the radio flyer, an axe to cut firewood....back to the Stone Age.
If it were 4./gallon, it would take me two to three hours of work to earn enough to pay for a tank, (10 gallons)..right now, it takes me a little over an hour...so I would be working for less money, and probably spending less on going out to movies, buying clothing, and probably making more food at home...ouch.
Jack I drive a Cadillac Escalade, a Hummer H3 , a Winnebago Motor Coach... Gas Prices are the last thing on my list... just remember the Dinosaurs died for our civilization to live and be happy.
Vinnie Boom Batz , Sandy Hook NJ
I've long thought that Americans have it too good (born and raised in NY -by the way). Gas has always been very expensive elsewhere. While I make a great salary, don't buy on credit unless I can cover it when the bill comes in, drive a 4 year old vehicle, love my job, and have a short commute (7 miles)- I would prefer to commute by bike (mass transit is not available until I am half way to work). Unfortunately, I have a professional position and would need a shower, but my employer is not making that possible- I've asked.
When gas is $4/gallon and more people need (not want) to commute by bike, then I might be able to find a shower nearby.
I have already prepared to turn an old bike into my grocery store/ errand runner. When the drivers realize that bicycles aren't going away and are likely to be more prevalent on the roads so SHARE THE ROAD, then I'll be in heaven!!
If we can look into cleaner/natural fuel, I will pay more than 4 bucks.
Unitl then, I will just have to cut costs other places to fill my tank.
–
Denise
Louisville, KY
I`m so poor, that`s like asking how the cost of Polo Ponies will affect me. When you already don`t have any extra money, it really dosn`t matter how much extra, extra money you don`t have.
How would gas prices of 4.00pg (or more) affect my life? Where should I start, Jack? As a Disabled Veteran on a fixed income it ain't hard to do the math. Whatever "disposable" income I have will be spent paying another 50.00 a month for Propane to cook the food that will cost me another 2.00 per pound...over 5.00 a gallon for a glass of milk to wash it down...I'll have to grow my own vegetables, never turn a light on during the day...mow my property once a month....and request my appoinments at the VA Hospital be changed to once every 6 months because I can't afford the 60.00 that gets me the 1/2 tank of fuel to get there and back! Maybe I won't be able to afford new tires so my vehicle will pass inspection this year....or paint anything...or buy new "skivvies" or socks!! Or be able to save anything toward the 4 tons of coal I will need for next winter!! I guess I'll just "Suck it Up" and get by like Americans always do!
What I don't understand, in Canada we pay more for a gallon of gas than you do in the US. We are able to produce enough oil to meet our demands plus send our excess to the US. So why are we paying more than our Yankee brothers for the same product? As a side note, we also supply more oil to the US than Iraq currently does.
This Bush#43 ain't no Texas Tea man for nuttin! Uh ! , Uh ! , Uh!
It will affect many of us with paying over $40 average for a car and prob go to over $80 for me. I think it's time we switch to a new alternative that can be cheap like gas was in the 80's and 90's. Like the saying, out with the old and in with the new.
We live where gas prices are higher than the average national price. We bought a Hybrid last year. The little thing gets more than twice the mileage of our previous car ( a six cylinder infinity). Four bucks a gallon isn't that far away. Divided in half, I suppose now we can afford it, but it isn't easy to swallow. I've been retired for a number of years, but am thinking of going back to work just to pay for the gas & electricity bills. We're all going to hell in a handbasket!
My Cardio-Vascular system is going to benefit due to fresh air and exercise.
Jack,
The question should be not how it WOULD affect my life but how it WILL affect my life. For most people the only effect will be less disposable income with no change in gasoline consumption; for me it means I will vote for someone who pledges to reduce the 25% tax on gasoline. That in itself could reduce the price from $4/gallon to $3/gallon. The American public doesn't seem to realize that when prices for gas and real estate outpace inflation, the associated taxes take a larger and larger share of our income.
Jack,
I guess I will have to walk to work at my job in the auto plant.
Anyone ever heard of public transportation? It's funny, but other countries seem to manage and their oil prices are much higher than ours. Take the bus!
I am really getting tired of people telling us that we have the lowest gas prices in the world. Why is it one of the lowest? Maybe because we don't pay socialist taxes on gasoline like many of our friends in other countries. Our country actually does produce some of our own oil, could this be why our gas is cheaper? For the most part, maybe not in every case, look at the sizes of the countries who have higher gas prices. Many times they don't compare to the size of America. For companies who ship across the United States the price of gas is a hard hitter. Oil companies post highest yearly earnings ever recorded and is explained as money which needs to go back into R&D. I'm sorry my friends, we are all pawns in this game. A hint of bad news makes prices go up, seriously, why do we fall for this scam? Because we HAVE to. On a personal note, what I notice about the effects of gas prices on myself is I now take my lunch to work, instead of eating out daily. I catch myself asking whether or not I really need to drive somewhere when the need arises. Is this affecting the economy? I know I'm not the only one doing this and I am categorized as a high-middle income family so.........
Jack
i drive a gas hog by green thumb standards.. my carbon footprint is
bigger than paul bunyon's supply and demand baby... if you can't
pay the dime... don't do the crime..
Dr. Hugo Quackenbush , Rahway , NJ
I, along with the whole country, would lose weight! This would cause people to stop buying dollar menu items from fast food franchises throughout the day. Thank you Bush for allowing me to lose weight! America appreciates it.
Hey Jack,
How would 4 bucks a gallon affect me?
Let me borrow a line (from you) without plagiarizing:
It's getting ugly out there.
Let's do the Math, Jack!
Two family members commute to and back from work five days a week. That's a total of about sixty miles a day. Therefore, roughly:
3 gallons/day, 5days/week = 15 gallons/week
$1 cost extra/gallon = $15 extra/week
That's $60 extra expense/month
Add "Stagflation" to the equation and the value of your hard earned dollar takes a very sharp nose-dive! I bet you ExonMobil is loughing thier way to the bank! Way to go oil profiteers!
