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Lysondra
03-08-2008, 11:17 PM
My car is 100% deductible and I still cringe at the cost of petrol (gas)!

You guys need to really STFU. Seriously. You have got it damn good!>:(

I fill up 10 litres at a time usually (20 if I'm going to be busy!)... and for 10 litres I'm usually spending around $15 !

So yeah. Lovely thread. Reminding ME how much I spend on petrol ... I'm going to go over to the sex thread now... so much better.. hahha

*blink* The max you can claim on petrol in Austrlia due to personal business expenses is 8 grand.

BrunetteGoddess
03-08-2008, 11:30 PM
Um, is it really necessary to come into this thread and tell people to STFU? That wouldn't be cool in ANY thread.

And how many fucking non USA'ers need to come in here and spoil our thread? If we wanna fucking gripe about gas because WE are used to much cheaper gas, then so fucking be it! Excuse the fuck out of us for being shocked; it's not our fault you've been paying out the nose for years. Don't take it out on us....

TigersMilk
03-08-2008, 11:42 PM
They need to make petrol cheaper so I can fill my Hummer and my SUV and my 4 wheel drive!!!

But supply and demand says you demand more for your large vehicles, so we can charge more!

But it's too expensive!!!

It's up to $16 a gallon in other countries!

But we're not other countries, we're America, and we want it cheaper!

Well you can't have it cheaper!

DAMN YOU... what will we fill our massive useless trucks with then?

Why not carpool then?



LMAO!!! So true! I'm gonna buy a bigger car..like...like a real tank and complain even louder!

Kaylinn
03-08-2008, 11:49 PM
BG, you seem so bitter today. Are you ok, hon?

Gypsy was only trying to help and be nice. She didn't know you don't dance anymore, and your reply was so scarastic and rude.

I noticed a few of your threads the past few days have been bitter. I know you have a lot going on right now, so here's a :hug: Keep your chin up.

BrunetteGoddess
03-08-2008, 11:55 PM
My reply was not sarcastic and rude. It may have sounded like that because she can't hear the tone of my voice.

And I'm annoyed....people get to rant about stuff all the time on here and we accept it; all of a sudden Americans as a group want to rant and we have to all STFU, we have it so easy, etc? If this was a personal thread, that kind of response would be seen as rude and unkind...how is this any different? We can't rant anymore because we are a group or something?

So...we're spoiled.....? THAT constitutes responses from Aussies and Europeans we've seen CONSTANTLY in this thread?


It's especially annoying and insulting when people like me in the US who ARE driving little cars with good mileage, working jobs we can, doing the best we can and still struggling, are told to STFU because "you don't have it bad". Well excuse me! Who are you to tell me it isn't bad?It is bad for me! So...I wouldn't be able to afford gas in Australia, so I'm NOT struggling here?

I'm sorry, this got more personal than I intended, but the point was not all Americans that are 'whining' are dumbasses who are spoiled and entitled.

TigersMilk
03-09-2008, 12:01 AM
When the day is done a thread is just a thread. People can have their opinions about Americans. And its just that ...an opinion and its ok.

Lysondra
03-09-2008, 12:23 AM
Um, is it really necessary to come into this thread and tell people to STFU? That wouldn't be cool in ANY thread.

And how many fucking non USA'ers need to come in here and spoil our thread? If we wanna fucking gripe about gas because WE are used to much cheaper gas, then so fucking be it! Excuse the fuck out of us for being shocked; it's not our fault you've been paying out the nose for years. Don't take it out on us....

It's called a joke. It's supposed to be funny. And we're used to paying a lot less for out petrol too. It was a dollar when I came here.. and ten cents more per litre means $5 more a tank!

BrunetteGoddess
03-09-2008, 12:27 AM
I'm sorry, I'm the wet blanket tonight, jokes are lost on me.

I guess my life situation has really caught up with me this week and this thread reminded me of that.

Sorry.

Lysondra
03-09-2008, 12:28 AM
I wasn't serious. I was just teasing. I didn't mean it harshly at all. :)

BrunetteGoddess
03-09-2008, 12:32 AM
I know.

GoldCoastGirl
03-09-2008, 01:43 AM
*blink* The max you can claim on petrol in Austrlia due to personal business expenses is 8 grand.

All I know is that I submitted my log book a few years ago in re this current car which makes everything regarding it tax deductible.. and I submit all my expenses etc (thru using MYOB) to my accountant.. and I get as much deducted as possible... oi.. see my current mood at the time of my post.. it was (is) tired.

me no thinky straight. ;)


regardless, the "yanks" are still bitching about nothing IMO.

