Todays Presidential "statement of the day".... (3 Viewers)

[The SAINTaholic]

The bottom line is this: Regardless if you like or dis-like or even blame GB for the price of gas, I think we all can agree that none of us like to see the price of gas go up and up and up..... So my question is this: Is there anything we can do about about it? Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I think we've all heard / read things such as: "Nobody buy gas on a certain day" or "sell your SUV" and stuff like that, but in all reality many of us can't go out and just "sell" the SUV, it's not that simple (ie... for example, many are "upside down" on vehicles....just looking at it from a realistic point of view here), another suggestion that many would say is to "dont drive so much", yeah, that too is much easier than it sounds. So again, my question is: Is there "REALLY" anything we all can do that would ensure that the price of gas doesnt go up? Im almost to the point where I wouldnt mind getting on a bandwaggon of a large / growing group of average consumers who throw around and actively toss around / try new ideas. I think that in situations such as this, the only type of muscle we as consumers have would be to combine as one entity (masses of people rebeling in some way or another).

 

[blackadder]

The bottom line is this: Regardless if you like or dis-like or even blame GB for the price of gas, I think we all can agree that none of us like to see the price of gas go up and up and up..... So my question is this: Is there anything we can do about about it? Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I think we've all heard / read things such as: "Nobody buy gas on a certain day" or "sell your SUV" and stuff like that, but in all reality many of us can't go out and just "sell" the SUV, it's not that simple (ie... for example, many are "upside down" on vehicles....just looking at it from a realistic point of view here), another suggestion that many would say is to "dont drive so much", yeah, that too is much easier than it sounds. So again, my question is: Is there "REALLY" anything we all can do that would ensure that the price of gas doesnt go up? Im almost to the point where I wouldnt mind getting on a bandwaggon of a large / growing group of average consumers who throw around and actively toss around / try new ideas. I think that in situations such as this, the only type of muscle we as consumers have would be to combine as one entity (masses of people rebeling in some way or another).

It's supply and demand that is all. The only thing to do is demand less of it.

In the absence of some major technological breakthrough, the only real option is re-model society more efficiently. Different, more energy efficient construction techniques, higher density living closer to city centers and places of work and start spending money on rails and clean efficient public transport, instead of foreign nation building and imperial projects.

Until then, you want to drive the SUV, you have to pay.

 

[RABDOG]

texas based exon made a all-time record profit in 2007....think about that for a second an all-time record.....so does the price of a barrel of oil really make them charge us 3 to 4 dollars a gallon?...if you think about it if the price of a barrell of oil "makes" the oil company charge you 3 - 4 dollars a gallon then their profits should be about what they always where ,not an all-time record ....it's simple math

 

[The SAINTaholic]

I somewhat believe in that but then again I think there may be a twist in this theory:

Say for example you yourself own a gas station and become accustomed to the wonderful profits from the benfiting of rising gas prices in conjunction with gas guzzling vehicles..... Then all of the sudden a car manufacturer creates a super efficient car that literally cuts your overhead in half.... Now your situation has changed; many owners in my eyes will raise their prices to offset their now losses of what they were accustomed to receiving.... I know as an owner I would be tempted to do that too..... Just my thought though..

 

[CT Saints Fan]

texas based exon made a all-time record profit in 2007....think about that for a second an all-time record.....so does the price of a barrel of oil really make them charge us 3 to 4 dollars a gallon?...if you think about it if the price of a barrell of oil "makes" the oil company charge you 3 - 4 dollars a gallon then their profits should be about what they always where ,not an all-time record ....it's simple math

Their profit margin, as a percentage, is about what they always were. But when the costs go up, the overall $ profit goes up too. It's the same in any business.

10% of $100 = $10. 10% of $150 = $15. OMG - That's an all-time high!

 

[The SAINTaholic]

Their profit margin, as a percentage, is about what they always were. But when the costs go up, the overall $ profit goes up too. It's the same in any business.

10% of $100 = $10. 10% of $150 = $15. OMG - That's an all-time high!

Yeah, that's what you keep on telling yourself...

 

[CT Saints Fan]

Yeah, that's what you keep on telling yourself...

Is anything not correct about what I posted?

 

[Goatman Saint]

True all we can do is use less of it. That was the second tank of gas I put in my truck this year so far. It hardly moves except when I need it.

If Bush really wanted to change my opinion on him, he would make public knowledge of his and Cheney's back door energy policy. An energy policy that did nothing during the created energy emergency years ago, and continues to do nothing visionary about the costs of energy. There has been no leadership on this topic at all.

 

[whoah whoah]

Get a bike or a hybrid. I love when people with Trucks complain about gas prices.

 

[RABDOG]

Their profit margin, as a percentage, is about what they always were. But when the costs go up, the overall $ profit goes up too. It's the same in any business.

