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Utahns feeling pain at the pump

The oil companys have extra high profits
Sad they can not give the customer some relief

We have had to do the same. My husband sold his van so we could save on car insurance and gas. Now, we also just use one car. It's sad to have to resort to this, it's inconveniant but this economy leaves people no other choice.

We knew back in the 60s that this day was coming. This is only the beginning. We could have tech today so as not to be so dependent. But, as usual, the politicians wait until things are drastic before even approaching the problem. And, in this case - big oil politicians and corps have lined their pockets from our suffering.

We spent a century rebuilding our world based on the assumption that the oil supply extended to infinity and would always be cheap. Oops, bad assumption. There will be a lot of pain as we once again rebuild back to a way of life that is a better reflection of reality.

The Oil Industry is robbing Utah at the pump. We have the largest shale oil reserves in the world and could provide for America for some time if forced to. We also have traditional oil drilling in rural areas of the state. Domestic oil is the bulk of what is refined here. I am told that currently native Utah oil is selling at around $75 a barrel. Why is it then that we are paying the same price as everyone else in America?

Another oil investigation needs to be issued by Gov. Huntsman and this time there needs to be indictments. There is price gouging/fixing rampant in Utah. Oil can be sold for $25 a barrel and a profit still can be turned. Someone somewhere is making a hefty profit at the detriment to our economy and our pocket books. They get away with it because we can't just not drive. This is one time that it's good we have a government that can take action. But the question is, will they serve we, those they are sworn to protect and stop this outrageous fleecing of Utah or will they cave to these powerful special intrests?

When the going gets tough - the greedy turn professional.

We will not yet, however, modify our driving habits, or give up the idea we need serious off road capability to get to the mall. We will not give up on the idea we're above drinking local tap water, but will pay to transport someone else's filtered tap water thousands of kilometeres. We're not ready to start thinking seriously about how our cities are designed.
We have not, it could be said, suffered enough. It is our right to suffer more.

we're in a recession, the borders are wide open, people will flood into the salt lake valley, pollution will increase, health issues will rise, cost of living will be effected, crime and grime will be the norm. But you gotta get yours and I gotta get mine!

How do you like your Bush administration now? A 12 billion dollar a month war that has been going on for 6 years is enough in itself to bankrupt our country(where is the allied help?). It concerns me that we are sold the big threat of terrorism globaly and no other countries show the same concerns if it is in fact true. We also have fuel prices going through the roof that effects everything we touch and consume daily with price increases, and the mortgage mess with people losing their homes by the thousands. This present administration is going to walk in a few months and just what do you Big Red party supporters think whoever takes over is going to be able to do in the future? There are numerous other issues(Nafta ect.) You better wake up very, very soon and not elect one more incumbent that has served during this fiasco. A complete OVERHAUL is the only thing that at this point that will possibly work. It's your choice now voters.

Welcome to the fruit of trickle down economics. trickle down economics has been the main stay of Mexican economics for decades. You live with the results.

Bush's family are earning more off their oil investments. Why should they solve what is seen to them as a great solution?

Is it just me, or do some people get really preachy when oil prices are high? Don't we have the freedom to drive what we choose, spend what we choose, and drive what meets our wants and needs?

And is it just me, or do many people not understand the economics of gasoline prices? The devalued dollar is a major culprit, oil companies to NOT control the price of oil, and their profit margins are lower than your favorite retailer. Maybe we need a new rule: if you don't do your homework, you forfeit the right to complain.

Boy, I tell ya what, that is some spendy fuel. Sheesh. Black gold? Texas tea?

...hear the piggies whine. We have a self indulgent wasteful lifestyle based on using way too much oil and it is catching up with us. We could have planned ahead and made changes gradually but it seems only pain in the wallet will make us face reality. Don't blame the politicians, they are only giving us what we demand. Don't resent the oil companies, junkies always end up at the mercy of whomever is suppling the dope.

can foot some of the blame regarding high oil prices. No matter how much supply there is, refining capacity hasn't increased for years (no new refineries have been built for 30 years thanks to them) - so as demand as increased there is not enough supply at the end product. They have made sure we can't burn coal, drill for new supplies of oil within the confines of the United States, no new nuclear generators, etc. etc. Their idea of wind and solar power isn't going to get it for the near future.

Don't drive. Reconfigure your life so you don't have to.

Anyhow who is blindsided by this is stupid. I have been scaling back my auto use for a couple years now - if you are doing it now, you better start because it will only get worse.

Think this over: Cheap oil & coal use is the "evil" creator of CO2, supposedly causing global warming. So we look for alternative energy sources, finding out that all will cost more per kwh or btu. Raising the prices & prohibit drilling, mining or finding of oil & coal sources "equalize" the cost. Alternative source of fuel is ethanol, grain based, turning your food source into fuel causes food prices to raise, breads, milks, cereals. Grain feed for animals will cost more for meats. More grains will be turned into fuel than for food, causing a supply "famine".
When you go about trying to eliminate something due to a supposed "evil" instead of looking for ways to use it better, you will eliminate more than the "evil" item.
My Grandpa always said, "You better learn to grow a garden, someday you will need it to eat from."

AIMHO

But we can't go get it. Start writing congressmen and senators. We can be self sufficent, if we start being smart about it.

We have 3 cars. One is our garage car that we take for a spin a few times a year. It reminds of of a more carefree time in our lives. Then, we have the family van. With 9 kids, we have to have a van. No oher choice. and we have the husbands get around economy wind-up car. We do what we can, but our world demands that we must move around. Not everyone lives walkng distance from work anymore. So, stop companing on this blog, and start writing letters to those that make drilling decisions. It's not the oil comapny's fault we can't go get it. it's congress'.

I've been saying on these boards for years that everyone needs to get in line for a plug-in electric car. There will be two on the market in late 2009 (Toyota Prius Plug-In and Chevy Volt). They will have a range of only 40 miles before needing a recharge, but that's more than enough for the average commuter (25 miles is the average round-trip commute in America).

At the current price of electricity in Utah, it will cost you about $0.50 per 40 miles. Beat that in your gas-powered car.

Perhaps the best part is you get the satisfied feeling of sticking it to the oil companies. I will be the happiest person on earth when oil is obsolete, demand goes to near zero, and oil is trading at $2 per barrel.

How are we suppossed to scale back our driving in rural SE Utah? We are 57 miles from groceries! Everywhere we go requires a lot of mileage and no mass transit in the 4 Corners area. Regular unleaded is nearly $3.40 cents/gallon and diesel is now over $4.00 per gallon in this region.

All this complaining is fairly entertaining. If high fuel prices are bothering you, sell your big SUV and think about a less than 40 mile commute. Move back into older, close in, areas. No one is sticking a gun to your head and making you buy fuel. Its the free market baby, reduce demand and prices will fall. Lets hope some kid out there will invent new technology in the future involving alternative fuels in order to reduce our dependence on oil. Look what happened to the computer industry when a bunch of kids became motivated to resolve technology problems. I predict the same will happen with fuel technology. Don't read sensationalized newspaper articles and you won't panic.