Kaylinn
03-09-2008, 01:52 AM
^ it's not bitching about nothing.

If we are used to paying a certain amount for gas, and then that amount goes up, we feel it in our wallets. Just because it isn't as high as what your paying doesn't mean it still doesn't sting.
If someone on a budget allows $80 a month for gasoline in their car, but then that has to increase to $100, that money has to come from somewhere. It really stings in the wallet of those on a budget to scramble to compensate for the increase.

Becides, it's all relative. Didn't I read on here somewhere that minimum wage over there is like $20 an hour or something? Min. wage here is $6.15 I think. That's a big ass difference.

Gypsy74
03-09-2008, 02:00 AM
Oh ok, so I should buy a 30 year old car instead of my 15 year old car and come up with that $2900 I don't have. OK.

Or spend $10 grand! Even better! on a 6 year old car!

No, I'm retired. Thanks for trying, but not all women on this site dance anymore ;)

whatever. it's possible if you want it.

MrChristopher
03-09-2008, 03:32 AM
Calm down, everyone. Yes, gas is expensive. Dur.

So- How long do I need to live in another country before I can start talking shit?

Budai
03-09-2008, 05:45 AM
.... but Americans are like OMG $3 a gallon!! And it's like... you have the cheapest freaking petrol in most of the world and you use it on HUMMERS! Hahahaha.

Not trying to be anti-American... just pointing out what I see. It's freaking funny.
Aren't you an expatriate American, Lysondra? I'm certain you'll correct me if necessary. I hold dual citizenship but I identify myself as an American.

IMO, this thread is actually about more than just Yanks whining, because the Iraq War is having a global effect on fuel supplies. The actual amount of fuel consumed by the Iraq War effort is now classified information, and vast amounts of fuel are being consumed 24/7 by vehicles that make our scorned Hummers seem like hybrids by comparison.

"When I take action, I'm not going to fire a $2 million missile at a $10 empty tent and hit a camel in the butt. It's going to be decisive."
- :rotfl:

GoldCoastGirl
03-09-2008, 05:59 AM
It's called a joke. It's supposed to be funny. And we're used to paying a lot less for out petrol too. It was a dollar when I came here.. and ten cents more per litre means $5 more a tank!

I remember from my childhood the prices my father paid to fill up his car.. it was way under a dollar a litre. Goodness! Even my boyfriend at the time before I started stripping so this is many MANY years ago commented about how he would over-joyed if the price of petrol went up so it would make us all us less (hahaha! we won't use less.. if anything we are using more as there are more people on the roads incl taxis and buses!)... oi.. the good old days.

The only reason I said STFU is because seriously it is only going to continue to go up as the supply is finite ... and the demand is increasing.. and it is just too easy to not keep putting the price up.. rant away.. however just take into account that other people from other countries do have it "harder" than you.. so it may be seen as a little self indulgent if you get me.

You don't have to rant about everything on here. Sometimes it pays to bite your tongue.

Lysondra
03-09-2008, 06:12 AM
Aren't you an expatriate American, Lysondra? I'm certain you'll correct me if necessary. I hold dual citizenship but I identify myself as an American.

IMO, this thread is actually about more than just Yanks whining, because the Iraq War is having a global effect on fuel supplies. The actual amount of fuel consumed by the Iraq War effort is now classified information, and vast amounts of fuel are being consumed 24/7 by vehicles that make our scorned Hummers seem like hybrids by comparison.

"When I take action, I'm not going to fire a $2 million missile at a $10 empty tent and hit a camel in the butt. It's going to be decisive."
- George W. Bush (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/g/georgewbu145052.html) :rotfl:

Yes I am... but I definitely identify myself as Australian. My heart is here, in this country.

Lysondra
03-09-2008, 06:17 AM
^ it's not bitching about nothing.

If we are used to paying a certain amount for gas, and then that amount goes up, we feel it in our wallets. Just because it isn't as high as what your paying doesn't mean it still doesn't sting.
If someone on a budget allows $80 a month for gasoline in their car, but then that has to increase to $100, that money has to come from somewhere. It really stings in the wallet of those on a budget to scramble to compensate for the increase.

Becides, it's all relative. Didn't I read on here somewhere that minimum wage over there is like $20 an hour or something? Min. wage here is $6.15 I think. That's a big ass difference.

