If Gas were $4 / gallon would that affect you working..........????

[cthrumatrix]

How would it affect your behavior?

Drive less....(now work)

Eat less...

take public transportation...?

Would you have to find another job becuase you can't afford the travel..?


The $4 scenario is not far fetched...Peak Oil will drive higher gas prices and I don's really know how they will settle lower in the long run.

[yvr girl]

1. It's 96 cents a litre

which is pretty damn close.

You adjust. I don't drive my car that much though, because of where I live.

[cthrumatrix]

4. europe and other countries have adjusted (becuase of need) ..the US hasn't

all along the problem will get much worse for all energy costs

[yvr girl]

5. Canada is an oil producing country too

We have tons of the stuff. But our government has always favoured Sin Taxes.

[cthrumatrix]

6. The US has known this issue for decades with NO Renewable Energy Plan

[Siyahamba]

23. Carter had a plan for all renewable energy by 2000

Then, you know what happened next...

[benburch]

2. It would change a lot!

Not just personal behaviour!

Food in the stores will double in price, as transportation is the biggest input in most produce.

We'd have to keep the house at 55 degrees in the winter.

We'd have to settle for tepid showers.

Nothing that uses energy will be unaffected.

Oh yes, did I mention the mass layoffs, and home foreclosures?

[BiggJawn]

Ben knocks it out of the park, Fans!

You "Oh, well, I guess I'd have to take the Bus to Starbucks instead of my Vovlo!" crowd just don't get it.

First, the price of your bus ticket would double. A buck to ride, with free transfers now? Expect $2 and NO transfers.

Your $6 "Venti Mucho-Grande Chi-Chi Gazongo-cino" will cost at least $10.

Everything that comes into Your Fair City by truck or rail will have increased in price. Food, Medicine, "Personal Care Items"...

Oh, did I mention that your WAGES will probably have not increased? Now, I know some of you folks can absorb a 100% increase in essentials, but the "Lucky Ducks" like me are already stretched a little thin...

There's a LOT more at stake here than just the inconveinience of having to leave the Escalade parked a few days a week...

[Viking12]

29. Good post.

If gas were to rise to $4/gallon my actual gas expenses would increase about $6-$8 perweek. My expenses for everything else, particualrly food which is the second largest expense w/in of our family's budget, would rise significantly.

Focusing on individual transportation costs is missing the forest because of an obsession with the tree.

[BiggJawn]

34. "Obsession with the Tree"...

Good point! Well said.

[stepnw1f]

43. Reality... Hello.

People are going to literally DIE because of this. I can't even afford to live in an apartment with my girlfriend. We both do not make enough to pay rent, food, etc and I have to pay off enough student loans worth the amount I would pay for a house... and have NOTHING!

[BiggJawn]

46. Yeah, well, I was avoiding THAT little unpleasantry...

Wanted to spare the delicate feelings of those morons who still think it's be a "Good Thing" for gas to go to $4 or more, since they can ride the bus to Starbucks while they wait for Detroit to build electric cars.

I swear, some of those people remind me of the stupid sheep who say "Why should I care about family farms and farmers? I buy all my food at the Safeway..."

[tx_dem41]

3. Probably wouldn't change that much about my everyday routine.

I might not drive as much on the weekend (but I don't that much anyway).

[LeftyMom]

7. Wouldn't change my commute

I work from home. LeftyDad would probably walk or ride his bike more, he works pretty close to home. Unless transit was really improved we'd still need the car for groceries, we've tried taking the bus to the grocery store and it's a nightmare. We'd probably do more of our local shopping on bikes, right now it's hard to work the extra time into our schedules but we'd probably try harder if gas cost that much. We'd probably take the train more for out of town trips, instead of driving.

I might not want a van anymore. The 3-5 mpg downgrade isn't much of a ding ato our current budget but if cas doubles, I probably wouldn't get one until we had another kid and it became it became absolutely imprerative.

[cthrumatrix]

11. would it affect the company you work for?.... How about when gas is $6 gal

[LeftyMom]

13. Probably less direct oversight from my boss

She has quite a commute to come up here.

