How expensive could gas get?

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hazzan

hazzan

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Apr 22, 2008
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At this point rising gas prices have caused speculation that Americans will have to "change their habits", is their a visible breaking point in sight? Could gas/oil prices reach a point in the near future that would cause the relative social order to break down?

How expensive can gas become before a significant part of the population cant afford to buy enough food, public transportation systems become overwhelmed with new riders and visible social unrest occurs?

Could their be something like a "gas riot" in America?

Maybe I'm imagining a Mad Max type scenario...
 


Gas is damn cheap in America compared to some European countries and theres no Mad Max scenarios there.
 
emp said:
You think there is a limit?

::emp::
Click to expand...


An organic limit? No. But I do think that there is a tipping point after which the harm done to society by these prices becomes too hard to absorb.

The question has more to do with how severe a jolt the economy/social fabric can take, and how quickly it can take that jolt without being radically affected.

If gas prices outpaced America's ability to adapt, then we would see chaos.

So, I'm wondering what the current outer limit would be.
 
I guess the limit is the transition point at which alternative energies begin to become a viable alternative.

::emp::
 
All these years I have been hearing that once gas prices went over $50 a barrel, we would just use our massive coal supplies to produce fuel - but nobody seems to be doing that.

Also, we have vast supplies of oil in Alaska and off the Gulf Coast... but we don't seem to be moving in the direction of utilizing them either.

Makes me think the powers that be ( worldwide conspiracy or whatever) are toying with us. Also the price of food has gone up drastically. The American economy is having to deal with higher gas and food prices. If you were barely getting by before, you're in real trouble now.

What are THEY up to?
 
The whole "energy independence" thing is a joke. Where are we supposed to get "energy Independence" when we are "scared" of nuclear power plants and won't drill anywhere or expand existing refineries because of environmental issues. Hell, even our efforts at wind power generation where defeated by Sen Kennedy because they would injure the picturesque shoreline of his home. No, you've got to be willing to make some hard decisions to become "energy independent" and Americans haven't made them.
 
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If all the liberals stayed home they wouldn't have to drive around and flaunt their bumper stickers. Also once Alaska starts looking like Galveston we might be able to reduce dependency on foreign supply. I could be wrong though.
 
A recent poll in Finland showed that people would be willing to pay as high as €2.4/liter which equals roughly to $15/gallon. At the moment the price is around $9/gallon.
 
Well, it's been predicted that oil will hit $200 per barrel within 2 yrs (it's at $135 currently) -- that would put the price of gas at around $7 per gallon.

That will definitely change consumers driving habits.

Crude oil has spiked over 42% just since Dec. so there is a bubble forming that could pop anytime... but who knows how long it will last.
 
Come on Americans.. this isn't just affecting you, it's a global issue affecting everyone. Our governments need to work together if we have any chance of finding a long term solution.

Global energy consumption is only going to increase, especially in the developing countries. As India and China use more, it costs more at the pump in the US & UK. So it is in America's best interests to ensure that any alternative energy sources are available to everyone.

Leave it to the corporate world alone and they'll patent any technology, forcing poorer nations that can't afford it to stick to burning fossil fuels, pushing up the price of oil to those in the west not using the alternatives.
 
The upside to the skyrocketing price of oil is that its renewable and less-polluting substitutes mightl look cheaper. If these substitutes reach an economy of scale that translates to higher efficiency and lower prices, say goodbye to petroleum-based fuels.
 
I just cant complain about gas prices when I travel to Europe and they are paying two euros a liter. That was two years ago. I never heard one person complain about prices of gas. But when gas hits $3 here everyone is flipping out. Now its $4 and people are getting the idea and understanding. They need to deal with it. I have said for a long time that gas in the US is cheap. I am just glad I work from home :)
I am one of the stupid ones that has a huge SUV that gets horrible gas mileage.
But I guarantee you will never hear me complaining. I chose the SUV and I cant really do much about it now.
I mean America is the land of opportunity, anyone who wants to better themselves can, all they have to do is try and stop bitching about everything.
 
LazyHippy said:
Come on Americans.. this isn't just affecting you, it's a global issue affecting everyone. Our governments need to work together if we have any chance of finding a long term solution.

Global energy consumption is only going to increase, especially in the developing countries. As India and China use more, it costs more at the pump in the US & UK.
Click to expand...

US gas prices were better years ago when India and China were using carts and bicycles. I remember when gas went over 30 cents a gal. I thought that was horrible.

The way I see it, this mess started when you lime juicers got out of India and China. Especially India... those poor folks haven't had a decent infrastructure since the Brits lefts. They're still trying to get by with roads and hospitals England built. You need to get your tails back in there and fix things - you Brits were great at Imperialism.

I know I'm the pot calling the kettle black - we Americans should get back in Central and South America too and clean those places up (Been a little busy in the Middle East here lately). If England and America would snap out of this politically correct funk we've drifted into, and go back to helping (running) these 3rd world countries, everybody would be better off. They would have better economies, modern infrastructure, and stable governments. We would have lower gas prices and better hotels when traveling.

Of course, you all know I am in favor of drilling in Alaska and off the Gulf Coast - then telling OPEC to go jump in the lake.
 
Right on old Goat. I was a pump jockey in my teens and pumped gas at .25 a gallon. You could fill most cars and get change from a $10. Screw OPEC, drill in Alaska and North Dakota, use shale oil, and gasify coal. Tell the Arabs thanks but we do not need or want your oil.
 
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