It's confusing. Min wage should be, in general, $20 an hour if you're over 21 but... rent is cheaper, electronics are WAY more (my phone was $800, my TV was $600, my Nintendo DS was $200), food is way more ($30 avg. per meal)... Ikea costs less, cars cost more, petrol costs more, electricity costs more. Hell, it seems everything costs more but rent and Ikea.

Also $20AUD = ~$16USD

Sh0t
03-09-2008, 07:36 AM
Anybody who thought this war would bring lower gas prices was crazy.

So not only do we have the disruption of oil supply, but we have we've had close to a 40% dollar devaluation to fund the war.

Hit from both ends.

Gas isn't the only thing that has risen tremendously in price, but gas is something we notice for the price for every time we go outside because of how ever-present the price signs are.

I see myself as a citizen of California if anything. There is no honor in being a cheerleader for the Washington Empire.

Sh0t
03-09-2008, 07:45 AM
Also, you foreigners provide me with much laughter already in the way you allow your wallets to be raped with 2 dollar a liter gas taxes in some places.

Maybe if you complained more, you could keep more of your own money.

Lysondra
03-09-2008, 07:46 AM
Also, you foreigners provide me with much laughter already in the way you allow your wallets to be raped with 2 dollar a liter gas taxes in some places.

Maybe if you complained more, you could keep more of your own money.

Yep, I see that's totally workin' for you over there.

Sinder
03-09-2008, 08:15 AM
This says it all....;D

Sh0t
03-09-2008, 08:32 AM
Yep, I see that's totally workin' for you over there.
It does work. Every time they propose a higher gas tax, it's a political nightmare.

The spot price of gas is the roughly the same world wide. The major price difference is caused by higher gas taxes. Offhand, the pump price of gas in France is 70% taxes. In California, USA, it's about 19%.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/international/gas1.jpg


random pics
To be honest, the oil companies are not as bad as people think they are. They do a pretty good job considering energy is our most regulated market.

Gas has to be rationed somehow and the price is the best way to do it.

G-Real
03-09-2008, 08:44 AM
^^^

nicely done....what I think most people in the country do not seem to understand is tht oil is a limited supply. And that oil is used in different ways, so oil is not just gasoline, but, its in plastics, heating oil, power plants, etc.

Back to the point, people have been so accustomed to cheap oil here that they think it is a right.

I'm also sure a majority of those people are while not against renewable energeny, don't want to spend the money on it.



There has to be a breaking point somewhere, and it will be with the consumer...

Sh0t
03-09-2008, 08:52 AM
Cheap oil is not a right, but why should we pay more than necessary due to politics?

People complain because they intuitively suspect(or have good knowledge) that the oil price is NOT just a function of market exchange. Politics plays a major role in the price of all goods, unfortunately.

We use most of the Oil because we CAN use it. A lot of countries don't even have paved roads. We also take up a huge area geographically of land that is useful to humans. Not too many people moving around in Siberia or the various vast deserts in Eurasia and North Africa.

Renewable or not, the main factor is price. It makes zero economic sense to switch an energy resource that is very expensive when oil is still COMPARATIVELY cheap. There is also little fear of running out of oil. Companies just don't invest in finding more expensive locations when there are cheaper wells to be exploited.

The breaking point will be when the public realizes the government is to blame and decides states were a bad idea.

Bob_Loblaw
03-09-2008, 09:00 AM
It does work. Every time they propose a higher gas tax, it's a political nightmare.
Unfortunately it hasn't worked in Canada. In fact, BC is imposing a new carbon tax (http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=44c1970e-2640-4d4a-9672-4861a494f5fb&k=18798). In July, we can expect to pay an additional $0.024/liter (approx $0.09/gallon) which will increase to $0.073/liter (approx $0.276/gallon) by 2012.

The government is secure in the knowledge that voters know voting them out of power will not rescind these taxes. A new party that comes into power is not willing to give up any streams of revenue. And none of the opposition parties are willing to put gas prices in their agendas.

G-Real
03-09-2008, 09:13 AM
Also, lets remember as far as the US in concerned its not just that oil prices have risen. Its that Bernake has managed the Fed Reserve horribly. While he is trying to jump-start the economy, he is weakening the dollar, thus making oil more expensive to americans.

There is no one-fix solution to this......though Shot may disagree... :D

Lysondra
03-09-2008, 09:15 AM
Milk costs more and isn't finite.

Randomly thought I'd throw that bit of 'waitaminute' out there.

