[This message has been edited by JazzMan (edited 12-03-2008).]

quote Originally posted by JazzMan: Not a valid comparison. Cigarettes are not critical to tasks such as getting to your job and the grocery store.

True, and I quit when I realized how expensive (both immediately and long-term)/inconvenient/foolish/unnecessary they were. As far as gas? I've cut out unnecessary and foolish trips... I got no money to spend at the store now, and pay bills on line, cut out a lot of extras (weren't many to begin with) and drive more conservatively or at less-congested times. I shop around for gas. If I desperately wanted to smoke, I'd probably grow my own (you can do that, right?) I'll bet all those guys with the biodiesel distilleries in their shed are feeling pretty smug now.

quote Originally posted by Wichita March of 2005: Speculators are making the prices go up, but hey! I don't care. I will really only start being concerned when it gets up to $4.00 a gallon.

Concerned yet?

quote Originally posted by lurker about the same time as Wichita: prices up this summer? heck. two weeks ago i was paying $1.66, this week i'm paying $1.99. it's not even spring yet. what's it going to be by july, $2.99?

quote Originally posted by jetman: Prices have doubled since this thread was started.

And yet our incomes and saving habits have not changed

quote Originally posted by JazzMan: One question I have is this: How many here feel that fuel costs are an annoyance and how many has it become a critical financial crisis issue. I'm in the latter category. If my employer won't let me start spending nights at work I'm going to sleep in the field across the street. JazzMan

I would car pool if I believed it would work for me. 17 miles to work. The job I have right now is not conducive to working from home (telecommuting) or working out four ten hour days vs five eight hour days, but that would be a help if I could. I think we've found a partial solution to obesity in this country... leave the consumer less money to spend on fast food. I've bought some tomato plants and planted cucumbers (have you seen what they go for?) to offset food prices. Next year the garden will go into full effect. I could produce $100's of fresh, healthy veggies and get exercise and vitamin D (sunlight exposure - which is now thought to reduce the risk of certain cancers) right in my own yard. Heck, there's an Asian family down the way from me that has ducks and chickens. If I could get other expenses under control, I may be okay for a while. But average folks may not be. And remember, as the US economy goes, there are many third world countries where fluctuations in our lifestyle result in life and death changes in access to basic commodities there. Money for basic medicines, shelter and food.

quote Originally posted by Me on Page One: The problem is that the cost of gas trickles down into all consumable goods. Kiss the increase in the minimum wage goodbye. And those who refinanced their homes with an adjustable rate are really going to feel the pinch. A 300 pound gorilla pinch. All we need is a couple refineries in poorly defended countries to be hit 9-11 style and gas will become unavailable and/or $20 a gallon. Oh, and I suppose Bush will get blamed for this too.

The chickens are coming home to roost, and I'm thinkin Bar-b-Q. I didn't even consider a natural disaster... well, the asteroid thing didn't/hasn't happened, although there's lots of talk. Of course, we've had Hurricanes, Monsoons, Cyclones and earthquakes, but it's not like we can invade Mother Nature's stronghold and declare 'Mission Accomplished.'

Do I think our president has anything to do with the situation? I didn't see how he had any control at the time I started this thread, but a weakening US Dollar and world wide oil price increases (oil topped $123 a barrel this week after breaking the $100 mark earlier this year) and an administration with no contingency plan other than a 'stimulus check' makes the Republican Party look like a bunch of clueless dolts.
Don't think that I have it in for any political party, cause I don't see any clear leadership cues from anyone in Washington (or the campaign trail) right now. Just a Congress that can't move forward, a republican candidate that is rudderless and looking for a fight, and two ego-driven democratic candidates that don't know what's good for their party/country.

[This message has been edited by USFiero (edited 05-17-2008).]

[This message has been edited by Pyrthian (edited 05-22-2008).]