PLEASE, don't stop minimizing gas usage, here's why.
By xfahctor
@xfahctor (14113)
Lancaster, New Hampshire
December 6, 2008 9:56am CST
With gas prices at multi year lows and set to drop by some estimates to nearly $1.00 a gallon, and with oil sitting at just over 40 bucks a barrel a 4 year low, there is great temptation to once again be gluttonous and burn up gas like water. However, a warning should be headed. Opec is yet again planning another emergency meeting later this month, one OPEC leader warns the world of a "suprise" to come out of this meeting and alludes at unpredcidented production cuts in efforts to raise oil prices. While no details are available and while the last production cut seemed to yield no apparent (at least no apparent) effect, what the next cuts could do is still yet unknown. The only sure way to counter this is to continue conserving and exercise prudent use of gas, oil, etc. With winter setting in and heating fuel use set to rise and deep OPEC production cuts set to take place, we could see the price skyrocket again. Speculators watching markets are probably already speculating the same thing and may well already be on the way to getting back in to the game as well, this only amplfies the problem. The only way to ensure that prices stay low is for everyone, world wide, to continue to excercise common sense and continue using as little as possible. Drive like gas was still $4.00 a gallon and we could weather the upcomming cuts and perhaps negate any effect production cuts may have. We have the prefect oportunity to skrew the people who have been skrewing us (OPEC, oil companies, etc), we don't get that chance very often, so take advantage of it.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
6 Dec 08
Now if the time to demand, send letters, email, bombard Congress to allow drilling in the States, uncapping the wells, demand that they make hybrid cars not just for single couples who have their food delivered, but for families who use vans and suvs. That way you will survive.
And if you are able to walk to the store, walk. (cold minus 40 degree and cold winter weather, you will need to take the car)
@xfahctor (14113)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
6 Dec 08
I fear the domestic drilling issue may have lost it's teeth with the price dropping like it did. that coupled with a congress comming in that is now in the majority against the domestic drilling ideal. I still intend to bombard congress with it, I just fear it will fall on deaf ears. I'm also all for auto companies producing alternative fuel cars, the more the merrier, the problem is, the majority of people in this country don't buy new cars, I have never owned one, probably never will, the only way i will probably ever owna hybrid or electric car is to buy one 10 years from now off someone's front lawn or used car lot for a thousand bucks or so. But we still need them non the less as it will effect oil prices.
As for domestic drilling and such, I think what needs to happen is for oil rich states to exercise their 10th amendment rights and soveirgnty, tell the federal government enough is enough, it's our state we'll do what we please with in it's borders.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
6 Dec 08
I am more afraid of what I read that some of the Democrats want the price of gas to go to $10.00 a gallon so that the majority of the population will move back into the inner city (except for course for the rich like the Obamas) and this is mainly some form of social engineering. I do hope drilling occurs. There is enough gas in America hidden underneath. Why up here in Canada, you drive past farmer's fields, and in some you can see the oil well, and they are not scared of harming the nice little animals. (why I bet the gophers are standing around watching.)
@iriscot (1289)
• United States
6 Dec 08
Hey suspenseful, where did you hear the $10 gas deal. I must have missed it. I'm all for cutting down on the consumption of gasoline, but have to make a trip to a hospital 50 miles away every other week. I've been staying home most of the time and we no longer go out for dinner. So we are trying to cut back on everything, but I know if others do as we do, it will hurt the restaurants, and we have a couple of great ones here that I would hate to see shut down.
Did I read where most of the oil coming out of Alaska goes to the west coast and is sent to other countries. Can someone respond to that?
@GADHISUNU (2162)
• India
6 Dec 08
I agree with you. We must do everything in our power to not only save on Gas by cutting usage with measures like building and buying more fuel efficient vehicles, and things like walking to the grocery store or as far as you can, and keep the gas consumption low. We must get more aggressive in finding newer energy sources that could give us more green power. We must switch from mined fossil fuels to renewable ones like bio-diesel. But all this would add one thing to the Earth. Heat and CO2.We will contribute to Global Warming by using heat and CO2 generating fuels. The iseal would be fuel cells that could burn CO2 to give out O2! That would reverse the Global Warming trends.But that would be against the Second Law of Thermodynamics!?!
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
6 Dec 08
Good call. I'm still taking a train to work and haven't filled my gas tank since August. My wife and I live in an area where most things we need are within walkign distance so I love keeping consumption low. It's all about supply and demand and if we keep the demand low, the prices will stay low. We need companies to keep working on more fuel efficient cars too.
