CNN/Gallup Poll: Gas prices a 'hardship' for majority in U.S.

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/04/04/gas.poll/index.html

Gas prices are causing financial hardship for a majority of Americans, according to a poll released Monday.

Fifteen percent of respondents said the current price of gas -- averaging about $2.22 per gallon of self-serve regular -- is causing them "serious hardship" that jeopardizes their standard of living, while 43 percent described "moderate hardship," the CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll said.

Less than half -- 42 percent -- said gas prices are causing them "no hardship."

Gallup has done similar polls each spring since 2000 and never found more than 49 percent reporting financial hardship due to gas prices.

[beyurslf]

1. Wait till gas prices shoot up another 50 cents or more.

I bet that 42% number shrinks.

[libhill]

2. Nah -

We have to do our patriotic bit, to take care of Big Oil - that's what the Repukes want, an' we all knowed they done knows whuts best fer us.

[DBoon]

3. Where is all that free Iraqi oil?

Didn't we fight a war or something for cheap oil? Did something go wrong here?

[Erika]

10. We didn't fight a war for cheap oil

We fought a war for Bush oil friends to obtain oil rights and increase their profits out of sight. Which they did. For the human costs we've paid for bush's friend profits, go to www.icasualties.org

[Fovea]

4. Word to Americans vis a vis 'hardship'

You ain't seen nothin yet!

[spooked911]

6. I agree-- but will Bush ever pay a price for it???

[rodeodance]

27. unfortuately no, he will not

[Coastie for Truth]

8. Thermodynamics Refresher

First Law - Things are bad with the price of gasoline.

Second Law - Gas will get more expensive before it gets cheaper.

Third Law - Who said gas will get cheaper?

Check-

1. Beyond Oil : The View from Hubbert's Peak by Kenneth S. Deffeyes

2. Hubbert's Peak : The Impending World Oil Shortage by Kenneth S. Deffeyes

3. Out of Gas: The End of the Age of Oil by David Goodstein

It isn't politics -- it is geology.

[RPM]

5. no hardship here

unless the transit authority raises fares to pay for the gas....

which i expect soon...

[onehandle]

7. Too bad Bush can't be elected to a third term.

Then the suckers of America would definitely get the gas prices they want. Right?

Soar gas prices, soar. Give Americans what they deserve.

[BRLIB]

9. FK the MeriKKKans, those 59,000,000 dumb asses

voted for the monkey!

[demgrrrll]

12. The new metro will be stopping near me soon. I am glad to be living

near public transportation that can take me all over the city, to Illinois, to the airport and other places I want to go. I was a little apprehensive at first but now that gas prices are going through the roof I am glad to have an alternative.

[Fovea]

17. Is it going to ever make it to St. Charles?

My old home town, NIMBYland's spiritual center.

It was where I learned about karma, when a cop I knew accidently shot himself with a gun he bought as a drop piece.

The oil crisis in '72 was a horror out in Weldon Springs.
The '05 crisis is going to hurt terre de cupcake real good.

[demgrrrll]

41. I don't know what the plan is right now I do know that they are planning

on taking the metro from 63119 out to South County but I am not sure about St. Charles and I am not sure where or when they are going to South County after 05.

[Betty]

15. Too bad the rest of us have to live

with the idiotic decision of those fuckers.

[Dave Reynolds]

11. I'm sure that Boosh

will be "jawbonin" those OPEC fellas to "turn the taps on".

[joefree1]

20. Can't, those OPEC fellas at full production

Ain't no more to give.

[Dave Reynolds]

21. I know,

I just remember pResident Asshat during the debates with Gore, he was rambling on about $1.50 a gallon being too high and it was all Clinton's fault.

[Javaman]

13. Personally, I think this will cause the repukes some seats next year...

They keep blathering on about SS, Schaivo and the pope, but the reality hits people at the pump.
If the Democrats need a wedge issue here it is on a platter.

[Athame]

35. Ah, but when have we ever known the Dems

to use a wedge issue that was handed to them on a platter...or even one that smacked them on the head? :shrug:

[saigon68]

38. DINOS LIKE LIMPMANN will be snoozing

And dropping to their knees to service DA CHIMP.

[Horse with no Name]

14. 42% is a figure that comes up frequently

Wasn't shrubby polling at 42% when he "won" the (s)election?
Isn't his "approval" rating 43%?
Now 42% say that the gas price isn't affecting them?

Wouldn't this justify simplicity in saying that shrubby dubby only has 42-43% of legitimate support?

