posted on July 6, 2001 09:01:44 AM
$1.60 for Premium in the North Beach Tourist area up here on the way home, how could that be lowering it for the poor?
posted on July 6, 2001 09:15:38 AM
An article, in my paper this morning, was answering questions on why gas prices are different in different areas. And why even in the same areas, prices fluctuate. Some great answers were found on these sites they recommended reading.
One is specifically for CA., as it speaks to why CA (and a couple of other states) are paying so much more than the rest of the nation. One is because of enviromental issues and required refinements, special storage issues and limited amounts it's produced in. Also quotes the Dept. of Transportation saying that taxes are another reason for different areas having different prices, with each states taxes (in addition to Federal taxes) listed separately.
posted on July 6, 2001 09:45:32 AM
Well, I too live in Texas, and my gas prices are still at $1.68! I live in a poor area too. We have had an 8-10% umemployment rate in our county for the past 5 years!! Of course, our prices on everything have always been high. Maybe that's why we stay poor....
The average salary (for those who do have jobs) is $8.00 an hour (male or female-at least there is no gender bias). Our favorite pass time is "cruising" around our bayfront...around and around and around 'cause there is nothing else to do!
Our population is about 4,500. We have to drive 45 miles (North, South or West) to buy a pair of socks. Can't drive East 'cause we are on a bay . We are a pretty little town, but can't get any tourist business going because we are too small to have resturants, motels and the other goodies that bring visitors in.
Of course, I know I could always move, but despite all the problems, I like being here!
Besides, with my knack for business (especially my e-commerce ventures) my income is the equivalent of about $12 per hour, so I am perceived as "wealthy" by our local townfolk!
I would rather be considered wealthy in a poor town, than poor in a wealthy town. Call me shallow if you will.....
Is this the place we can kick back, relax, and have fun! Share a story, tell a joke, write a poem, make a friend...???
edited to "toot" my horn about my business saavy-I am considering offering courses
[ edited by sulyn1950 on Jul 6, 2001 10:16 AM ]
posted on July 6, 2001 11:08:49 AM
When gas prices were up, you blamed Bush. Now that they are down, he must also get the credit. If you can't give him credit for the lower prices now (.34c a gallon less than this date last year in Detroit), then you can't blame him for the high prices he walked into. Right?
posted on July 6, 2001 11:10:15 AM
Oh yeah, and Wonderland my arse - Detroit is motor city and we set the tone on gas prices everywhere. Your car was probably built here.
posted on July 6, 2001 11:18:02 AM
So what have we concluded? In some parts of the country gas prices are down and in some parts they are as high as ever. Hardly the triumphant moment for Bush that your initial post intended.
What does Detroit have to do with gas prices, by the way?
[ edited by jamesoblivion on Jul 6, 2001 11:18 AM ]
posted on July 6, 2001 11:24:31 AM
And like I said, quit with the double standard. When it goes bad it's Bushs fault, when it goes right, it was an accident or some wonderful program left over from Clinton. I don't even like Bush, but the elementary school like reasoning on these boards gets real tiring real quick.
posted on July 6, 2001 11:29:41 AM
An automobile, genius.
Actually I agree with you to a point about the double standard. But face it, all politicians have apologists who will magically attribute anything good to their guy and anything bad somehow has nothing at all to do with them. It's not unique to Bush or Clinton. In fact, you can literally substitute the words 'Bush' and 'Clinton' in any article that deals with them personally (not policy, obviously). Some people do think Clinton is a man with great moral compass (change that to Bush if you want) and some people think he's a scumbag (change that to Bush too).
Anyway, you may have tried to make a point about double standards but you could have chosen something true perhaps. Not lower gas prices as clearly gas prices are lower only in some places.
The board isn't so tiring that you don't feel compelled to keep coming back, huh?
posted on July 6, 2001 11:30:12 AM
What I read is the West Coast is higher, but I got it at a lowered price and in a tourist area on a holiday, on the West Coast... dunno, doesn't make sense to me.
And no, I didn't take the Jeep, I took a Ford Probe, which I believe are made here in the U.S. (but who knows LOL)
posted on July 6, 2001 11:33:11 AM
Cars use gasoline.
Some cars are assembled in Detroit.
Therefore, Detroit sets the tone for gasoline prices.
... I follow the major premise and the minor premise, but you lost me (and, I suspect, anyone else with a passing familiarity with logic) when it comes to the conclusion.
