Gas! Ugh!!

[redcloud]

An oil refinery down in Washington state and two on fire(?) in California means gas prices have soared on the west coast. Made worse in Oregon as we can't pump our own gas so there is an added cost to it to pay the attendants. I drive an old bug so it runs much better on higher octane, which means I put either plus or premium in it. In the city I am struggling to find it less than $4.75 at the moment. In the cheaper parts of town/outer suburbs I can't find it less than $4.35 but I have to drive 6+ miles to get there.

What used to cost me $20 to fill now costs me $45. It's KILLING us. Sure, driving less is a good thing but keep in mind food prices are going up due to the transportation costs as is public transport. The knock on effect is far reaching.

Others feel my pain?

[spzretent]

I just filled up today. $65. BUT, it was $3.62 per gallon.

[Shinesalight]

we can't pump our own gas so there is an added cost to it to pay the attendants.

er, what and why??!!! Does your County not trust you to fill your own car?!

What used to cost me $20 to fill now costs me $45. It's KILLING us.

What world are you living in??!!! You US guys do realise we'd bite your hands off to fill up on $45 don't you? I've got a bog standard 14 years old VW Golf and $45 wouldn't even get my car half filled with fuel.

[redcloud]

we can't pump our own gas so there is an added cost to it to pay the attendants.

er, what and why??!!! Does your County not trust you to fill your own car?!

Oregon and New Jersey are the only two states where it is full serve (an attendant who pumps the gas). You can argue it but at the end of the day it gives people an opportunity to work. So, the extra pennies we have to pay goes to a greater cause.

What used to cost me $20 to fill now costs me $45. It's KILLING us.

What world are you living in??!!! You US guys do realise we'd bite your hands off to fill up on $45 don't you? I've got a bog standard 14 years old VW Golf and $45 wouldn't even get my car half filled with fuel.

It's all relative, isn't it? When I lived in the UK I was paid more but it was also more expensive to live. I am paid less here but the cost of living is relative as are gas prices to my income. Trust me, it hurts my wallet as much as it hurts yours. And, as I said, the knock on effect with food prices also hurts. The gas in Europe is taxed much higher but you also have better infrastructure for public transport. Saying that, the tube and train certainly are not cheap!

[jadams501]

You can argue it but at the end of the day it gives people an opportunity to work. So, the extra pennies we have to pay goes to a greater cause.

I hate filling up in Jersey and avoid it whenever possible. I don't begrudge anyone wanting the job but I surely am better at spending my hard-earned money than other people.

[Dreamweapon]

To second shines' comments - after having done a very rough conversion of gallons/litres and £/$, I reckon we're paying around $9.50 a gallon over here at the moment! Don't even get me started on insurance.....!

The last lot genuinely frightened me. With a wife and 7 month old child (who incidentally loves lullaby versions of The Cure!), and facing losing my second job in 12 months due to funding cuts, it's not a nice place to be.

Still, hopefully, it'll come good, just sooner rather than later would be great!

[MODLAB]

and Portland has one of the best public transport systems in america.


We pay $8.71 / gallon

M

[redcloud]

and Portland has one of the best public transport systems in america.

Yes, it does. By 2015 it will be even more extensive with the streetcar going to the east side and the MAX train going further south to the suburbs. What it needs though is an express train with limited stops. More people (especially Nike and Intel employees) would be encouraged to ride it if they had one. At the moment, to go from the furthest point east to the furthest point west it can take approx 90+ min.

[redcloud]

I hate filling up in Jersey and avoid it whenever possible. I don't begrudge anyone wanting the job but I surely am better at spending my hard-earned money than other people.

This is, I guess, where you and I differ and my liberal and "socialist" leanings shine through. If I know that my extra pennies are going to a bigger, wider cause that helps society/or a local economy then I am all for it. I am glad to see people in Oregon and New Jersey who work as gas station attendants earning money and not on the streets begging. I am also completely pro a health care system that provides care for all and not just the insured.

The problem though isn't the extra cost for attendants. It's soaring gas prices (globally?) made worse here in the PNW/West Coast because of a couple shut down refineries.

[MODLAB]

and Portland has one of the best public transport systems in america.

Yes, it does. By 2015 it will be even more extensive with the streetcar going to the east side and the MAX train going further south to the suburbs. What it needs though is an express train with limited stops. More people (especially Nike and Intel employees) would be encouraged to ride it if they had one. At the moment, to go from the furthest point east to the furthest point west it can take approx 90+ min.

That's quite a ways. When I put it in perspective to here. It would take 30 min to commute 11 miles away for me.
So I can see what you mean about having some sort of express.

I'm quite happy that Portland at least is taking the initiative to make it possible. In Phoenix they completely canceled one
whole line because the wealthy people did not want the riff-raff to be able to access the area. We all know AZ is 'special'.

M

[The Dr]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnVdYJDtvVg

[semisynthetic]

We have more oil, a NATURAL Product, by the way; (Exxon didn't pump it down there); we have more reserves than the Middle East; what we DO NOT HAVE IS an intelligent way of looking at a problem or situation or solution.

I LIKE the CHOICE of Full Service, NOT "Nanny Says I WILL Buy That Way";

I LIKE to see the reserves of this country utilized BY this country; not being ordered by "Nanny Regulations" that force us to buy from those who hate us; THAT is Just Weird.

I LIKE the Idea of NEW REFINERIES; VERY VERY FEW have been built in OVER 30 years;
that is a vacuous "Energy Plan" that is Doomed to fail the Citizenry that our "government" is supposed to serve, NOT the other way 'round, REMEMBER?

I do NOT like the "Gas Cocktail" Blends that are imposed upon the Citizenry; California and the West Coast are the Worst, since even within a CITY, one gas "mixture type" is NOT allowed across town. Brilliant?

I do NOT like to continually rationalize what "Nanny Says" is good because I must do it anyway.

I do NOT like the Direction that this country is in; with "Nanny" spank if you disagree.

Being FORCED to BUY FULL SERVICE is as UnAmerican
as
Being DENIED a LARGE SODA just because "Nanny Says";
Nanny Says Touch Your Toes; Nanny Says Touch Your Nose,
Rip Your Clothes - uh oh, 50,000 Volts, Nanny DID NOT SAY "Nanny Says"! That will Teach You.

Who said "Absolute Power Corrupts, Absolutely". Smart.

What happened? Submissive sheep that do as they are told, and then come up with excuses of how "great it is";
FREEDOM will do more to "make jobs" than Nanny EVER COULD; pumping gas may be an Honest Job, but hardly the Apex of what many in this country are capable of; THE PRIVATE SECTOR can do so much better than "Nanny" could ever conceive of, since committees tend to sink to the Intelligence of an Anemone.

I believe that we could have BOTH Full Service AND Cheaper gas AGAIN; WE have the assets, and I do believe we have NO REASON to be or act "ashamed" that we have more than some other place does. It is not the "fault" of a Free People that they chose wisely, abandoned the notion of a "Monarchy", FOUGHT TO BE FREE of IT, and found Untold Riches in the Process. "Self Service" without choice was a subtle hint at the decline that came; being FORCED TO PAY FOR "FULL" Service is the Final Proof of it.

"Spreading the Wealth" around?

It sounds so much like something ELSE is being "Spread Around", and I shan't step in it, thank you, these are new shoes.

Fire Nanny.