I don't want to say exactly what it is I do, but the business I work for is in town and would probably benefit if people moved inward from the sprawl.

Our energy costs would go up but I think Sacramento would be insulated from that a bit because most of our energy is hydro.

[cthrumatrix]

14. I'm glad for you.

[LeftyMom]

27. Please don't think I'm minimizing the problem

I'm just fortunate that my lifestyle isn't real auto dependent. As a family we didn't have a car for several years, so if we had to do without one again or just minimize our usage we know the drill.

A lot of people can't do that, and it's really going to fuck up our economy and generally do a number on society, more than likely.

Part of the reason we live the way we do is because I believe peak oil is a real issue and I'd rather be living simply already than have to make a sudden adjustment later.

I'm trying to learn to garden and grow some of my own food. At soem point in the near future that may be a valuble (and possibly lifesaving) skill instead of a hobby.

[norml]

8. I'd quit my pizza delivery job.

The high price of gas is already cutting into my income. There has been no pay raise, no increased compensation, and people are tipping no more than they did before. There are even more stiffs than before, because you get more cheap skate republicans in their suburbs at the edge of town, calling for delivery, to save on their own SUV gas bills.

[Agnomen]

9. It wouldn't affect my work

since I live in one of the few places in US where public transportation is the logical preference, and cars unnecessary. The higher gas prices do affect transporation costs though, rising prices at the grocery store.

[Meeker Morgan]

10. One thing not to forget.

If the price of gasoline really goes up, that is not just an at the pump consumption tax, then the price of everything goes up.

[cthrumatrix]

12. correct ...for your employer, transportation costs, food costs...

[Jamison]

16. No way I could keep my current job

because I commute about 65 miles round trip per day. I would think about biking it, but damn I'm no Lance Armstrong ya know lol.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

26. one of my employees said the same thing yesterday...

She has about a 25 mile drive each way. Of course, they just built a 250,000 dollar house out there, and they drive a Lexis. Go figure.

[pstans]

15. I'd change some things

I would car pool, ride my bike whenever I can, and plant a garden to offset the spike in the cost of food.

[Gin]

17. I would walk more...maybe get a bike..eat less.....and drive only

when necessary.

[doublethink]

18. Yep ...

Bike rideing the cheapest oldest beat up bike I could find (in case of theft) to work. Better exersize anyway. I'm lucky to have the access to my job street wise to do that. Not everyone is so fortunate though.

[Just Me]

19. It would definitely hurt rural Americans a LOT!!!!

We don't have public transportation and are completely dependent upon private means of commute!!! Our closest little markets are several miles away. Many of us are truckers or farmers or must travel to the nearest town to make minimum wage or to the nearest city to make a living.

High gas prices would devastate rural America.

[cornermouse]

20. Probably have to either sell my home and move to town

and put up with a decrease in quality of life or take a job locally and lose $4 to $5 per hour. I don't know if there are very many other people in the similar position but if there are, I don't see this benefiting the economy. However, I'm sure the television talking heads will find a way to see it as a good thing.

[freestyle]

21. Short commute already, but I might bike instead

When I bought a car two years ago, I got a diesel that gets about 40 mpg city and close to 50 highway. My commute is all of four miles, so my fuel use is already pretty low. But, if prices got that high, I would probably bike to work more.

A big problem with rising fuel costs is the impact on household energy costs. Driving habits are often much more adjustable than housing choices. Often, there are opportunities to improve home energy efficiency, but the improvements often take money that people don't have and can't borrow.

[Strelnikov_]

32. What Diesel Car Did You Buy?

Happy with the quality? Would you buy again?

(Reason for asking, I am considering a more fuel efficient vehicle before there is a run on such. Living in the Midwest, the multi-fuel aspect of diesel looks promising. Also, my typical driving patterns are such that a diesel could yield better value than a hybrid, for now.)

[freestyle]

41. I have been very happy with my VW Jetta TDI Wagon

and would buy again. The ability to use biodiesel is a nice feature, although there is no easy availability in my part of Maryland. Minnesota, I think, recently mandated B2 (2% bio, 98% conventional). From what I have read, blends up to B20 don't cause any winter starting problems and you could go all they way to B100 in warmer weather.