Mo
Davenport, Florida
When asked before Bush was elected how he would handle raising gas prices he said he had "conections" and would hold prices down. Gas has nearly tripled on his watch I guess this is what he meant.
If the media would quit telling us to get ready for higher prices maybe people would be more upset.
It is a total rip off.
The comments I've read thus far are pretty much on-point. The rising cost of energy is rapidly causing financial crises for most Americans. Posts about our lower costs than Canada and Europe are on-point as well.
What needs to be addressed, by Congress and other branches of the Federal Government, are the INSANE profits the large oil companies have posted, the HIGHEST profits EVER experienced on Wall-Street.
I understand that companies by their very nature are vested in making profits. But the profit-levels of the past few years are wholly UNJUSTIFIABLE at the expense of everyone else (we're all hostages of oil energy in many ways). Combine these profits and then add INSULT TO INJURY by the fact that big oil gets MILLIONS in financial breaks and subsidies annually!
It's a no-brainer. Big oil's various financial breaks, subsidies and other publicly funded benefits need to be REMOVED, and TODAY!!!
Jack,
Four dollars a gallon???? Now I have to decide if I can afford to go to work ! My personal cost of living is at a breaking point. I need relief Jack, seed Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It would affect everyone except the heads of the oil companies which are sticking it to the American people. It's a damn shame that our government can't put some controls on them when they are reaping record profits. Guess the Bush family has to much interest in the oil industry .
Not a ton, as I am at home in the summer with my kids, and during the school year I only live about 5 miles from work. However, we were planning to take a family vacation this summer (we've only taken one out-of-state trip in 11 years, all other vacations have been within a 2-3 hour drive). We want to go farther this summer, though, so I'll need to start saving more in order to pay for the gas. My plan WAS to vacation without putting anything on the credit card...I guess we'll see how far that plan takes us!
Che'le-Texas – gas prices are affecting you because you are chosing to use the one with the best mileage. If the gas prices were lower would it be such a big deal? If you're a tree hugger then yes it may, but since you have three vehicles my guess is that you aren't.
It just keeps eating into what little we have left of our disposable income. One less trip to he movies a month, one less night out for dinner. I can't even imagine how these idiots who take the daily commute alone in the BIG SUVs can afford or justify it.
Entitlement is a narrow path to stupidity, people need to wake up to the benefits of a more green world.
Rockford, IL
It makes my 24 speed Schwinn look a lot more attractive!
Hollywood, FL
Hell no Jack! If anything the Media has been favoring Hillary and it is amazing that Barack Obama is doing so well. Look at all of the scandals that occurred during the Clinton Administration that the media seems to have forgotten about. (The Barret report comes to mind). Hillary has destroyed her own campaign. She seems to have an arrogant attitude that the presidency is owed to her because she is a Clinton. It is the Republican party that nominates people because they have a famous last name lie George W. Bush. Democrats nominate the best person that is available regardless of what family you are in. If Hillary wants to run with a famous name she should join the Republican party.
Jack-Citizens in the United States could be paying a lot more than $4.00 a gallon, so they should plan their driving.
Europe and Canada do pay more, and there should be no complaining in this country. Perhaps this will slow down the reckless SUV's who think nothing of breaking the law and terrorizing other drivers on the road!
Jack,
While an increase in gas prices would certainly be an inconvenience to me, it would not increase my transportation expenses significantly. Yet, I drive about only 40 miles a week. For others that have a much longer commute, I don't even want to imagine the crippling effects that it would have. What is ironic is that I remember a time when gas was less than a buck a gallon. What caused the increase? Maybe some idiot president's idea to go to war with an oil producing country to ensure our oil addiction would be satiated. It is unfortunate that he didn't realize that this kind of tactic would backfire. Lets hope that Obama will be able to correct the 8 years of failed policies and get us on the road to clean, energy independence.
Ross
Richmond, VA
If I were the CEO of ExxonMobil I'd be doing barrel rolls in my Learjet Bombardier while on my way to my 100 foot yacht in the Mediterranean, where I'd do several back flips. Since I'm not, I guess I'm screwed.
Why does the majority of government subsidies go to big business, corporate farmers and pharmaceutical companies. They get these subsidies and yet they show enormous profits. The pharmaceutical companies get money for research from the government, yet research costs are what they claim cost them so much. The Oil companies get huge subsidies and each quarter break previous record profits. You can talk to almost anyone on the street and they know this is not right. Are our politicians not smarter than the average American or they just don't care about anyone but the well to do. How much money do the rich really need? If the common worker can't pay their taxes, The government has no income. We all know the rich don't pay their fare share. I guess when it gets bad enough that We The People will find someone to rally us for an all-out nationwide strike, maybe some of our elected officials will get off their lazy butts and do their jobs for America instead looking out for their friends and own specially interest.
I'm retired living on SS and meager income. I have a over head camper that does 10 mpg. this tax refund would go to exxon so I can go within 300 miles of my home for a vacation. We people are no doubt done. The only thing you will see on the interstates are hummers and cadillac's. Just last year gas was under $1.50, thanks to this bush/cheney the old times are gone forever. Don't give me this England, France and Germany pay $5. a gallon. The United States and it's people are use to traveling. A loaf of bread $10. Dabu cam afford it. I give up!
Many complain about the oil companies for the price of gas, but the democrats say how they are going to tax their profits to pay for the wonderful socialist programs they have in store for us and I suppose they won't pass that cost on to the consumer. The environmentalists have every reason in the world for us not to become energy independent, so we might as well sit outside and watch the world come to an end then the whining and crying will finally stop for good.
