May 5th, truckers no work day.

[1dude]

I have noticed while I have traveled around the world, that American's hardly ever protest and pretty much put up with whatever happens.
Things are such a mess now I think we need to follow the French. They protest everything, and come out in mass. Otherwise we'll be quietly siting in our new grass huts before long.

 

[arlee453]

Quote:
The fuel in the reserves wouldn't last the country but just a little bit of time - it would be a grandstanding political hay-making move, just like if they 'forgive' the federal gas tax for 6 months - it'd save the average person less than $50. IF the Strategic Petroleum Reserve was COMPLETELY full, and completely made available, it'd be less than 60 days supply for the country. Then it would be gone, and then what? We'd have no reserves for emergency military or other crisis, and the goverment would have to restock the reserves at a cost passed along to all of us tax payers - it would be robbing peter to pay paul.

The real problem is our dependence on foreign oil and the huge increase in demand across the world, especially in China. There are two fixes for that long term - use less, and/or start tapping into our own reserves.

If we want cheaper gas, we will have to reduce demand or increase supply or both.

One reason we have had the luxury to 'protest' every attempt to build new refineries and drill for oil in our own country is that gas has been relatively cheap. Eventually the prices will get so high that public opinion will shift away from being so completely 'environmentally conscious' and towards responsible use of the resources we have and there will be some relief.

In the meantime, the same pressure will cause people to make personal decisions about how much gas to use - ie they will buy more economoical or alternative energy cars and the demand for those models will drive the car companies to produce more efficient /hybrid/alternative nrg cars.

It will take time but there will eventually be a new balance struck between high oil prices and consumption. The world is getting more and more industrialized, and that means an ever increasing demand for oil. It's not just the US.

While I don't like to see these oil companies posting record profits, I also am not comfortable with 'bash the oil company' mentality either.

Our friends the corn growers are reaping record high profits right now (in part as a response to the same forces). Not only that, they are also receiving SUBSIDIES from the government to grow said corn - double dipping, yet I don't hear any people outraged or wanting to bring it to congress to protest their 'gouging' of corn.

My feed prices have gone up almost the same amount as gas over the last 6 months...

I guess my point is that no one day strike at the gas pumps will do really any good - you'll just fill up another day, and when you do that, it's the local gas station owner (who doesn't see his margins change much as gas goes up) that will suffer - not 'big oil'.

While I am definately NOT a 'environmentalist activist' by any stretch of the imagination (don't even get me started on so called 'global warming') We made the decision last year to purchase a hybrid car for my husband. The price difference has already paid for itself in the year we've had the car as he is getting now an avg of 41 MPG vs the 17MPG in his old car.

That's the kind of personal choices that will eventually ease us out of this crisis.

Europe has been dealing with $4 and higher gas for years. We are just now feeling the pinch due to the lack of refinery capacity in the US coupled with increased world demand and higher crude prices as a result.

 

[blueskylen]

We got an email that we passed on that if everyone stopped buying Mobil and Exxon and bought only from other gas stations, that they would lower their prices and the other company's would follow them. I know that it would take a major movement to get most USA folks to do this, but it sure would make a statement.
We are not buying from Exxon or Mobil now, and will keep it up as long as it takes.

 

[birdnutz]

I agree with Arlee on the refinery capacity. Wyoming has alot of oil wells up and running,new ones being drilled every day. The problem is that all the oil goes on the open market to be bid on. Japan is actually setting the price of oil with their high bids. The US is having to bid on our own oil.
My Dad is an owner operator,has been since he was 18. He's leased on to a company. He told me that he's now getting a 50 cent surcharge per mile. The higher cost isn't coming out of his pocket,but the consumers. Bush is now using it as a plat form to drill in the Alaska wild life sanctuary. He stated that it would MAYBE help lower the prices,but the Democrats are responsible for the high prices because the won't let him.

 

[bamadominaker]

Ok since we brought it up GAS and Strike..... Yes it defintely needs to be done I have friends whom work for PIKE (electric contractors) it is costing them over 1000.00 a week to have 4 trucks out trying to keep the power lines and pole up.

If the prices keep going up and someone doesn't do something soon.