Sh0t
03-09-2008, 09:40 AM
There is no correct way to manage the Fed if helping the American public is the goal.

The Fed's very existence ensures we are going to be taxed via inflation.

Ketel One is also renewable and more expensive than gasoline.

Sh0t runs pretty well on vodka and milk(though I am lactose intolerant). His motorcycle seems to reject them, however.

Melonie
03-09-2008, 10:13 AM
Milk costs more and isn't finite

in a new sense, it is. Milk is now in direct competition with motor fuel in the USA at least. The reason ... ethanol mandates for motor fuels are diverting farm acreage away from food production, which in turn increases the price of animal feed, which in turn increases the price for milk. The finite commodity involved is productive farm land.



Also, lets remember as far as the US in concerned its not just that oil prices have risen. Its that Bernake has managed the Fed Reserve horribly. While he is trying to jump-start the economy, he is weakening the dollar, thus making oil more expensive to americans.

This is actually an extremely important point, which typically gets too little attention. Oil, ethanol, food etc. are all 'global' commodities. This means that they are really priced against some overall average 'value' of all of the world's currencies. If you measure the price of oil in terms of some 'constant value money' (the closest thing we have is probably the price of gold) you discover something extremely interesting ...

- yes the price of gasoline in terms of gold hasn't really changed very much in the past 10 years

- however the 'value' of the US dollar has changed in a big way

to drive the point home in another way check out ...

- which shows that the supposed 'gains' from US stocks haven't really gained at all in terms of real 'value' since 9/11/2001, only in terms of less 'valuable' US dollars !

If you think about the US dollar (or any other home currency if you don't live in the USA) as a 'moving target' in terms of real 'value' a.k.a. purchasing power, a lot of things that are occurring in today's world economy become much easier to understand.

Ultimately, the US gov't cannot spend / give away money that it does not have ... either on middle eastern military activities, or on social welfare programs, or on bank / mortgage bailouts. So for the past 2-3 years at least, the US gov't has decided to print up huge piles of pretty green paper notes (or their electronic equivalent) with which to pay its bills in the 'world' market. Stripping off every bit of sugar coating, this basically boils down to the US Fed printing up 'counterfeit' money (in terms of real 'value'). However, since this 'counterfeit' money cannot be identified separately, it serves to devalue the green paper notes that were previously printed (that had a much higher real 'value'). Thus the rapid US dollar denominated price increases that are occurring in gasoline, food and other world commodity prices actually have a whole lot to do with the debasing of the US dollar.


Speaking to the other point, every US city that has evolved since World War One has been based on the perpetual existence of cheap oil / energy. Arguably, every suburb that has developed since World War Two has been totally reliant on the perpetual existance of cheap oil / energy. Whether this is a good or a bad thing compared to the 'endless cities' of Western Europe or the 'island cities' of Australia isn't the issue ... for a fact 3/4ths of America's population have invested in a way of life that is totally dependent on cheap oil / energy, and for a fact that way of life WILL end if oil / energy are no longer cheap.

Consider for a minute what will happen to America if the price of gasoline reaches say $10 per gallon. Any working class American who must drive a significant distance between his home and his workplace will be badly hurt in terms of 'discretionarly spending'. Any working class American who must have food / energy / manufactured goods transported long distances from where they are actually 'produced' is going to be hit with higher prices to offset the higher gasoline / diesel involved in that transportation, which intensifies the problem.

The value of suburban housing which is located long distances from workplaces will decline severely, as working class Americans can no longer afford to live there (due to high associated energy costs), and as rich Americans do not WANT to live there. So will the value of all housing in locations that are naturally very hot or very cold, as rapidly increasing energy prices make air conditioning and heating bills increasingly unaffordable.

This will ultimately lead to the boarding up of entire suburban communities, with the former population being forced to move closer to the cities where their jobs are in order to minimize their transportation costs to avoid bankruptcy. However, this will also lead to a return to renting as city properties are too expensive for working class Americans to buy (which is a major reason they moved to the suburbs in the first place). This will also lead to a bigger tax bite being taken out of the paychecks of the now city dwelling working class Americans, to pay for city services that were much less expensive to provide in a suburban setting (i.e. social welfare benefits, law enforcement to name a couple). Thus the de-facto standard of living of the former suburban now city dwelling working class Americans will be forced to drop significantly as a result of permanently higher energy prices.

BrunetteGoddess
03-09-2008, 11:35 AM
whatever. it's possible if you want it.

You know what? There's a difference between trying to be helpful, and being a know-it-all.

