Obama said what?

snownose

Liesje

The point is to get people thinking about how they can take control over their own driving habits, then maybe we wouldn't need to depend on more and more drilling of a finite resource. 

 

You bring up a good point....

Do you need to drive to agility or any other kind of dog related program. Do I need to take an Excursion loaded with dogs to an area by a river that my dogs just love? Many folks without dogs could easily bring that up.......where does it stop.

Just to give a heads up most POS cars would not pass emission testing. If a car fails emission testing it doesn't run efficiently enough.

FWIW, my POS car is not old, it's a 2002, but it's had several owners, been in accidents, rusting from the Michigan weather and salt, and has a lot more millage on it than some much older cars.

And your point is valid.  That's exactly why we have cut back so much on what we do with friends and dogs.  I am not in any dog training classes at the moment and I'm skipping my next two Schutzhund club meetings because I can't afford the gas right now (and they're training for a test we've already done).  DH has been running, biking, or getting rides to work.  We try to make good choices about balancing lifestyle and what we want to pay for as far as gas.  We chose the location of our home based on proximity to work.  I would not have chosen a nicer rental farther away.  When DH was still in school the first time he chose locations close to the bus route.  He was not allowed to drive b/c of seizures and I never had a car until we were married, so both of us know it's very possible to live a normal life (school, job, house, pets...) without ANY vehicle, it's just a matter of choices.

That is exactly it, though. Most people do not curb their consumption until the money for the gas is getting tight. You are just now not going to classes for the dogs and I haven't taken the dogs to the river. We have a smaller river close by but nothing like the nice area for the dogs to play in and swim by the big river. I tool around in a Ford Probe GT with an excellent gas mileage motor, a Mazda engine and the Excursion doesn't get driven much anymore. All I am saying is that most folks don't change until the pain is felt.

snownose

That is exactly it, though. Most people do not curb their consumption until the money for the gas is getting tight. You are just now not going to classes for the dogs and I haven't taken the dogs to the river. We have a smaller river close by but nothing like the nice area for the dogs to play in and swim by the big river. I tool around in a Ford Probe GT with an excellent gas mileage motor, a Mazda engine and the Excursion doesn't get driven much anymore. All I am saying is that most folks don't change until the pain is felt.

Or, don't change at all.  For all the complaining about gas prices, last figure I remember reading was that demand for gas had only gone down like less than 1%.  In news articles and blogs, people were threatening to picket at gas stations.  What is the point of that?  For one, the gas station doesn't control the price.  Two, maybe it's time we all changed our habits and drove more fuel efficient vehicles.  After all we pay about half for petrol what most of Europe pays.  

My friends and relatives try to justify their "need" for certain vehicles and it really goes in one ear and out the other.  I went through college working three different jobs while in school full time and never had a car until well after I graduated and got married to someone that owned a car.  And, my friends that were from farms that lived way out in the middle of nowhere and really DID need certain vehicles were never the ones complaining about gas prices or demanding that they buy this SUV or that SUV.  Now my friend is complaining about having to drive an hour to work.  Well, she's living at home and not giving her parents any money so ALL she is paying for is her own gas.  Plus, with her new job she could easily afford and apartment or even buy a house in the same town where she works.  Every time she complains I give her logical solutions and she won't listen, simply because she doesn't WANT to have to make any sacrifices.

Liesje

snownose

That is exactly it, though. Most people do not curb their consumption until the money for the gas is getting tight. You are just now not going to classes for the dogs and I haven't taken the dogs to the river. We have a smaller river close by but nothing like the nice area for the dogs to play in and swim by the big river. I tool around in a Ford Probe GT with an excellent gas mileage motor, a Mazda engine and the Excursion doesn't get driven much anymore. All I am saying is that most folks don't change until the pain is felt.

 

My friends and relatives try to justify their "need" for certain vehicles and it really goes in one ear and out the other.

 Ditto that. My parents have two suburbans and my Dad's everyday car. It's just the two of them at home, no kids, no horse trailer to pull that the moment, and my Mom is convinced she could never have a smaller car. It's insane, and I think totally irresponsible given the eco footprint. She just blows me off.

 

I think it would do everyone well to remember that high gas prices do have other consequences than simply becoming a pain in the wallet.

When people have to spend so much more money on gas, they have less money to spend at other places.  This has a direct negative effect on the economy.  Even more so, they have less to invest, which has an even bigger negative effect on the overall economy of the country. 

Spending money on gas sends that cash right back to the source...OPEC.  It is a huge deal to me to get our money out of their hands.  Why can't we keep the money here at home, boosting our own economy and creating new jobs for hundred of thousands of people?  Please, someone, explain to me why that is such a bad thing.  And if it isn't, then why in the world are the Dems so dead set against it????  They want to support the middle class, right?  They tout themselves as the saviors of the middle class, but by doing nothing to allow domestic oil drilling, they are witholding hundreds of thousands of middle class jobs!  This is what drives me so freakin' nuts about left-wing politicians!!  Ok, rant over.

Before I moved to Kentucky I lived in Illinois, you had to have cars tested after a certain year. I drove a Mercury Sable, 1995. My car passed each and every inspection. When we moved to Kentucky it passed the first 2 years we were here before they stopped testing.

That was 2002, and 2003. My car was traded in 2004, with 250k miles on it. It might have failed in that last year cause it was finally showing it's age, but I somehow doubt it. But, then I took extreme care of my car. I currently drive a 2002 Toyota Rav4, it has 75k miles on it. I get up to 33 miles to the gallon, I drive less than 13k miles a year.

The biggest issue's are that we take and take and take, and no one, or not enough want to give up driving big gas guzzlers, they want their ride and the right to gripe about rising gas costs. I don't think that anyone willing to keep driving large high profile SUV's or trucks that get 16 miles to the gallon because they WANT to, should even open their mouth. 