Those power crews that some of us depend on.... (storms that hit VA...they are the on call guys) We have to have those guys... Our gov't is (NOPE NOT GOING THERE) un

These guys spend 15 hours days and sometimes 24 and 48 hrs fixing these power lines after storms, (storm duty) If they start taking trucks away b/c of fuel prices what will we do. They are cutting the intrest rate again today by 1/4 percent. I hope everyone has planted and stocked up on seed and feed. Looks like we will be needing it.

Use what is in resevers, and then make all the american produced oil be used here. Stop giving it away and holding it for bad times... This is the time. gas @ at age 10, .79per gal. 21 yrs later 3.69per gal inflation is bad

 

[GwenFarms]

I posted long threads about this a while back. Everyone is right this needs to happen, but the majority of truckers are not independent drives. This means that they work for comanies and don't own their own trucks. They can't decide if they drive, or not, not if they want to keep their job, health insurance, retirement...all that good stuff. Trucking is a blue collar industry, meaning you aren't going to get rich doing it. We, and many others, are one income families. We can't risk my husbands job, or benefits. We have two healthy boys, we want to keep that way and a disabled daughter that has tons of needs. We don't have a big savings account to fall back on.

While I see the long term benefits outweigh the short. Its not going to make much of a difference if the hand full of independent drivers spend the day home. Its going to take a call from big companies like Swift, Werner and Schnieder, just to name a few. The thing about these big companies is many of them have goverment contracts that set a cap on how much they pay for diesal, but its my understanding that many of them have beeen coming up for renewal and the government is refusing to renew them. So, that call may come soon. Thats when we will see a difference.

There have been a dozen of these no drive days set over the past six months, or so, and they haven' t had any effects. This one might, but only if the big companies get involved. My husband's company has made no mention of it to him and none of his friends has mentioned this one yet either.

 

[Cheryl]

I agree, gas is high, but remember we would be paying $8.00 per gallon now if we lived in Europe. Most families in Europe have one car, and more often than not is very economical to drive. On the plus side for Europeans, they have reliable public transportation, a mode of travel that this country usually fights against. I think if we supported other means of transportation it would be easier. When you get on the road, look around to see how many drivers a alone, we also fight car pooling! I don't feel that the oil industry should be making such high profits when every one else is failing, but sad to say, not buying gas on one day won't make much of an impact, I imagine that it will be bought the day before or the day after!

 

[Sharisr32]

A Independant Truckers Strike is Long over due -

At 4.61 a gal for diesel the garbage product of fuel today there is no reason for most of them to haul they are just breaking even -

Get ready this is only the beginning with Junk raises of min wage. Literally my daughters friend went into work at a grocery and the day the min wage went up she was told to add 15 to 25 cents every product. At a local golf course they laid off two pt workers to equal the increase Prices are going to sky rocket for everything. Coffee is 10.99 for 3lbs
it is going to get beyond the to average hourly wage by aver I mean 10.00 hourly to 17.00 hourly the group not getting raises and just hanging on - fresh produce even at the Flea Markets is is expected to be higher then grocery store prices last year - stock up and with them projecting 4 to 6 a gal for gas gas cards at todays prices maybe a wise investment

 

[sundance]

I support a strike from the truckers IF it would help the price of gas, Everything we use today from food to clothes is moved by truck, and until congress does something the price of oil will continue to rise. We lived in Central Calif,25 years ago and at that time they were filling in the oil wells with cement. I know because DH drove one of the cement mixers that filled them. Elk Hills, near Bakersfield is a federal reserve and they did not open it for use then, don't expect them to do so now.Gas was $3.59 yesterday when we went into town.Since we live on a fixed income, it has really cut into our life, we only go when its to a Dr or groceries, we try to buy everything we will need for the month.We have always been very active in doing things and now DH sometimes really gets upset having to stay home, at least he has yard work and trying to keep all the family cars running to keep him busy.I have BYC. marrie

 

[cgnc]

I fear this is just the begining.One of the biggest employers in our area and truck builder (frieghtliner) has layed off close to 2000 workers. Some I have talked to have been asked to go to mexico and teach the workers at that plant.(Thats never a good sign)..Can we live on eggs??LOL