Only in America: we all drive 2 ton SUVs with one person occupying them and then have the nerve to complain about high fuel prices. Forget $4 gas, I can't wait until it's $10 a gallon or more! Only when it is truly painful to go to the pump will Americans start to seriously consider energy alternatives and change our behavior accordingly .
Four times a year I drive to a small Mexican border town to purchase low-cost medication and other medical services. Having no medical insurance, I cannot afford to get medical services in the USA and have had to resort to getting assistance from a foreign country.
The round trip drive to Mexico one year ago cost around $40 in gas. Today it is twice that much. If gas reaches $4/gal, myself and thousands upon thousands of seniors who travel to Mexico and Canada will not be able to afford the drive to partake in low cost health services.
So there you have it. Thousands more who will fall into the cracks or end up living in cardboard boxes.
Joshua Tree
Here in Alberta, Canada our gas went past the $1 Cdn./litre mark for the first time about 18 months ago. Don't worry about converting it to USD per gallon – suffice to say your gas is still lower even at $4/g. My point is that as we hit the $1 everyone was spouting doom and gloom about mass unemployment, food tripling in price, and our economy collapsing. But as it turned out very little of that happened. The price of a loaf of bread or a carton of milk is still more or less the same as it was when gas was 10-20cents cheaper. And while the price of gas has encouraged more use of public transit, biking and walking (which is a good thing), the world hasn't come to an end and civilization hasn't collapsed. And that's not just here in oil-rich Alberta (where the myth is the streets are paved with gold and everyone makes 100 Gs a year) but it's also true in less-affluent areas of Canada, too. It's not a positive thing, but it isn't the end of the world, either.
I have seen a trend in the fluctuation in price. I see it increase it by a bunch and then if people complain, the price drops much less than it went up in the first place.... it is an insult to the American people.
Yes, the media has been unfair to Hillary and drooling over Barak. The reason you still consider her in the race after 11 losses is it's a ratings bonanza for the news outlets.
Let's face it, over 20 million people have voted democratic so far.
If Barak wins the nomination, where's the unity with less than a million separating the two?
I'd join the nationwide revolt that followed.
I would probably have to use a bicycle. I am greatful that I live in Arizona so I do not have to worry about heating oil costs! Food costs would go through the roof though. This definitely would be devastating.
It means I will have to hear more and more politicians popping off about how Exxon is recording record profits without those politicians realizing that every middle-class American that has a retirement fund is a shareholder of Exxon, that net income is calculated after taking into account the CEO's shockingly shameful salary, that Exxon's gross profit percentage is relatively low, that corporate profits create wealth and jobs for middle-class Americans, and that outrageously high CEO salaries is a systemic problem that needs to be addressed and is not unique to the oil and gas industry.
I have the solution and its been working fine for me so far. Move to a location near your job and also close to a store. For entertainment and shopping never leave your house. For $15 a month play an MMORPG online. Better,safer and cheaper than driving down to your local bar Do all your shopping online minus groceries. You'll save money for the day when you can afford the next generation 0 emissions vehicle. Gas bill doesn't affect me as much now with all these changes.
I really don't have time to answer you Jack...gotta turn off the computer and lights to save on the light bill.
As a teacher, I do not drive a lot during the summer anyway, so over the summer, it will not affect me too much.
However, I am spending $20 every four days now, and that only takes me from a quarter of a tank of gas to half.
I wish Congress would not have let those Oil Tycoons go a few years back. They are greedy and need to help out their fellow citizens.
I guess we are pretty fortunate at $3.15 a gallon for regular gasoline here in Boston,considering what the people in England pay.
Hi Jack;
$4.00 dollars a gallon you say...? why heck i don't know how i'd feel about that... you see i'm a senior citizen and i drive a green vehicle.. a rascal batttery powered mobility vehicle. you should see me and my pals at the nursing home... kick up the dust... yeeee haaaaaw...
Gus , Toad n the Hole , Arkansas
I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO THINK ABOUT DUBAI AND THERE DEVELOPMENT AS THE NEXT SUPERPOWER AND URGE US ALL TO STOP DRIVING ( OR MINIMIZE THIS FOR ONE MONTH) THEN WE CAN SEE IF WE CAN LIVE WITHOUT FOREIGN OIL. WALK, BUS OR RIDE BIKES FOR 4WEEKS OF YOUR LIFE IF POSSIBLE. SPEND THAT MONEY HERE AT HOME WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE GOES TO OTHER NATIONS.
ONLY THEN WILL AMERICAN SEE
It would be a bit difficult, but not so much as 4.00 heating oil! We have a diesel car that gets 50 MPG, so we've not been as affected by the gas crunch as most. My next project is to put together a 80 Mile endurance electric conversion car so we don't have to use fuel for local runs at all.
Jack, to be honest, I don't think I would be too concerned with $4.00 a gallon for gasoline. Reason? About a year ago when the prices were steadily climbing....I established in my monthly household budget, $5.00 per gallon. In September ;07 I drove from Brookeland to Las Vegas to attend a military reunion and the trip was well within the budget. Right now I still have $1.00 to play with.
Brookeland, Texas
It would be a great thing. In Europe gasoline has been more than $5 per gallon since World War II. That was mostly tax which was used for fine roads and infrastructure. It encouraged long distance transport by rail which is so badly needed here. And people don't drive gas guzzling SUV's and pickups. The only trucks you see are for local delivery. :Unfortunately in the U:.S. greed rules rather than long range planning.
Jack, gas prices are affecting everyone, especially our citizens on a fixed income. I am a single mother and personally, when the government talks about stimulating the economy, I groan and laugh at the same time. How can we go out and spend on unnecessary items, when we have to cut spending on groceries, clothes, food and especially medications??? Gas is going up daily, affecting prices of goods everywhere. So, yes, it will make a huge difference. But the government just thinks we will get used to it and move on, as it continues to rise. Remember when gas prices rose to $1.80/gallon? I almost lost it then and now we are relieved when it does down to the $2.75/gallon range. This is ridiculous and I want to hear some realistic discussion from the candidates about how we are going to get out of this mess? My son is 17 and I really feel for his generation. I just hope the government can get their heads out of the political quagmire and doing something right for this country.