Seems workable to me,lol.

[Betty]

16. 42% of Americans are morons

in other words.

[Horse with no Name]

18. Yeah--in a nutshell--literally,lol. eom

[joefree1]

19. Hey Hummer Drivers

Still loving your 10 mile a gallon Suburban Hummer rip off?

[kath]

23. Love the "Teenie Weenie Peenie" sign in your post!

[unhappycamper]

22. hey - that thing got a hemi?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Straight Shooter]

24. The "hardship" under consideration is merely the cost of gasoline

Wait until the tentacles reach into all the common, everyday things we do, the cost of food we eat, the freighted deliveries of mail order, no doubt postage will go up again, clothing prices will rise, wages will have to rise and companies will then raise cost of goods.

When it all shakes out and inflation is roaring because oil is at $80 or $90 a barrel, I bet that 20% will still never experience a hardship. That's because the rest of us are carrying their damn weight.

[rodeodance]

26. it is a lot taken out each week for those who live paycheck to paycheck

[barb162]

33. you got it. This will look like pure whining a few years from now

It will get a lot worse, and then even worse than that. I want to start seeing SUVs, muscle cars and Suvs off the roads. Pure waste of a precious resource.

[Godai Kyoko]

25. Interesting article in Forbes last week about Hybrids

At $1.50 they made no sense at all. As the price goes up, they make more and more sense. Of course, it also lowers the per unit cost if the auto makers can sell lots of them, and electronics are subject to Moore's "law".

The article argued that for cars, the engine will still be internal combustion for a long time to come, but with new electronics and computers coming on line, the drive train will be totally electronic by the end of the decade, Just like railroad locomotives are already. With the new computers gas mileage will go up and up.

[Voltaire99]

29. Thanks for the info.

The economies of scale as well as advancing tech suggest waiting a few years before buying a hybrid.

In the meantime, there are plenty of good options for Murricans to kick their SUV and pickup habits. And as the price at the pump goes up, they aren't going to have much choice.

[Voltaire99]

28. Hardship, smarsdhip. Sell your stupid gas guzzler.

While oil fears are nothing to sniff at (and peak oil is a crisis that needs addressing immediately), the writing is on the wall for those bellyaching today about "hardship."

Sell your SUV or pickup while it's still worth something, ya gas-guzzling dopes! That is the absolute minimum Murricans are going to have to do to cope in a world of soaring oil prices. Might as well get a jump on it.

[high density]

30. My right-winger coworker is bitching daily about gas prices

Four more years! Yeah!

[barb162]

32. and what does that person drive

[barb162]

31. I don't really believe this hardship routine.

Every person I ever see interviewed at the pump says they have a hardship filling the tank...of the SUV

[MADem]

40. I am driving the same car that I had when I could fill my tank for ...

ten bucks! Now, I am paying over twenty. But I don't drive long distances every day, in fact, I drive very short distances a few days a week, and drive very long distances about once every three months or so. So, it isn't hitting me like it is the person who is going to the pump two or three times a week.

There's something to be said for an economy car, though! In Italy, where gas costs plenty, families I knew with a car and space to park in the yard often had two cars--a crappy, beat up, fuel efficient little FIAT for every day, and then a heavier, fancier, 'saloon' car (BMW, Mercedes, or other popular brand) for Sunday drives, important events and long trips.

[Lindacooks]

34. Good. Maybe they'll wake up

and start protesting this illegitimate regime and its systematic screwing of the lower and middle classes.

[lovuian]

36. Sell your gas guzzler! Who will want to BUY the SoB!!!

the high price of gas just depreciated the pick up trucks and SUV's and other gas gusslers which cost in the tens of thousands

and when you trade them in you'll get zip notta zilch for them!!!

Its theperfect Bush screw job of America!!!

[barb162]

43. the people buying gas guzzlers, if they get screwed trading them in,

fine. I see more guzzlers with those ribbons saying they support our troops. Isn't the real reason our troops are there is for the oil, they're getting killed so these idiots can drive their 15mpg guzzlers. To me there's very few reasons (the disabled, eg) anyone has to drive a guzzler other than to show off.

[Barkley]

37. I heard its a 6 mon wait to buy a hybrid and SUVs now have $6000 rebate

Does anyone know if this is true?

[GetTheRightVote]

39. My boss had to wait forever to get her hybrid, yes it is very long

sometimes even longer then 6 months, demand is up now.

:kick:

[demgrrrll]

42. My father in law has been on the list for a year. eom.

.