what position to take with oil prices?

[BlahBlahYouToo]

are we, as consumers, supposed to want it to go up or down?

if it goes up, it means eventual higher gas prices, which means we have less expendable cash, we travel less, we purchase less goods, etc.
it also encourages seeking alternative energy sources and less dependence on oil.
but it means economies are expanding due to higher demand.

if prices go down, well it means the opposite of the above.


pretty sure where the poll will be going, but added by request.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

I want alternatives to oil. Whatever it takes to get us there, and depend on ourselves for ~90% of our energy needs.

If that means higher gas prices now, okay I can deal with it. I would prefer cheaper gas in the mean time (and we take the $4/gal stuff of the summer as our wakeup call), and have the best of both. Too bad most people will quickly forget about the summers gas prices...

 

[Eli]

It essentially doesn't matter.

Since oil is a finite resource, we will be forced to seek alternatives eventually anyway.

What's really sad is that there needs to be a monetary incentive to seek out alternatives.

 

[spidey07]

Higher gas prices = weaker production. You don't want that.

There can be no reasonable point to be made for having higher gas prices, there is none.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Higher gas prices = weaker production. You don't want that.

There can be no reasonable point to be made for having higher gas prices, there is none.

Nah.

When oil reaches a critical price, whatever that is, it suddenly becomes economically sound to produce and seek alternative energies.

That isn't a bad thing.

 

[BrokenVisage]

The position that everyone else who owns and drives a car takes... doggy style.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: spidey07
Higher gas prices = weaker production. You don't want that.

There can be no reasonable point to be made for having higher gas prices, there is none.

Nah.

When oil reaches a critical price, whatever that is, it suddenly becomes economically sound to produce and seek alternative energies.

That isn't a bad thing.

People have been researching alternative sources, and will continue to do so regardless of gas prices. Meanwhile, high gas prices suck for everyone and raise the price of all goods, and benefit most of us in no way.

 

[moparacer]

Its a good thing that who ever, or what ever popped the oil bubble we were in earlier in the summer....

Can you imagine what things would be like right now if oil would have headed to $200 like Goldman predicted in July.....

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: spidey07
Higher gas prices = weaker production. You don't want that.

There can be no reasonable point to be made for having higher gas prices, there is none.

Nah.

When oil reaches a critical price, whatever that is, it suddenly becomes economically sound to produce and seek alternative energies.

That isn't a bad thing.

People have been researching alternative sources, and will continue to do so regardless of gas prices. Meanwhile, high gas prices suck for everyone and raise the price of all goods, and benefit most of us in no way.

Hear, hear.

 

[tranceport]

Originally posted by: lokiju

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: spidey07
Higher gas prices = weaker production. You don't want that.

There can be no reasonable point to be made for having higher gas prices, there is none.

Nah.

When oil reaches a critical price, whatever that is, it suddenly becomes economically sound to produce and seek alternative energies.

That isn't a bad thing.

People have been researching alternative sources, and will continue to do so regardless of gas prices. Meanwhile, high gas prices suck for everyone and raise the price of all goods, and benefit most of us in no way.

Hear, hear.

 

[Casawi]

Idealy we want them low not because of lower production, but because we are becoming more efficient/seeking alternatives and the demand is less.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: spidey07
Higher gas prices = weaker production. You don't want that.

There can be no reasonable point to be made for having higher gas prices, there is none.

Nah.

When oil reaches a critical price, whatever that is, it suddenly becomes economically sound to produce and seek alternative energies.

That isn't a bad thing.

People have been researching alternative sources, and will continue to do so regardless of gas prices. Meanwhile, high gas prices suck for everyone and raise the price of all goods, and benefit most of us in no way.

higher gas prices accelerates this, by quite a bit.

 

[BurnItDwn]

High oil prices suck.

Pretty much what nakedfrog said is the only reasonable position to take IMO.
In this case, the "we like high oil prices" people are simply "wrong", and those who like low prices are "correct"

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: spidey07
Higher gas prices = weaker production. You don't want that.

There can be no reasonable point to be made for having higher gas prices, there is none.

Nah.

When oil reaches a critical price, whatever that is, it suddenly becomes economically sound to produce and seek alternative energies.

That isn't a bad thing.

People have been researching alternative sources, and will continue to do so regardless of gas prices. Meanwhile, high gas prices suck for everyone and raise the price of all goods, and benefit most of us in no way.

higher gas prices accelerates this, by quite a bit.

It's been eight years since $1/gallon gas, it doesn't seem to have accelerated enough to have made a difference. I'll go ahead and take lower gas prices and wait around for an alternative, rather than making OPEC and oil companies richer at the expense of everyone else.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
High oil prices suck.

Pretty much what nakedfrog said is the only reasonable position to take IMO.
In this case, the "we like high oil prices" people are simply "wrong", and those who like low prices are "correct"

There are people that are of the "we like high oil prices" belief?

 

[joesmoke]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
High oil prices suck.

Pretty much what nakedfrog said is the only reasonable position to take IMO.
In this case, the "we like high oil prices" people are simply "wrong", and those who like low prices are "correct"

There are people that are of the "we like high oil prices" belief?

Probably people who dont pay their own bills...

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
I want alternatives to oil. Whatever it takes to get us there, and depend on ourselves for ~90% of our energy needs.

If that means higher gas prices now, okay I can deal with it. I would prefer cheaper gas in the mean time (and we take the $4/gal stuff of the summer as our wakeup call), and have the best of both. Too bad most people will quickly forget about the summers gas prices...

