Obama has a Fix for oil prices

[CAP1]

. Other than drive less, here's another idea: elect someone who will reduce government spending and give the entire country a raise. Never forget that a 1% tax sparked a revolution.

how are we supposed to elect someone that will reduce spending when A) we don't have such a person to choose from, and B) (IMO anyway) our elections anymore are nothing more than a sham?

[CAP1]

Lazs, as much as I would like to get on board with that, I doubt there is a pickup truck on the road that gets better gas mileage at 70 than at 55.  Anytime you try to move a brick through the wind, the power required to do so goes up, in a not so linear fashion.

my dakota. 19-21 at 75.   15-16 at 55

[CAP1]

bones.. not everyone drives an suv or pickup.. you will notice tho that all the rear end gears are now much higher (lower numerically) than they were in the 70's

lazs

most rears in the 70's were in the 2.50 to 2.90 range. most today are 3.23 and up. some v-8's are still around 2.78 though.

[Bones]

Then I stand corrected.  I guess my thought process leans more towards more efficient engine designs that make full use of adjustable cam timing profiles.

So if you dropped a gear at 55, you would get better gas mileage?

Understand, I am not an advocate for the 55MPH speed limit.

I still think taxing the poor gas mileage driver is a better way to go to coerce people to try and get better gas mileage.  While I am not big on government mandated anything, if you provide a monetary incentive to do what you can to get better fuel mileage, I think it would work.

EDIT:  CAP1, if I recall, todays lower geared cars have a final drive ratio that is either the same or maybe slightly lower than the cars in the 70's and 80's due to the transmission ratios used today.

[CAP1]

Then I stand corrected.  I guess my thought process leans more towards more efficient engine designs that make full use of adjustable cam timing profiles.

So if you dropped a gear at 55, you would get better gas mileage?

Understand, I am not an advocate for the 55MPH speed limit.

I still think taxing the poor gas mileage driver is a better way to go to coerce people to try and get better gas mileage.  While I am not big on government mandated anything, if you provide a monetary incentive to do what you can to get better fuel mileage, I think it would work.

EDIT:  CAP1, if I recall, todays lower geared cars have a final drive ratio that is either the same or maybe slightly lower than the cars in the 70's and 80's due to the transmission ratios used today.

with the overdrive transmissions, you are right. that's why the rest of the systems are so important.....cam timing, fuel and spark curves, etc.

 quite a few of todays computers monitor and individually adjust spark timing in each cylinder.

 variable valve timing helps a lot too.....but all engines still have that "sweet spot" the key is to find it. it is much easier on some than others......

[lasersailor184]

Then I stand corrected.  I guess my thought process leans more towards more efficient engine designs that make full use of adjustable cam timing profiles.

So if you dropped a gear at 55, you would get better gas mileage?

Understand, I am not an advocate for the 55MPH speed limit.

I still think taxing the poor gas mileage driver is a better way to go to coerce people to try and get better gas mileage.  While I am not big on government mandated anything, if you provide a monetary incentive to do what you can to get better fuel mileage, I think it would work.

EDIT:  CAP1, if I recall, todays lower geared cars have a final drive ratio that is either the same or maybe slightly lower than the cars in the 70's and 80's due to the transmission ratios used today.

You can't tax your way into morality.

[Bronk]

I still think taxing the poor gas mileage driver is a better way to go to coerce people to try and get better gas mileage.  While I am not big on government mandated anything, if you provide a monetary incentive to do what you can to get better fuel mileage, I think it would work.

Idoicy, going to tax people on what car they can afford.

[REP0MAN]

What I don't understand is, why are most all of the people who support Obama, and Obama himself so ignorant to the fact that this country needs to be self-reliant on energy? Why do we keep speculating on how much oil constitutes a drop in some bucket on the Global oil industry? Who cares. It's our oil. We should drill it, refine it and put it in trucks who will deliver it to our stations. Screw the Global market. Let them have the oil in the Middle East and abroad. Let them fight the meat heads in charge of Iran, Venezuela and the like. We don't have be a part of it.

The bottom line for Americans (Elitist top 1% excluded) when it comes to gas prices is that everyone, Republican or Democrat, wants the price to come back down to an affordable rate. Becoming self sufficient on oil is the cheapest, quickest and easiest path to follow.

Where's the candidate who will say that?

[Toad]

I still think taxing the poor gas mileage driver is a better way to go to coerce people to try and get better gas mileage. 