I can tell you here in the land of Ford, and southern trends, that I have noticed a huge difference in the number of SUV's and trucks NOT on the road. Maybe people are wising up.

ron2

And now, because I admit that his name caused me concern and I gave the emotional reasons for that, I am called a racist.

Ron, I'm sorry, but it IS racist and bigoted to judge someone on their name alone! There's no getting around that.

Here's my terrorist nephew, in case you're interested... Or is it unfair to assume he'll be judged on his name as well? Maybe because his skin is white it's okay that his name makes him sound Muslim? Or maybe it's only a problem if he dares to run for president one day? It's a pickle, ain't it?

(He got a haircut the other day, but I don't have any pictures since then...)

Pit_Pointer_Aussie

 Ditto that. My parents have two suburbans and my Dad's everyday car. It's just the two of them at home, no kids, no horse trailer to pull that the moment, and my Mom is convinced she could never have a smaller car. It's insane, and I think totally irresponsible given the eco footprint. She just blows me off.

My aunt and uncle are the same way.  They build a HUGE house outside of the city, have 3-4 cars (two kids but the oldest JUST got his license and of course they bought him his own car already).  They complain and complain about gas prices, having to drive so far, having to pay $700 to get Comcast to run a fiber-optic to their development, having to pay to cut down trees so their satellite dishes work....it's disgusting. 

My husband and I want to build a house in West Virginia, where we own land. This is what I want!

http://www.housealive.org/pictures/4.html?g2_itemId=662&g2_GALLERYSID=231785a24829fa36ec1110a55fdf2a18

I would like an indoor restroom and that is not out of the question, any water we get will have to come from a well. I want a grey water system. I would like to do without gas and either work with a wood stove or electric. Solar power would be the best, but I would have to look into the cost of that.

Working on the hubby, almost got him sold on the idea!

Truley

gas and either work with a wood stove or electric

Seems like wood stoves are quiet the polluters.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/04/ask_treehugger_12.php

sillysally

 

No, I'm saying that when people mention his middle name it is an attempt (IMHO) to associate him with Muslims, not a racial thing.  Personally, I agree with you that it is irrelevant, and cringe when I hear it mentioned because I think the reasons for mentioning it are a little below the belt.  It think it's meant more as a dig at a possible Muslim connection than a dig at his race.

Just so I'm not misunderstood though, I do not agree with the practice.  I believe that this sort of thing distracts from the actual issues, and is unfair.  I think there are much more important issues to be hashed out in this election that are just detracted from every time the middle name thing is mentioned. 

I get the "B. Hussein" crappola in e-mails from my BIL daily ... sometimes multiple times a day.  I think people are trying to use it as a scare tactic. "OOOH .. He's Muslim.  Ergo he's an Al-Qaida operative trying to destroy the U.S. from within." The sad thing is that there must be a significant number of people who actually buy into this, or there wouldn't be so much of it circulating. The last thing I got from him questioned the legality of his running at all - some nonsense about his citizenship being in question because of where he and/or his parents were born.  Hello!! The man was born in Hawaii, a full two years after it became a state. And would he be running if there were any legal problems? Sheesh.

Joyce

snownose

Truley

gas and either work with a wood stove or electric

 

Seems like wood stoves are quiet the polluters.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/04/ask_treehugger_12.php

Newer models are not as bad as what was used even 10 years ago. And if you burn the wood properly you don't get as much smoke.

aerial1313

I think it would do everyone well to remember that high gas prices do have other consequences than simply becoming a pain in the wallet.

That is so true. Not only is there less money to spend else where, the price of all our consumer goods go up. It costs more to manufacture and transport. Due to high fuel prices the demand for gas guzzlers has dropped putting many auto workers out of work. Major layoffs mean more strain on social assistance = higher taxes. It is a domino effect which impacts us in many more areas than the gas pump.

aerial1313

Spending money on gas sends that cash right back to the source...OPEC. 

Not all your money flows back to OPEC. LOL! Yesterday Exxon posted second quarter earnings of $11.68 billion, topping its own record for the biggest 3 month profit ever by a US corp. 

aerial1313

Why can't we keep the money here at home, boosting our own economy and creating new jobs for hundred of thousands of people?  Please, someone, explain to me why that is such a bad thing.  And if it isn't, then why in the world are the Dems so dead set against it????  They want to support the middle class, right?  They tout themselves as the saviors of the middle class, but by doing nothing to allow domestic oil drilling, they are witholding hundreds of thousands of middle class jobs!  This is what drives me so freakin' nuts about left-wing politicians!!  Ok, rant over.

I may have to stand corrected but as I understand, the ban on off shore drilling was to cease in 2002. But due to environmental concerns (especially oil spills - remember Valdez) and near record low gas prices, Clinton extended the ban until 2012 in 1998. Of course things have changed and there is pressure to lift the ban. The problem is at what price. Is potential low gas prices and creation of new jobs short sighted? Is there enough oil to control our future or will we ultimately be in the same or worse position with an environmental disaster added to the mix? It just seems more logical to spend our time and energy developing alternative energy sources and learning not to be such energy pigs! That's where it is going to end up anyways. Might as well get started.      

snownose

Pit_Pointer_Aussie

If you don't understand the Koran, read it

**edited content**

Wow, .... just going for every insult you can! Pretty offensive.  The OP's integrity in this thread was questionable from the get go, but.... Wow.

fuzzy_dogs_mom

The sad thing is that there must be a significant number of people who actually buy into this, or there wouldn't be so much of it circulating.

Hmmm, or is it just more socially acceptable to use the 'muslim' card than the 'black' card? Just asking?