10% of $100 = $10. 10% of $150 = $15. OMG - That's an all-time high!

ok lets make it more simple for you....if you take in $100 a day, and....
the cost is $50 then your profit is $50.....let say costs go up $ 10 and you pass this on to the consumer(which is what the oil companies say they are doing and is the "only reason gas prises are going up) ...then you take in $110....cost is now $60, your profit is still $50...hence the same, not 50%
more than you where already getting....simple math

 

[Goatman Saint]

Get a bike or a hybrid. I love when people with Trucks complain about gas prices.

Sorry, but 800 square feet of tile, mortar, grout, backerboard and tools don't fit very well in my Cobalt. Hate to disappoint you, but some people have real uses for a truck. Or would you prefer that I stop doing jobs for material cost only for people who are referred to me for help by the Crisis center and the local senior citizens center?

 

[The SAINTaholic]

Is anything not correct about what I posted?

no, you are correct; however this theory although is a correct theory, its not the "whole" picture or reasoning of why Exxon posted the largest profit in recorded history last year. If you look at the daily price (or costs) of oil per barrel against the daily average of gas prices each day, it's NOT the same ratio (FYI: One barrel of oil, refined makes 19.6 gallons of gas), hence "someone" is making more money somewhere... Yes, part of it is going to the individual gas station owners and some of it's going to the transportation co's who are delivering it...... Pretty much everyone involved in the gas industry makes their share of profits from this, but over all this is where Exxon has made their "record profits".... So in short, yes you are right about the profit margin staying the same but when the prices are driven up, then the $$ actually goes up too..... But in all reality this is just an excuse from Exxon to hide the fact that they are literally rapeing everyone....

 

[efil4stnias]

ok lets make it more simple for you....if you take in $100 a day, and....
the cost is $50 then your profit is $50.....let say costs go up $ 10 and you pass this on to the consumer(which is what the oil companies say they are doing and is the "only reason gas prises are going up) ...then you take in $110....cost is now $60, your profit is still $50...hence the same, not 50%
more than you where already getting....simple math

Its a bit more complicated that that...Part of the problem is that barrells of oil are purchased in US $ and right now the $ US is pretty week. So the comapnies that SUPPLY the oil and charging more per bl to offset thier loss from accepting the $US instead of the Euro, pound etc. So that has to be factored in as well.

 

[CT Saints Fan]

no, you are correct; however this theory although is a correct theory, its not the "whole" picture or reasoning of why Exxon posted the largest profit in recorded history last year. If you look at the daily price (or costs) of oil per barrel against the daily average of gas prices each day, it's NOT the same ratio (FYI: One barrel of oil, refined makes 19.6 gallons of gas), hence "someone" is making more money somewhere... Yes, part of it is going to the individual gas station owners and some of it's going to the transportation co's who are delivering it...... Pretty much everyone involved in the gas industry makes their share of profits from this, but over all this is where Exxon has made their "record profits".... So in short, yes you are right about the profit margin staying the same but when the prices are driven up, then the $$ actually goes up too..... But in all reality this is just an excuse from Exxon to hide the fact that they are literally rapeing everyone....

<nitf>For instance, in 2004 Exxon Mobil earned more money -- $25.33 billion -- than any other company on the Fortune 500 list of largest corporations. But by another measure of profitability, gross profit margin, it ranked No. 127.</nitf>
<nitf>
</nitf>
<nitf>Jay Taparia, a lecturer in finance at the University of Illinois at Chicago and an expert on interpreting financial statements, said a quarterly profit or loss can only be judged in context, given the history of the company and its long-term prospects.</nitf>
<nitf>
</nitf>
<nitf>"People who are freaking out about Exxon's record profit are the same people who were freaking out about AOL Time Warner's record losses" of $98.2 billion in 2002, he said. "One quarter's net income or loss doesn't mean anything."</nitf>


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/27/AR2005102702399.html

What is your definition of "excessive profits" that you seem to be applying to oil companies? Would you feel better about it if these companies split up into 10 smaller companies and each one of them made 10% of the overall profit? Would that "look better" to you? Even if it changed nothing?

 

[blackadder]

True all we can do is use less of it. That was the second tank of gas I put in my truck this year so far. It hardly moves except when I need it.

If Bush really wanted to change my opinion on him, he would make public knowledge of his and Cheney's back door energy policy. An energy policy that did nothing during the created energy emergency years ago, and continues to do nothing visionary about the costs of energy. There has been no leadership on this topic at all.

The situation was worsened by Iraq policy. We would be paying more due to global demographic and economic factors. But the geopolitical instability created by the Iraq war, and the threats against Iran has also priced in a premium on the price of oil.

I don't know how to quantify it but jusat a wild guess of 15-20% of the price run up due to the Middle East policy.