Does the media really think that the public is soo stupid that they can't see their bias? The media is indeed attacking/sabotaging Hillary Clinton's campaign. We are not blind. What she said is true, the tougher questions were always directed at Hilary giving Obama an advantage. The media is more critical against Hilary and it makes us (the public) mad. Despite your efforts, she will carry most of the states. She will win the election. She is a better candidate. I would rather be operated on by experienced surgeon, I would feel better about doing business with an experienced accountant, I would feel better with a more experienced driver at the wheel, wouldn't you? Come-on now, play fair. The media should not play favorits. Is it so hard to believe a woman would make a good President? Obama may be a nice guy and be great at inspirational speaches but that does not qualify him for president. I don't believe he has what it takes (at present) to make a better president than Hilary!
Hi Jack,
You are a realist. Keep being that way
I used to love Hillary until she started being a big baby
I think the real Hillary is coming out.
She needs to leave Obama alone and grow up. She is only going to hurt herself by shooting negative darts at Obama.
She is one nagging person, who is desperate for a vote, and I sure
hope the American people wake up and vote for the right
person.
Helen, Boston, Massachussetts
Though I do not drive that much, the high price of gas is causing prices, in general, to rise, and this inflation is a tax on the poor who cannot hedge against it like rich people can.
This inflation tells me that the Republicans are guilty of a little fib, that they won't raise taxes. They cause inflation by irresponsible management of goverment finances, and the ensuing inflation is a tax, a tax worse than an official tax, since it is more insidous, it is a tax on the poor.
McCain, initially, was correct in opposing the Bush tax cuts, which favored the rich, without a concominant reduction in spending. This is a principle, as a democrat, that is (or, if not, it should be) close to our way of thinking. Tax cuts are fine, as long as they are done responsibly, which is something that the Bush administration has failed to grasp.
An ounce of tax cuts does not help the economy when there is a pound of inflation, not if you are unable to hedge against it.
Thaddeus Gadfly, San Diego CA
The media has been fair to Hillary Clinton. The reason it appears otherwise is because the country, reflected by the media, is excited about the fresh message of hope espoused by Barack Obama. I am not a democrat, but I am enthusiastic about Senator Obama's message of conference instead of confrontation. While we talk, our young men are not being killed nor are we killing.
When you hear Bush talk about this issue, he uses simple minded (imagine that) phrases like, we need to drive less, use less gas. Once again our politicians are so out of touch with real America. Real middle-class America is hurting, not because the boat or the Rv will be stuck in the garage this summer, or we may not be able to drive to Disney world. My husband works construction in the plants in La. He began in this industry in 1978. Today in 2008 he earns 5 $'s more an hour than he did when he started. Two factors figured into that a ridiculous bill that was passed many years ago called the right to work act. that basically killed the labor unions in this state. Don't get me wrong unions still exist, but there are no union jobs in the state. Second was NAFTA
I hope gas prices go to $10...even higher. That is the only way this country will get serious about solving the energy problem. What is desperately needed is an Apollo program level effort...and vision...to find an alternative to oil and fossil fuels. This effort should become a national priority in response to a global energy emergency, setting a goal of say 25 years for fossil fuels to be a thing of the past. Whether the answer is fusion, increased solar panel efficiency, increased battery efficiency, fuel cell technology, tidal, wind or whatever it is clear oil and fossil fuels are not the answer. If for no other reasons, these resources will run out and there will always be the haves and have nots. Our country should solve the energy problem and share that technology with the world...the environment and geopolitical world will be the beneficiairies. We have the smart people and the technological base to solve this problem. Give those smart people the mission and funding and they will make it happen? Where is the JFK to call for that? Kevin Price, Layton Utah
when they get to 3.50 then its time for cat bus,Look what bush is doin to us pretty soon this country is going under.even food is going up.Bush its time to get out of this war ,bring our troops home,how much you making out of all this mess your makin.as for this stimulus thing its not even going to make a dent want to help us the citizens make the checks start at say 20000 then ity start to help.I say its time for america to strike and/or time to impeach the whole capital hill.
look thats crazy how can the goverament i don't care i think america is going to need the democrats to get the gas drop the clintons had it low for us i bet with the democrats in the this race
jack i drive over a hundred miles a day across the mexican border and back so gas mileage and fuel costs are very important to me.
yes, $4.00 a gallon would be a hardship on me and my family of 10.
Pancho Gonzales , Truth or Consequences NM
Jack,
$4 a gallon should force people to change their modes of transportation, but it won't. We are stubborn and rely on the government to control gas prices. The government cannot control the world's output of oil. However, the government can control monopolies like ExxonMobile who made a fortune this year off of us, even more than last year's fortune, while the rest of the economy tanked. It will ultimately come down to each individual making an effort to be more effecient. A decrease in demand will result in a decrease in cost. After all, the Middle East doesn't want to lose all of its customers.
As a Canadian I have been following the primaries in the USA. It is very obvious to me and many others in Canada that the US media is mesmerized with Obama and have been treating him very gently. May be they don't want to accused to be racist. On the other hand journalist like Jack has been treating the Clintons with a iron fist. The US in many ways is a backward country. They are the only G7 country in the world that still has capital punishment and have not gone metric. May be it will take another 100 years before they have a women as a president.
4 dollars a gallon that I will need per week is a difference in putting food on the table and not going to school for the education I was going to get. I have already cut out a lot of things now it looks like I am going to have to cut my education. Maybe it would help to ask George Bush or Dick Chenny for a gas allowance, or how about a loan for my education. I would love to have about 1% of their stock in oil so I could afford everything I need and maybe some health care.