Wait until next summer, I foresee 5$+ a gallon.

I agree with what you said as well, I think we need to depend on ourselves (USA), on 90%+ of our energy needs.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: spidey07
Higher gas prices = weaker production. You don't want that.

There can be no reasonable point to be made for having higher gas prices, there is none.

Nah.

When oil reaches a critical price, whatever that is, it suddenly becomes economically sound to produce and seek alternative energies.

That isn't a bad thing.

People have been researching alternative sources, and will continue to do so regardless of gas prices. Meanwhile, high gas prices suck for everyone and raise the price of all goods, and benefit most of us in no way.

higher gas prices accelerates this, by quite a bit.

It's been eight years since $1/gallon gas, it doesn't seem to have accelerated enough to have made a difference. I'll go ahead and take lower gas prices and wait around for an alternative, rather than making OPEC and oil companies richer at the expense of everyone else.

at $1/gal, there would be zero progress made on alternative energy because there's no incentive. it would no doubt be more expensive so no one would buy it.

it has only been since katrina 2 years ago when gas/oil prices skyrocketed.
in the past 2 years we have more and more looking into wind, solar, hydrogen, nuclear, e85 than ever before (pulling that out of my ass but it seems right, i read various articles about it in NYT).

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
at $1/gal, there would be zero progress made on alternative energy because there's no incentive. it would no doubt be more expensive so no one would buy it.

it has only been since katrina 2 years ago when gas/oil prices skyrocketed.
in the past 2 years we have more and more looking into wind, solar, hydrogen, nuclear, e85 than ever before (pulling that out of my ass but it seems right, i read various articles about it in NYT).

So essentially in your mind you wish harm on all of consumers and citizens, purely in the name of alternative energy?

 

[slackwarelinux]

I'm an Alaskan and most of our economy comes from oil, so.. higher would be nice.

 

[scruffypup]

Lower is a win, win situation. Less money flows out of our economy and it doesn't hurt transportation, manufacturing, etc costs for other goods,... now you can always increase the gas tax to build revenue and promote alternate investments.

You may then say it is a regressive tax, you can add in a tax break for a certain amount, the lower income often can't afford vehicles so they get a little to help pay for public transit or something, those who buy the hummers and gas guzzling SUVs can afford it easier and they get hit with more of the tax burden, then you say what about the cost in transport,... well you don't tax jet fuel or diesel fuel,...

Anyways beyond all that, the investment in alternative energy sources has been there, it is just in the spotlight and the average American becomes aware of it when gas prices go up,... otherwise they typically don't care on a day to day basis.

More money staying in our economy means that instead of Dubai building the current tallest building. largest mall, largest theme park, the islands they built, basically a whole city in a couple decades we get to keep that money in the US.

http://www.ssqq.com/archive/vinlin23dubai.htm
And this I heard last night,... found on this website,..
http://www.theaustralian.news....0.html?from=public_rss
where this new building will be over 1/2 mile long as well as tall

Better link on new building,... about 2/3 of mile long,... 3300 ft high approximately
http://www.currentargus.com/ci_10645290

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
at $1/gal, there would be zero progress made on alternative energy because there's no incentive. it would no doubt be more expensive so no one would buy it.

it has only been since katrina 2 years ago when gas/oil prices skyrocketed.
in the past 2 years we have more and more looking into wind, solar, hydrogen, nuclear, e85 than ever before (pulling that out of my ass but it seems right, i read various articles about it in NYT).

So essentially in your mind you wish harm on all of consumers and citizens, purely in the name of alternative energy?

No, but thats just how it works.

The thing is that we can't stop it. We need an alternative because eventually oil prices will become astronomical.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: spidey07
Higher gas prices = weaker production. You don't want that.

There can be no reasonable point to be made for having higher gas prices, there is none.

Nah.

When oil reaches a critical price, whatever that is, it suddenly becomes economically sound to produce and seek alternative energies.

That isn't a bad thing.

People have been researching alternative sources, and will continue to do so regardless of gas prices. Meanwhile, high gas prices suck for everyone and raise the price of all goods, and benefit most of us in no way.

FINALLY...someone has some common sense in this issue.

While alternative energy is a GREAT thing, (I'm still waiting for my Mr. Reactor powered car) until we have viable options, having high gas prices only benefits the oil companies and producers, and is a drag on the economy, both personal and world-wide.

I'd love for us to be able to tell the oil producing countries to stick their oil where the sun doesn't shine...or to eat their oil, because we are jacking up the price of the food we sell them...but it ain't gonna happen in my lifetime, and probably not in the lifetimes of my grandkids either.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

This thread needs a poll...

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
at $1/gal, there would be zero progress made on alternative energy because there's no incentive. it would no doubt be more expensive so no one would buy it.

it has only been since katrina 2 years ago when gas/oil prices skyrocketed.
in the past 2 years we have more and more looking into wind, solar, hydrogen, nuclear, e85 than ever before (pulling that out of my ass but it seems right, i read various articles about it in NYT).

So essentially in your mind you wish harm on all of consumers and citizens, purely in the name of alternative energy?

no, i'm not saying that at all. i'm just arguing against nakedfrog's point.
there is no incentive of researching alternative energy if oil prices are low.

i don't know which position to take on it. i'm kind of ok with things the way they are now.
prices are far from low, but far from high as well. at the current levels, it is spurring a lot of research towards alt. energy.