I was actually trying to wait for the Ford Escape Hybrid, but my Taurus really did not want to hang around any longer. 110K miles wasn't bad though. It will be good when hybrids and diesels (and hybrid diesels) become basic options, not "exotic" choices.

[BiggJawn]

22. In the short term....

Ride my bike to work instead of drive (15 miles ONE way)
Cut down on utility usage, no more "accent lighting", the fish would get light only in the evening, severe cutbacks on climate control (heat to 55 or less in the winter, no AC in the summer)

That's the short term. Long term, I'd have to start considering whether to re-locate closer to work (Rent will be at a premium closer to town. You think I'd be the ONLY one wanting to cut down the commute?)

I would probably get my truck repossessd, since it's not paid for, and if I can't afford to feed it, what's the use of owning it. and what's the market for oil-powered vehicles gonna be? Eh?
The accompanying increases in the price of everything that has to be transported will cut severley into my income,and that's *IF* I still HAVE an income!

So I will probably be roaming the countryside on my bicycle,unwashed, wearing ratty Lycra and trying to trade Sex for Food and sleeping where ever I can get out of the weather. you might be, too.

Think "The Road Warrior"...

[Just Me]

28. *LOL* I'd rather ride a horse!!!!

I simply am no longer young enough to even imagine riding a bike over and through the hills (my 14 year-old son would be hard-pressed to make it to the nearest small food market).

Frankly, even a horse would be hard-driven and would require special rubber shoes. At least, it would be a more warm and comforting ride than a bike!!! (yep, I've always loved horses).

[BiggJawn]

31. But I don't have to feed my Raleigh when i'm not riding it..

I don't have to feed it even when I'm riding it.
Unless you have enough land to pasture your horse,and do your own Vet work, you're still gonna be paying out the nose for transportation.

Don't forget- a coupla hundred years ago, only the wealthy rode horses.

Oh, good point about the special rubber shoes, though. I'd better lay in a stock of tyres. THOSE are made of Oil, too y'know...
Well, I've been looking for an excuse to exercise more, anyway.

[KansDem]

35. "So I will probably be roaming the countryside on my bicycle..."

While you're at it, you could carry large amounts of apple seed, and plant apple trees along the way!

You could come to be known as "Jawnny Appleseed!"

Just some levity to offset a dark, dire forecast...

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

25. Let me count the ways..

It wouldn't affect getting to work. My last car died 4 years ago. I take the bus to work,it's a 10 minute ride, and I like letting someone else drive.
I would be spending $500 a month or more for car payments, insurance, gas and maintenance. (bus passes for the family - $150 a month). My teenage boys take the bus from my house to Dad's, to their friends, and I wouldn't be driving them everywhere anyway, they need to learn to get themselves where they need to go. We rent a car every once in a while for trips out of town, that's $150 or so.

I order food on-line and get it delivered for $4.00 (very cool) or do a mass grocery run once a month and get a cab home for $10.

Now, the ways it will effect my job are going to be massive. I run two trucks daily to WA, one locally and with the other equipment we have in the yard, our fuel bill is $6000-$7000 a month. Last year at this time it was about $4500. I figure only $500 of that is from actual increased fuel use, the rest is the price increases. I got a rate quote from a National carrier yesterday, their fuel surcharge is now 24%. This is up from about 12% - 15% a year ago. Of course this is an absolute price gouge on their part. I figured out one quote about 9 months ago, they wanted 18%. This translated into twice as much gas as my truck would use to do the same run. And you KNOW these guys get a better price for fuel than the tiny outfit we have. Every hauling company (recycling and freight) that we deal with are being affected. One company is losing their people left and right as they keep wages low and cut benefits to keep their profits up. (Repugs!) The kicker for them is, their drivers are leaving to take jobs with the multi-national waste haulers that are moving in and trying to take over the city... I digress, that's a whole other mess!.

The cost of goods is directly tied to the cost of transporting those goods. This will affect all of us.

[Just Me]

30. WOWIE!!!

,...shit,...

You should contact the "white ivory tower" conservative "think tanks" and tell them to visit a REAL AMERICAN!!!! They leave folks like you completely out of their teeny weeny boxes!!!