THAT IS ACTUALLY A MOOT POINT. WE, THE AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE LIKE PAWNS IN A GAME OF CHESS. WE'RE ONLY ALLOWED MOVEMENT, WHEN IT BENEFITS THE RICH OIL MAN, ONE OF WHICH IS GEORGE BUSH....
I would continue to do the same things I've been doing: share the ONE car that my husband and I own; buy local; take my own reusable bags for ALL shopping; turn off the engine instead of idling... Come on! It's time to wake up! Curb the lust for oil, people! We have to own up all of this too.
Americans will be working so they could get to work!
I'd like to be able to say I wouldn't drive, but we all know it's a lie. We're addicted to black gold and the only thing we can do to break that dependency is alternative sources of energy and higher fuel efficiency. Help me out Detroit.
This $4 a gallon will not hurt me. I drive a car that gets great mileage.
I live in Florida and have always wondered, why does a person living in Florida need to drive a hummer? You see them here all the time.
I drive fewer than 3,000 miles a year. Gas prices are not a big deal.
$4 gas is going to send me through the roof! Houston is a huge urban sprawl with a mediocre transit system. I would get nothing done without a car. By the way, What happend to the Electric Car? I swear that just got swept under the rug. Those vehicles actually worked and nobody talks about them anymore. Get me one of those!
These oil companies will keep bleeding us dry until the oil is gone and then find another way to stick us. Bio Diesel! HA! I am sure they will find a way to charge us an arm and a leg for that as well.
I have little faith Clinton, McCain, or Obama will doing anything to ease this burden in the long term, even if they try. Get used to watching those gas pump counters spiral out of control.
Americans have to start eat less, drive less, walk more and read more. What a wonderful world that is going to be!!! Finally we are going to have more educated people.
Jack This is insane! How much more can the oil companies gouge the average American? Where is the government stopping this? Where is the alternative energy sources? Thats another failure of George Bush that John McCain will follow.
States like Iowa, Illinois and Indaina are loaded with corn. Why are we not using ethanol at .50 a gallon?
Jack,
$4 gas means that every time I go fishing in my Olds Custom Cruiser, I better darn sure come home with enough fish to supplement our stagnated bank account.
Dale – Anadarko, OK
As a student living on Social Security Disability, I don't know if I could afford the 90 mile round trip commute everyday.
Since the rest of America is feeling the pinch on gas prices and our disposable income has significantly decreased, maybe it's time that the energy senior executives pay energy prices relative to their income and the increases they receive in salary and outrages bonuses. Maybe it’s time they pay $10,000 for a gallon of gas. Then again, knowing the agreements these executives have, they probably have free gas for life.
Jack, life is good. It would mean less traffic and that’s good. Do you realize how difficult it is to see those little cars from a big SUV. I am looking forward to when our roads are sold to sovereign investment funds and the tolls skyrocket, I will have the whole dam road to myself, can’t wait. Life is good.
To again paraphrase the NRA, "They will have to pry the steering wheel of my SUV from my cold, dead fingers". This unfortunately is the mentality of too many Americans. We've had oil hacks running this country for nearly eight years. Oil is what Iraq is about. What did we expect? A discount? Reality check here. Get real folks and get something you can afford to drive and quit whining. The price isn't going to go down, it's going up so the ball is in your court.
I persoanlly am spending a lot less and I'm not the only one. I know a lot of people and families that are cutting way back.
I also think that you can't blame OPEC this time. Sure, Iran and Venezuela are having a good laugh, but this go round you have to give credit to China and indirectly to American business and the American consumer. China is buying a lot of oil because their economy is booming. It's booming because we are export all of our industrial jobs there, but hey you get your lead laden trinkets at Wal-Mart for half price.
In the meantime we try to compensate for the price of gas with ethanol made from corn and biodiesel made from soybeans so we have $5+/bu corn, $11+/bu wheat and $14+/bu soybeans. That leaves the american consumer between a rock and a hard place. Higher energy prices AND higher food prices. All because we as a country want our cheap consumer goods.
Personally I'd rather pay 10% more for something like shoes made here in the USA and have $2/gal gas and $3.35/bu corn.
think the Carter administration and "stagflation". EVERYTHING goes UP in price when energy prices go up because transportation costs go up. it's pure "cost-push" inflation so even IF you live in or near a big city, use mass transit and don't need to drive a car to get to work, your FOOD costs will still rise. where I shop, bread has gone from $1.00 a loaf to $1.50 in just the last year.
btw, I was a corporate pilot for a "seven sisters" major oil company back in the 1970's. from listening to the bosses on the airplane, it was obvious that the so called "oil shortage" was a LIE back then and I suspect it's a LIE right now.
jack...if the gas prices shoot up the way they have been ...we need to act smart like the chineese who use bicycles to commute to work....hey that would solve the problem and also we might loose some weight!!!
We are already paying $3.30. Good news! Read in my auto magazine plug-in electrics are coming with 60-to-120 miles per gallon because most trips are less than 20 miles and these cars well go electric the first 10-to-30 miles. How long? 4 years. I'm already looking for a 35 mpg machine for around town. Rick, Yakima, WA.
Jack, I knew I was making a good move buying a Prius last year, but I never dreamed how good a move.
As a resident of New York City, everything produce is shipped or driven here. Economics 101 clear states, in so many words, that the cost is passed on to the consumer. I say Bush should repay America for HIS cost overruns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It would be devastating and would result in less trips to the clubs which leads to a decrease in the bringing home of drunk girls and of course a less healthy life...thanks bush for not stepping in before it got this bad!!!
