This is the year when gas prices WILL affect CP attendance

Well, reducing production has no effect on demand. It does reduce the supply though. Which has the same end effect as raising demand.

The thing is, when it comes to the actual marketplace, OPEC AND the oil companies (as a result of OPEC's actions) are artificially inflating the effects of supply and demand through their policies and procedures. While I think that Loopy is, well, loopy on this issue, the fact remains that current prices are more the result of artificial reasons and actions, as opposed to real (natural) supply and demand effects.

This is another reason that the Fed is in such a tight spot, because they're fighting economic pressures that they can't directly control/fight with their policy. They can only create policy that is truly effective if they are not combating all of these artificial demands and fluctuations on the economy. But, the situation with the Fed is another problem completely set apart from the oil situation, even though the situation with oil is having negative impacts upon actions from the Fed, which otherwise, may actually do some good.

I wonder if Loopy supports drilling in ANWR.

That's a pretty naive comment since anyone who has 1/2 a brain knows that drilling in Alaska today won't help our gas prices.....today.

If we were going to do that it should have started about 10 years ago to have any effect on today's market prices.

Are you being sarcastic, or short-sighted?

But then in 10 years, will we use the same excuse?

I actually wouldn't be surprised to see it have an immediate effect. Remember, the people setting prices (the traders in NY) are the same ones who will trade up the price of a barrel because a hurricane is FORMING off the coast of Africa.

Forget ANWR. Within the next 3 - 5 years, when the proverbial slop really starts to hit the fan, we'll be drilling up and down both coasts and all across the Great Lakes for any oil we can get our hands on.

Take it to the bank. The oil crisis really hasn't begun yet (most of the run-up has come as a result of dollar devaluation). But it's coming. Soon.

Drill ANWR and the Great Lakes and anywhere else you can find oil. I'm all for it. Turn ANWR into swiss cheese.

As for the government - They take more in taxes per gallon of gas then the oil companies take in profit. I don't have the numbers anymore, but it's between 40 and 50 cents a gallon goes to taxes state and federal. Maybe more here in Michigan.

While I'm sure much of that MI tax is 'lost in the shuffle', at least part of that tax is supposed to partially fund road construction.

Well, Federal excise tax is 18.4c per gallon.
Michigan state gas tax is 19c per gallon.
Michigan state sales tax (6%) is applied before the Michigan gas tax, but AFTER the federal excise tax.

Yep, we're getting taxed on a tax. We are truly damned.

We're one of the only states that charges both taxes too. What a rip.

Fire jenny and all her cronies.

Well, in her defense, this has been around longer than her.

But I do remember her saying she wanted fight rising prices (especially around the time of Katrina), but her only tool in doing so is to reduce the taxes, and God knows she won't do that.

JuggaLotus said:
Well, in her defense...

You are dead to me.

If anything, its not stopping me.

^^ - its not like the things that are her fault make up a short list.

Dead to US!

If only it was as easy as " just go out and buy a new car". People are losing there houses, and jobs. So how would you expect someone to just go out and buy a car that is better on gas? Hell, the price of these cars almost outweighs what you will save in gas.

My trips will be limited this year. I spend an extra $30 a week in gas now from what I did 2 years ago. And I make the same as I was making 2 years ago. The price of everything(not just gas) has been touched by gas prices. Again, I am not making any more money at my job than I was 2 years ago. So should I "just go out and get a new job"? If only it was that easy.

That extra $30 a week and the increse of everything I buy, has put a damper on my trips.

I really dont care about gas prices. Im still going to go as many times as i usually do this year which is 4 times.

Dave - my trip to Kansas City last summer right after I bought the DeVille, I got 24 mpg. Next weekend going to Atlanta and Knoxville. Will see how it is doing. Our honeymoon trip will be about 2800 miles and will be good test.

I'm not too worried about it because I don't drive yet. I will soon though. Oh man, I need a job... *looks around*