That is EXACTLY the system you have today.

Those driving poor gas mileage vehicles use more gas. Gas is taxed by both the Feds and the States. Use more gas, pay more tax.

Then there is the cost of gasoline itself. If you Choose to drive an 12 mpg truck or SUV, you are "taxed" twice as much as the guy driving a 24 mpg sedan. Say $4 a gallon and 144 mile trip. 12mpg pays $48 and 24mpg pays $24.

You just want to make it a punitive sliding scale. In short, like so many others, you want to tell other people how to live.

If some guy is willing to pay the bucks to drive his 12 mpg truck, who are you to try to force him into an econobox?

What's fair is drive what you like and can afford.

[Bones]

Interesting perspectives.

Yes, it is punitive.  How many times a day do I get passed by some driver who insists on driving with both feet flat on the floor between stop llights only to arrive at the same destination at the same time as I do.  I am paying for his irresponsibility.  So are you.

How about the high school kid who is driving a monster 4x4 with a 454 engine in it who grannies along at 10 MPH getting .5 miles to the gallon?

And everyone is ok with that?

Sometimes a solution to a problem is not a happy pill to swallow.  If you think everyone should be allowed to drive in an irresponsible manner, then I concede.  I am more than happy to swallow the responsibility for my driving style at the pump.  If I drive stupid, I should pay more for the privilege.  If I drive smart I would like to see an 'atta boy' at the pump.

We are talking about a privilege, not a right.

I look at it like this.  Anything we can do to reduce the gasoline consumption in our country is a win for everyone.  If you think that demand can be met forever based on what is in the ground, then I am pissing in the wind and will keep my trap shut and move along.

[Toad]

Well, hell then.. let's just ban any internal combustion machines from public roads. Bicycles, foot power and horse drawn would still be allowed.

That way the price of gas will REALLY drop.

As I said, you're just another guy trying to tell other people how to live.

Once you get everyone in America driving a Honda Civic, you can start on China, India and all the rest. After all, you're paying for their irresponsibility too.

[Toad]

I am more than happy to swallow the responsibility for my driving style at the pump.  If I drive stupid, I should pay more for the privilege.  If I drive smart I would like to see an 'atta boy' at the pump.

Again, that is EXACTLY the system we have in place now. The people that drive "irresponsibly" and "waste" gasoline or that drive a 12 mpg vehicle pay more for the privilege.

Wise folks like you, that sqeeze every inch out of a gallon of gas pay less. There's your "attaboy".

But... you're not happy with that. It just bugs you to see other people not behaving as "smart" as you do. Bad persons! Bad persons! Must.... Punish....Bad..... Persons.... MORE!

[Elfie]

meh....others beat me to it and said it better than I did.   

[Bones]

Again, that is EXACTLY the system we have in place now. The people that drive "irresponsibly" and "waste" gasoline or that drive a 12 mpg vehicle pay more for the privilege.

Wise folks like you, that sqeeze every inch out of a gallon of gas pay less. There's your "attaboy".

But... you're not happy with that. It just bugs you to see other people not behaving as "smart" as you do. Bad persons! Bad persons! Must.... Punish....Bad..... Persons.... MORE!

I think you are going off the deep end there Toad.  Your observation about why I posed it is not accurate.  I figure the person who is driving irresponsibly needs more incentive to stop driving that way or he/she would already be doing it.  You can chose to read in what you like and get all worked up if you want as well.

I am just guy trying to figure out how to make the best of a bad situation.  I figure the current way its being done is not working too well or we would be in better shape than we are.  I am just one opinion among many.

You know, all you have to do is ask, if you want to understand my motivations.  Whether you chose to believe them or not is up to you.

[lasersailor184]

I think you are going off the deep end there Toad.  Your observation about why I posed it is not accurate.  I figure the person who is driving irresponsibly needs more incentive to stop driving that way or he/she would already be doing it.  You can chose to read in what you like and get all worked up if you want as well.

I am just guy trying to figure out how to make the best of a bad situation.  I figure the current way its being done is not working too well or we would be in better shape than we are.  I am just one opinion among many.

You know, all you have to do is ask, if you want to understand my motivations.  Whether you chose to believe them or not is up to you.

Bones, we're not reading into the situation.  You're blatantly advertising your socialist view points.  Hell, we didn't even really have to look for them.  You threw them in our face.