Well as a student who works part time 24 hours a week and attends class full time... it hurts already. Although I own a car that gets good gas mileage, it also takes 91. I have to fill up every week or so and its about 50-55 dollars to fill up. I get paid about 300 dollars bi-weekly. There goes a third of my paycheck. Then somehow with 400 dollars a month I am supposed to buy food and pay rent? Seriously, $4 is going to make me even more in debt. I feel for any person in America who is a minimum wage worker. I don't know how I will do once I graduate in May... thinking about it worries me to no end.
We all know $4.00 is high for the US. Yes it is still lower than say Canada, but do we drive more? I dont know. I wonder how many people here complain about a gallon of gas at $4.00, yet spend $4.00 a day on a 12 oz frapucinno, or $5.00 for a beer at a bar.
Like million other Americans, it may not affect me much except that I would hate to pump Gas. We will not stop driving to work. We will not walk to grocery store. The reason being that it is not because we do not like to reduce our driving, but because we do not have a choice.
–Jyothi, Mckinney, TX
Paying $4 a gallon for gas will impact our household dramatically. With 4 drivers and 4 vehicles, we will pretty much be shut down. Doesn't seem right.
these gas prices are ridiculous. all they are trying to do is generate moor tax dollars to pay for the war.bush if he wanted to lower gas prices he could.he is friends with all the big oil company's .will never know the truth.we are not supposed to be like other country's we are America we are supposed to set examples. people with no health care people that are already struggling financially people loosing their homes,what next.
As a cummuter in rural Mo, in all honesty will affect me about an extra
$60 a month. That's $60 that won't go into savings, local small businesses like the hardware store, the corner cafe, my hairdresser, etc.,etc.. Basically it will affect me and my neighbors. So much for spending my money at home and growing "our" economy!!
Does anyone really believe gas prices would go anywhere but up once Bush stole office.Come on people, wake up and understand that this is something we will have to put up with til the end of time. As long as we have corrupt politicians in office and blind people willing to support them, then we'll never see any changes. We have to want it and be able to stand or fall for it.
well Jack All I can say is I'm glad they have several flavors of dog food these days
The idiots in DC want to tax the oil companies more; haven't they figured out that the oil companies will just past it on to us the consumer as they always do. of course with their intelligence they figure it'll lower the gas price!! HUH
How will $4 a gallon affect me– Well it will send my family from the poorhouse to homeless. Look gas here in Cali is already always nearly $4 a gallon. Its making EVERYTHING more expensive! Food costs and any other costs for goods driven into our towns are going to continue to skyrocket. Jack -the question really is how much more money will your family have to pay to these greed mongers.. commerce gluttons...and for how long are you, and I, going to survive it all?
I go to school from 8:00-3:00 and then work from 3:30-8:00 every day of the week. I have to work everyday to have gas money to be able to hang out and do stuff with my friends on the weekends. If gas prices go to $4.00 a gallon, I am going to have to quit work and stop driving to school. Having no money is better than being in debt. Maybe the government will decide to do something once kids start walking and getting ran over, or begin getting involved in the wrong things because the can't afford to do anything decent. Or even worse, when children begin killing themselves because they are bored being home all day.
All I can write is Hello Scooter named Stella! I better buy rain gear and freezing my butt off gear!
Five dollar gasoline would be better. Then wasteful people and wasteful businesses would be forced off the road and the price could reflect the tax necessary to maintain the roads and bridges that Box Mart trucks are wearing out and the military necessary to support foreign sources.
A year ago I made a prediction that gas prices would be $4 a gallon before this administration left office. Remember Dick Cheney's Energy Commission that established the energy policy for this country? He took it all the way to the Supreme Court to keep the American people from knowing who was apart of the Commission. At that time gas prices were $1.25 a gallon.
Back to your question-I live in Florida and tourism is down because of the gas prices. Our school district is looking at a $21 million dollar shortfall for this next year. I've already begun cutting back in preparation for the looming recession. I've cut back on trips and going out to eat. I've also delayed a bathroom remodel. It's time to hunker down.
$4/gallon would be great! We at Chevon would be able to best even the highest profit records! Thanks Everyone! We couldn't do it without you!
I guess I would become an activist and not shut up until there is a mode of transportation produced here in the USA that uses an energy source produced here also, and not shut up until the price could never be increased.
it would be tough but if paying 4 dollars a gallon would bring
our troops home tomorrow, I would pay it. hey! whatever happened
to that 4 day work week talked about years ago? that would give us an immediate 20 per cent reduction in demand...something George W. is
hoping to achieve many years from now!
lancelot stealth
new jersey
I drive a diesel vehicle will be closing in on $4.00 shortly.
Who cares what the price of fuel is $4.00....make it $6.00.
I'm on the I-95 corridor 85% of the cars in my commute are occupied by one person –the driver. Yes we complain but we don't care.
Were all fascist liberals (buzz phrase floating around today needed to use it) .
I drive a mercury grand marqese $100.00 to fill it yo the neck
when can i pick up my barrow of crude oil? do we realize just
how much money is made from one ? we arenot thinkers
we are doers whould $4a gallon bother me sure
but what do i do?
Perhaps the real story should be the $2.5 billion lawsuit in the Supreme Court by Exxon, the company that made $40 billion profit in 2007 off the backs of the American worker. It affects my life by telling me that big business who is going to charge me $4/gallon for gas by summer only serves one interest: The rich get richer.
I am an elderly woman living on social security and my few savings. I can deal with the price of gas because I am able to limit my use. I just don't use my car for an occasional ride anymore, just for what is necessary. But I live in northern Vermont and fuel oil, which I need to keep warm, is costing me $400 a month now - that is a little over 1/3 of my income. i only run my furnace at 63 degrees. I can only hope that God takes me soon.
I worry for my great grandchildren. i grew up during the great depression and don't know if today's generation can handle those kind of really hard times.
In US primaries, race is playing a big role. The white Americans are voting less along racial line than the African Americans. Jack tell which group is more racists? I am sure you will not have the guts to answer this question. Chicken.
