That's how you know high gas prices are here to stay

[Delhommey]

Gas isn't expensive. It's just always been artificially cheap.

[Davidson Deac II]

Gas prices will go up, and then they will go down some. Its the nature of the beast. But But yes, they will definitely go up over the long haul. Its a finite resource that is in increasing demand.

Fortunately, I can work from home if I need to.

[Niner National]

They are not here to stay... They are going to continue to rise quickly. I have heard estimates that say that increased demand, reduced supply, and rising inflation will cause gasoline to be almost $10 a gallon by 2020.

Our government is in bed with the oil companies. They have been lying to us for years about the world's supply of oil. The oil companies stand to be extremely rich when gas is $10 a gallon... (how greedy could they possibly be?)

The world's supply of oil it is a lot less than they are telling us. Things are going to get really ugly if they dont quit taking bribes/campaign donations from the oil companies, and start putting serious funding into finding an alternative FAST.

But we have trillions of barrels of oil in the tar sands!!!!!1!!!111!!

What most people don't understand about tar sand and shale oil is that the ROEI (Return on Energy Invested) is incredibly low. Like barely 1:1 low. The energy used to extract oil from tar sands and shale rock is almost as much as the energy that oil contains.

There will have to be a fundamental restructuring in the way the world lives and uses energy within my lifetime.

[Davidson Deac II]

There will have to be a fundamental restructuring in the way the world lives and uses energy within my lifetime.

Agreed. I hope that we can learn to produce and use energy more efficiently. I fear that we won't learn to use and produce it efficiently enough, and we will see increasing competition over dwindling oil resources. And competition could mean conflict.

[iamcline]

The bad economy is the only thing that's kept this from happening already. The fact that they are doing this now means they are expecting things to keep going well overall, which sucks for us in this particular case.

...but the economy is still garbage, will be garbage for a long time. :dupe:

[Kurb]

Before too long oil companies will break open the engine designs they have been buying up for years. In the 70's they had 60+ mpg engine designs.

[Davidson Deac II]

Before too long oil companies will break open the engine designs they have been buying up for years. In the 70's they had 60+ mpg engine designs.

They have cars that can do far better than that now. They are selling them on the lots.

[Kurb]

They have cars that can do far better than that now. They are selling them on the lots.

No doubt. My point is more that Big Oil has been protecting its pockets at the expense of the WORLD with the support of the people elected to server the PEOPLE.

[Davidson Deac II]

No doubt. My point is more that Big Oil has been protecting its pockets at the expense of the WORLD with the support of the people elected to server the PEOPLE.

If car companies can sell them and make money, they are going to do it, and their ain't much big oil can do about it. If not here, then Japan or China, places where our oil companies have no influence whatsoever.

[Kurb]

If car companies can sell them and make money, they are going to do it, and their ain't much big oil can do about it. If not here, then Japan or China, places where our oil companies have no influence whatsoever.

Lets hope.

I can be too much of an optimist sometimes, but I think the transition to more efficent/electric/NatGas cars on the road might be more "comfortable" and less "end of civilization" than many.

[Kevin Greene]

Before too long oil companies will break open the engine designs they have been buying up for years. In the 70's they had 60+ mpg engine designs.

Year 1996 you could buy a Civic HX that got 41 MPG.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymake/honda1996.shtml

Now to beat that you have to pay over 24k for a Civic Hybrid. :lol:

Year 1989 you could buy a 49 MPG CRX HF.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/5263.shtml

Now you have to pay 20k for a 39MPG CRZ Hybrid.

Teh Kurb is wise.

[mush]

We are getting too fat as a country for most people to want to go out and get a small car unfortunately.

[Kevin Greene]

Lets hope.

I can be too much of an optimist sometimes, but I think the transition to more efficent/electric/NatGas cars on the road might be more "comfortable" and less "end of civilization" than many.

Can speak to NatGas Civics.

Natural gas is cheaper. However, station locations are sparse.

Then you're going to pay an 8k premium to buy one.

Then you're going to pay a lot more for maintainance.

Bottom line, you're an idiot to buy one.

Who buys them?

Local County governments wasting your tax dollars.

[Davidson Deac II]

Lets hope.

I can be too much of an optimist sometimes, but I think the transition to more efficent/electric/NatGas cars on the road might be more "comfortable" and less "end of civilization" than many.

Cars are not the only problem though. I remember reading somewhere that even if we stopped using gasoline for cars completely today, we would still need to import oil. We need to be more energy efficient in a number of areas, not just cars.