I salute your drive to survive!!!

[davsand]

33. We will be so far past F*%#ed we are gonna want a bus to get back.

Not ONE aspect of our lives will be untouched and our economy will shut down like a Tijuana brothel on Sunday morning. Consider this: EVERY industry in every way is dependent on the goods transported or manufactured with Petro-based products.

This possible little scenario is not all that far-fetched either, when you consider the idea that Chavez, the current head of OPEC, thinks the asswipe in the White House wants to assassinate him. The Middle East is also pissed off at us and China is doing a great job of moving into the place the US used to occupy in terms of international cash flow. There is not much incentive right now to protect the US internationally.

There's not a lot standing between us and the bottom right now. About the only thing saving us, in the short term, is the idea that the foreign banks don't want to try and collect on our national debt for fear of the impact the US collapse will have on world markets.

Gas hits $4 per gallon and you better plan on how you are gonna get back from the point of being F*&$ed...



Laura

[JanMichael]

36. I walk to work.

Of course that may not last forever due to my wife chosing a grad school next year, but for now I walk.

EDIT: I should add that we go to Costco once a month and that's a 12 mile rt.

My wife drives to work 4 days a week and that's about a 15 mile rt.

[paineinthearse]

37. But what about our reserves in Venezuala & Iran?

Thought those were coming on line in 2006????

[bobbieinok]

38. and what about people like me who walk with a cane or walker?

no biking here

don't see any vegetable gardening here either

there are a few advantages to being retired....don't have to worry about cost of getting to work, just getting to dr, drugstore, grocery, etc

[Viva_La_Revolution]

42. I promise...

To pick up things for others while I'm out.

:-)

on edit - think container gardening - It can even be done inside with lamps.

[jpak]

39. None of the above.

When I took my present job, I made a conscious decision to find a place where I could walk/bike to work or the grocery store, etc.

It's paid off - my car has been in the shop for the last 3 weeks (grrrrrrrrrrr). It has hasn't been a real hardship (well maybe on rainy days, but that's why I have Gortex gear).

Peak Oil will result in major changes in real estate markets, zoning laws and municipal public transit.

We're going to have to live closer to work/school/stores and need convenient reliable mass transit to get there.

[Strelnikov_]

40. But I Thought That There Would Be No Impacts

like others on this board pontificate, and the fair and balanced liberal media expound upon.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3247016#3247374

I mean, warning about the economic effects of demand chronically outstripping supply for a price inelastic commodity like petroleum, upon which the economy depends, it is just fear-mongering.

And even if prices skyrocket and exhibit great volatility, as the ‘doom sayers of peak oil’ predict, being the world’s largest economy, we will still be able to purchase what we want from other countries. It isn’t like we have a 6%+ GDP current accounts deficit, 5%+ Federal budget deficit, real-estate, and personal debt equity bubbles. Not to mention that we still manufacture most of the basic commodities that we consume.

Also, even if energy supply peaks due to peak oil, our economy will still continue to grow. Isn’t that what capitalist market economies always do? Isn’t it?

[conflictgirl]

44. It would change things for us somewhat

We're buying a house next week, which makes me nervous because the long-term stability of the economy is so uncertain, but at least we'll have a fairly large yard and we can walk to a grocery store, library, school and post office. The grocery store isn't ordinarily our preferred one because the selection is limited and the prices a little higher, but if gas hits $4 a gallon I think we would do our shopping there rather than drive 10 miles to a "better" grocery store.

We would eliminate all non-essential driving. There's not a whole lot of that as it is, but we would cut out all the extras. My husband works 11 miles from our new house. I go to school, which is about 7 miles from the house.

We don't currently own bikes, but this summer I'm going to get some.

[stillcool]

45. I've been thinking about this...

and even if you take it all the way down to basic necessities water, food, and shelter, depending on where you live there will be lots of obstacles. Shipping, freighters and trucking, will be the expense that will impact the most. i don't think i really can grasp what a lack of that 'source' entails.
But then 'necessity being the mother of invention' has always been one of my favorite fall-back phrases.