$4.00 a gallon gas prices will serve the purpose of continuing to pull our economy into a depression. Not a recession, a depression. There is no way the American consumer can keep our weak economy afloat. We have ceded all good paying middle class jobs to companies that move their operations overseas. A service economy is doomed to failure and the trickle down effect of fuel costs speeds that process.
I'm pumping up the tires on my bicycle right now.
Jack, When gas hits $4. per gallon that will mean less of me on the road and I hope less of everyone else who drives a gas vehicle! Retirement and todays low wages won't cover these prices!! Thanks for your question... This could be good for our environment.
Jack,
having to scrape by on Social Security Disability I have for quite some time made do with less. I don't pay for gas, my diesel vehicle runs well on free waste Veggie oil. The motorhome I live in year round gets its electricity free of charge from the sun and the heat is courtesy of free wood from the forest. What does affect me is the price of food going through the roof, as that is about the only thing I spend money on, besides the cell phone and Satelite TV. (That's how I get your program!) Thanks to failing health I hope to get off this idiotic carnival ride called life in the 21st century soon. What really frightens me though are the children being brought into this world and having to deal with the mess we are leaving for them. Thank God I am child less and don't have to worry about what life they would have.
I'll have firmer legs and a better heart from all the walking and biking. Seriously, my concern is that our economy will collapse (you know – that trickle down thing in reverse) when everything goes up (except our paychecks) to compensate for the extra costs involved in shipping and so forth. People will no longer purchase items they would have bought a year earlier or go out to eat at the restaurant they like to frequent. Those businesses will soon have to start laying off people, etc. etc. I'm afraid our economy will just continue to spiral down. We need an alternate energy source and we need it soon. It's time to quit talking about it and get started doing something about it.
Let's see the government is coming in to help with our mortgages, I'm
sure they could subsidize my trips to the pump–Don't You?
Jack,
The dependence on foreign oil is ridiculous we should be ashamed of ourselves for begging other countries for more oil. If Gas goes up to 4.00 a gallon I would imagine there would be protest because we have places to be and people to see, if gas goes up to 4.00 a gallon alot of people are not going to be happy, especially during travel season in the summer. We need to think of alternative fuels now instead of later this should be priority instead of concetrating on the war in Iraq. Lets stop fighting and help our own people here at home.
4.00 dollars agallon would kill this countrys lower middle class income people right where it hurts in my pocket book yet oil companies continue to record record profits when is our government going to wake up questions need to be asked answer need to be found i guest its true the rich get richer the poor get poorer maybe things will get better after the election bush is an exoilman?
I only have four words, Jack: Use the magic carpet.
Not at all, Jack. I've got enough sense to drive a hybrid. Maybe you guys should get with the program!
Jack, the price of gas is the small end of all of this. Gas goes up and our food bill doubles too. This hits Americans hard, but then again we seem to like to have alot of disposable income. Maybe we need to downsize to smaller homes that cost less to heat, smaller cars with better gas mileage and learn to spend less on things that don't matter. We Americans are very spoiled and it is now coming home to roast. We will get thru this we always do and are better for it. Get Bush out and end the war will be a good start.
$4 won't do much. It will hurt, but when it goes back down to $3 per gallon everyone will rave about how cheap $3/gal is. Then it will go up to $5, and when it goes back down everyone will rave about how cheap $4/gal is. I'm sure this cycle will continue until they fix it. Since that is just wishful thinking, it will continue until no one can afford to buy gas. Why does the government let them do this to us?
Higher gas is bad for everyone, let me remind others that higher pump prices also mean higher gas prices in the home. Those on fixed income are fighting to stay warm let alone drive.
It'll make my wallet a hell of a lot lighter, that's for sure.
I don't think people can even phathom what it would do to their families...nobody thinks of the hidden costs, higher food prices, higher costs built into delivery of ALL goods and services, people will spend less, go out less, and there will be fewer jobs because of that. It isn't just about driving your car. It will cost more to mow your grass, bus your kids to school, commute to work etc... The pricetag will go UP on absolutely everything. Your barber will have to raise the price of a haircut because he has to pay more for everything too, your kids happy meal will cost more, that pack of gum will cost more.
It is CRAZY that our country has wasted so much time and not brought up the fuel efficency standards. SHAME ON US!
Remember going a mile or so to see a friend or play wasn't enough reason to get out the family car? "Excerise will do you good," mom said. Now if I could just find my $125 sneakers and pump up the tires on my $1,000 mountain bike, think of all the money I'll be saving.
Frank
Connellsville, PA
I would love it. The only way Americans are going to start using public transportation is once they can't afford to drive. I say, make the gas prices $10 a gallon. At least it will help the environment and less traffic. Heck, the way I see its a win win situation. At least Oil companies will not be able to report such a great profit margins.
$4 a gallon gas won't affect me one bit. I saw the handrwiring on the wall when it hit $2.50 a gallon and promptly got rid of my car and bought a scooter - which gets 95 miles to the gallon. I also started walking much more - and lost 35 pounds in six months.
Like most others, we will have to stay home more and travel less – not what we hoped for in retirement. Also, as fuel prices increase, the price of most other things increases, and we are in a full-blown recession. Add this to the multi-trillion dollar deficit brought to us by Dubya and his cronies and this country is in big trouble. History will not treat that bunch of chowder heads very well.
If the US had started serious research on alternative energy sources during the last energy crisis in the seventies we might have a lot more choices now. A tax on the exorbitant profits being made by big oil wouldn't help the energy crisis (it wouldn't make it any worse either), but it would help most of us feel a little less ripped-off.
$4.00 per gallon would stall the economy. I would not consider extended travel, driving unnecessarily such as going out to dinner, shopping or the movies. TO school, to work and to home. My expendable cash will not go in my tank and it certainly wouldnt make into the economy. I predict an increase in internet sales over the next year.