No, it isn't possible if you just want it enough. If that were the case money would never be an issue; people could just 'want it enough' and it would materialize.

BrunetteGoddess
03-09-2008, 11:38 AM
^ it's not bitching about nothing.

If we are used to paying a certain amount for gas, and then that amount goes up, we feel it in our wallets. Just because it isn't as high as what your paying doesn't mean it still doesn't sting.
If someone on a budget allows $80 a month for gasoline in their car, but then that has to increase to $100, that money has to come from somewhere. It really stings in the wallet of those on a budget to scramble to compensate for the increase.

Becides, it's all relative. Didn't I read on here somewhere that minimum wage over there is like $20 an hour or something? Min. wage here is $6.15 I think. That's a big ass difference.

Exactly. Thank you.

It's not about price comparison, it's about the amount of increase.

BrunetteGoddess
03-09-2008, 11:42 AM
I remember from my childhood the prices my father paid to fill up his car.. it was way under a dollar a litre. Goodness! Even my boyfriend at the time before I started stripping so this is many MANY years ago commented about how he would over-joyed if the price of petrol went up so it would make us all us less (hahaha! we won't use less.. if anything we are using more as there are more people on the roads incl taxis and buses!)... oi.. the good old days.

The only reason I said STFU is because seriously it is only going to continue to go up as the supply is finite ... and the demand is increasing.. and it is just too easy to not keep putting the price up.. rant away.. however just take into account that other people from other countries do have it "harder" than you.. so it may be seen as a little self indulgent if you get me.

You don't have to rant about everything on here. Sometimes it pays to bite your tongue.

You have no way of knowing in the grand scheme of things whether you as an Aussie have it harder than me as an American just because your gas is more expensive.

I won't bite my tongue just because you don't want to hear it, sorry.

Andygirl
03-09-2008, 12:53 PM
You know what? There's a difference between trying to be helpful, and being a know-it-all.

No, it isn't possible if you just want it enough. If that were the case money would never be an issue; people could just 'want it enough' and it would materialize.

Agreed. That was an extremely naive thing of her to say.

cutey5032
03-09-2008, 03:36 PM
Fucking a.

First of all, yeah not all of us can afford to just go out and buy a car. That was EXTREMELY ignorant. Theres a lot of things we want, and like BG said they just don't materialize when you want it enough. Its expensive just to live and even if she wants a new car chances are its going to take a while to save for it anyway.


And I'm sorry, but all this US-bashing pisses me the fuck off. Sorry for being born in this fucking country. Maybe we'd live somewhere else if we could, but its not an option for all of us. If anybody from another country complained about something, I know I personally would have the fucking respect not to jump in and tell them to shut the fuck up, because they are "better off" than me. You don't know that, we may all live in the US but in some areas its more expensive to live than others, not to mention other financial burdens, debts, etc.

I wasn't originally complaining that "our gas is more expensive than others," it was about the increase in price. We all just make a fucking list of every single product out there and compare it, then we can see who has it "harder." >:( Its pretty pointless to try and go tit for tat. Next time I hope you all have a little more respect. I'm sorry I started this fucking supposed-to-be-innocent rant. Its made me very sad.

BrunetteGoddess
03-09-2008, 06:20 PM
You said what I was thinking better than I. Thanks Cutey.

Lysondra
03-09-2008, 08:51 PM
Fucking a.

First of all, yeah not all of us can afford to just go out and buy a car. That was EXTREMELY ignorant. Theres a lot of things we want, and like BG said they just don't materialize when you want it enough. Its expensive just to live and even if she wants a new car chances are its going to take a while to save for it anyway.


And I'm sorry, but all this US-bashing pisses me the fuck off. Sorry for being born in this fucking country. Maybe we'd live somewhere else if we could, but its not an option for all of us. If anybody from another country complained about something, I know I personally would have the fucking respect not to jump in and tell them to shut the fuck up, because they are "better off" than me. You don't know that, we may all live in the US but in some areas its more expensive to live than others, not to mention other financial burdens, debts, etc.

I wasn't originally complaining that "our gas is more expensive than others," it was about the increase in price. We all just make a fucking list of every single product out there and compare it, then we can see who has it "harder." >:( Its pretty pointless to try and go tit for tat. Next time I hope you all have a little more respect. I'm sorry I started this fucking supposed-to-be-innocent rant. Its made me very sad.

Not bashing. Joking. Making light of a situation to make it seem funny. Pointing out irony because it's funny. Not bashing.