-gaffan-
posted on July 6, 2001 11:37:05 AM
Gaffan, the average AW poster is so dull compared to jlpiece's loftiness that it is futile to imagine that a mere simpleton like you or I can grasp the sound logic.
posted on July 6, 2001 11:38:18 AM
Oops, I forgot to make my point....in our town, it really doesn't seem to matter who's in control of Congress, or who sits in the Chief Executive's office, we don't really see much change. I will go so far as to speculate, there are other communities just like mine.
posted on July 6, 2001 12:03:06 PMSome great answers were found on these sites they recommended reading.
Why do you believe that drivel, Linda? Explain to me why gasoline prices in San Diego are 10-15 cents/gal. higher than in LA, 100 miles north. The truth is gas prices fluctuate ALOT in California depending upon geographic location and how much oil companies can manipulate regional markets. Gas company owned service stations are manipulating the prices and putting the independently owned stations out of business. In fact, there are ongoing investigations here in San Diego as to why our prices are so out of sync with the rest of the state. It aint supply and demand. It's market manipulation pure and simple.
posted on July 6, 2001 12:08:06 PM
Linda-k's paper (guess which) begs the question of why gasoline is $1.43 in Los Banos, CA while it's $1.97 in Tiburon, CA. Same state, same tax, same laws, same restrictions. Not 100 miles between them. What does YOUR paper say about that, eh?
posted on July 6, 2001 12:15:26 PM
Fry your brain in Bush country?
The truth is that I've got two 'yards' that are 17,000 and 31,000 sq.ft that I paid $43K and $56K for and another that's only 5,000 sq.ft. that cost $77K and is currently listed for $475K. Who wouldn't want to live where there's no sweltering stinking wet heat, no blizzards, no tornadoes, and fewer idiots?
posted on July 6, 2001 12:41:06 PM
Just paid $1.97 mid grade. $2.04 for Prem. Here in SO. Calif. Good thing I bought a SUV last year. I got rid of that 2 seater Saturn that got 30+ MPG just in time.
posted on July 6, 2001 07:31:53 PM
Linda k,
Gasoline retailers DO NOT make more money as the price goes higher. In fact, just the reverse, as a rule less. 10 cents profit on a gallon would be great. 3 cents is about what we were getting this spring and is a give-away price. It doesnt cover the bills/employees pay, storage and delivery costs,maintenance and etc.
The oil companies set the price via e mail each day. We add what we dare, based on competing stations in the area. If we add too much, we lose because people will go elsewhere. ie, decreased volume is very bad because no one comes in the store.
These days, gasoline is often a "loss leader" that functions to get people in the store where profits can run 50% or higher.
Several price wars were sparked off in my area by competeing stores, but it was all comming out of the tiny .10 a gallon retailer profit.
Bottom line is oil companies control price and the greatest % profit goes out in taxes,,ie your $1 is only worth .80 cents at any gas pump depending on local taxes.
Cut rate stations might enjoy some profit during those times, but only from vol as consumers shy away from higher priced brand names. Major oil companies do little to help out their own retailers if you can believe that, but that's why most gas stations have convience stores attached to them these days. You'll go broke in a hurry selling gasoline alone.
posted on July 6, 2001 09:45:28 PM
"I follow the major premise and the minor premise, but you lost me (and, I suspect, anyone else with a passing familiarity with logic) when it comes to the conclusion."-somebody
What was the conclusion? I didn't know we had come to one yet.
"Who wouldn't want to live where there's no sweltering stinking wet heat, no blizzards, no tornadoes, and fewer idiots?-krs
posted on July 6, 2001 10:10:54 PM
No, and I don't know why you think that. Just another of your erroneous assumptions, I suppose. I'm in Alberta, Canada.
posted on July 6, 2001 10:53:05 PM
It's called a syllogism, jl. Major premise, minor premise, conclusion. Typically, these are related. Generally, not only in logic but in the English language, "therefore" is widely recognized as a dead-giveaway that a conclusion is coming up.
-gaffan-
posted on July 7, 2001 09:54:35 AM
"..."therefore" is widely recognized as a dead-giveaway that a conclusion is coming up."-gaffan
Yes it is. Now, being so well versed in logic, perhaps you could logically explain where I used the word "therefore" in this thread. YOU used that wonderful syllogism, genius, not I, so your logic must have failed you this time, son. Perhaps you could retake the class at your local community college. Prices aren't bad,and for your purposes, might do just fine.
Syllogisms - what a big word though, I'm impressed.
posted on July 7, 2001 10:02:48 AM
The conclusion was implicit in your own argument, jl. I'm not surprised that you found it difficult to follow.
-gaffan-
. We are a pretty little town, but can't get any tourist business going because we are too small to have resturants, motels and the other goodies that bring visitors in.
[ edited by sulyn1950 on Jul 6, 2001 10:16 AM ]