Its the only way to make people buy hybrids. It's time to really get off the oil, go green. Hillary is right about putting 5 billion dollars in the stimulus package to create jobs and at least start this process. If we didn't have to use oil just to heat our homes gas would come tumbling down.
American living in Montreal who will vote in Nov
$4 gas won't affect me much. I don't have credit card debt and live well below my means. At worst, I just won't transfer as much money into my savings account.
As a senior citizen, living on a fixed income, I can only ask "What life?".
It wouldn't at all. I already pay $5 for a 16 ounce latte, so I don't mind paying $4 for a gallon of gas 🙂
Well, since I am currently unemployed, and my husband is an unemployed disabled veteran, we really don't have anywhere to go so we don't use much gas. However, we are both actively searching for jobs, so I am sure that it will affect us soon. Last summer we invested in an old Dodge Neon (over 100 miles on half a tank of gas) and my husband can always ride his motorcycle to work if it gets too bad. Good thing we live near an elementary school for our daughter and a grocery store. Who needs to drive, anyway?
Well, I am just delighted as can be that I have reached a point in my life when I am retired and finally able to travel more just as prices for doing so seem to be reaching a prohibitive level – or at least a level inhibiting plans to an appreciable extent.. This is, of course, directly attirbutable to the present administration and its "boardroom" manner of letting the country's economy and affairs of state descend into complete disarray. I fear the price of fuel will directly reflect the decreasing prestige of this country owing to the damages of the Bush regime..
I'm getting a horse, a bale of hay is cheaper.
It will be devastating. It is already very difficult to pay the bills that keep me in my home. Forget about not going out to restaurants...I won't be able to pay credit card bills, insurance premiums, plumbers, electricians etc.
My family and I will go flying off the treadmill we're on.
Dear Jack, Looks like George Bush knows what he is doing. Sending out rebate checks so people can buy 4.00 a gallon gas. Now who do you think is going to benefit from this. Yep, George Bush and his oil buddies. Gotta hand it to the old coot.
What hurts more than the pump price is the grossly over inflated returns for the major petroleum companies. This is not right!
This is why I live 6 blks away from my job at the hospital and my graduate school. I believe it is a great thing, get rid of the oil guzzling cars and maybe people will think healthier, become more of a carbon conscious consumers. Good, this means that increasing on oil prices will increase peoples probabilities to think of alternative resources. Time to wake up people, until you proactively fight for the ability to change our habits, you feed into this greed.
If you want to do the conversion litres/galons we are already nearing $5 a gallon here in Canada so I wish you americans would quit crying about gas prices...Thanks your northern friend Jamie
makes me angry... i have to make a decision between MONEY FOR FOOD or MONEY FOR GAS.
all i use my car is to go to school and back... for everything else, i just walk.... soon, i will have to buy a bike... i guess this is Bush's input for global warming... people cant afford to drive = no polution....
lets just kick bush off of his place today and have the elections a little sooner
I am a retired police officer with 4 children. 2 going to college. i am already overextended another increase in gas prices will put me over the edge headed towards disaster.Thanks president bush.
It would have a great effect on me.I'm on a fixed income.Not many people has a heart and cares about people anymore.Try to survive on Soc. Sec. Disability income of $8,100 per year. Unless you have been there you just don't know what the word struggle means.
Hey Jack,
$4 bucks is too much. I bought a plane ticket to go out of the country this summer. I'm leaving from an aiport that's 6 hours away from my home. Who would have thought the cost of gas to get there would be equal or greater than the cost of the plane ticket from my home city? Had I known the oil tycoons wanted to go on vacation this summer I would have made other plans!!
Jack, The oil prices have already had a negative effect on my family. We are a retired couple with a dependent. In spite of a part time job, we now are running short of money before the beginning of the month. This was not true even in December of 2007. It's not just the gas but the sharp rise in food, etc.
The first thing I'd like to know is...how did we as a nation let the prices go out of hand as they are in the first place? It's bad enough with two gas stations on the same corner competing for customers with the constant changes in prices every few hours or so, even to the point where someone, as it happend here in Detroit gets shot for it...but for gas prices to go up this high? I swear something is going on that is not being told to us with crude oil being expensive as it is. I think we as a nation are being ripped off, and its sad that nothing seems to be done about it, nor does it seem like anyone care, no matter how much its discussed or touted in the news.
Try a domino effect, Jack...First, I couldn't afford to commute to my 2nd job. Then I couldn't afford healthcare for me, or my son. Then, I won't be able to keep up with my mortgage payments, credit card payments, normal housing costs, my child's needs, pet food, need I go on? Just let me borrow your gun and shoot me now!
$4/gal gas just might improve my life significantly. hopefully, it will finally get those idiot SUV owners to trade in those gas guzzlers and pay attention to mileage and conservation. not only would that improve our air quality, but it would limit the billions we pay to oil exporters. and that just might dry up the funding for the terrorists. actually i am rooting for $6/gal.
Since George W. Bush has already pushed this country back 150 years, I guess I'll just get with the times and trade in my car for a horse.
Easy Jack...During WW II the price didn't increase, IT WAS RATIONED. Ration it and tell the oil companies, to take an enema with it. Supply and demand. That will push it down... WAY Down, AND SAVE THE ENVIOUNMENT TOO
Keep up the good work. R A T I O N
Jack- $4 a gallon for gas means nothing to me. We already pay $3.39 – $3.69 depending on the season. big deal. Note i said it means nothing to me.
To "Bush-Co" it means more raping of the American tax payer. you know, a needless war costing billions per month (and lives). And of course profit on top of that from oil gouging. Yes for Bush and gang it $4.00 just means icing on the cake.
Too bad that icing and cake is being billed to all of us.
dave (disabled veteran)
crescent city, ca