[WeatherOp]

I guess I'm already resigned to the fate of the US. When gas reaches over $4 a gallon nationwide our shaky economy will collapse like a shattered wall of bricks. Common sense tells me there is really nothing to be done to change that.

[iamzack]

I guess I'm already resigned to the fate of the US. When gas reaches over $4 a gallon nationwide our shaky economy will collapse like a shattered wall of bricks. Common sense tells me there is really nothing to be done to change that.

You mean like last time it hit $4/gallon? And the time before that?

[Drogoth]

I guess I'm already resigned to the fate of the US. When gas reaches over $4 a gallon nationwide our shaky economy will collapse like a shattered wall of bricks. Common sense tells me there is really nothing to be done to change that.

You mean like last time it hit $4/gallon? And the time before that?

Situation was different. The American economy is shaking on the ground now rather then just being on its knees.

[LordMelvin]

I guess I'm already resigned to the fate of the US. When gas reaches over $4 a gallon nationwide our shaky economy will collapse like a shattered wall of bricks. Common sense tells me there is really nothing to be done to change that.

You mean like last time it hit $4/gallon? And the time before that?

You mean last time like in 2008, when the housing market collapsed?

[Scotty]

Yeah!  Exactly like that, since it was $4 a gallon when the housing market started collapsing.

[Nuclear1]

I don't exactly think that $4 a gallon caused the housing market to collapse...

[Mars]

The only reason gas isn't $4 a gallon is because it's so heavily subsidized

[Nuclear1]

It's getting there though,...it's 3.28 out here in Omaha...$3.18 if you count the E10 I put in my truck.

[BlueFlames]

I don't exactly think that $4 a gallon caused the housing market to collapse...

Four-dollars-per-gallon probably didn't have a significant effect, but at a certain price-point, people start considering accomodations closer to their jobs, local government offices, and businesses.  In other words, given a sufficient spike in gas prices, the suburbs start to empty, and urban housing gets packed.  It's not necessarily a formula for a total collapse of the housing market, but in the case of a sustained increase in fuel prices, the whole paradigm of build-out-not-up would have to get turned on its ear.

It's getting there though,...it's 3.28 out here in Omaha...$3.18 if you count the E10 I put in my truck.

It's roughly $2.85-per-gallon at the gas station near my apartment, in Knoxville.  From that gas station, though, I could spit and hit a tap on one of the major branches of the Colonial Pipeline.  Still I'm glad that I average less than a gallon-per-day in petrol use, because sitting on a pipeline or not, I doubt fuel prices have anywhere to go but up.

[Grizzly]

Lucky bastards. It's 7,76 dollars to the gallon over in Holland.

(1,50 euro's a liter)

[Mikes]

Uhm... in a "socialist country" there are no privately owned companies, by definition,...

Communism is not socialism. Lrn2politicalsystem plz.

Sweden is certainly not a communist country, but... the point is that Sweden is not a socialist country either - not by the Marxian definition anyways. ...  or do you want to imply there are secret plans and movements against the private ownership of IKEA, Ericcson, et cetera.?

Right wing much or just lost in definition?

[SpardaSon21]

The only reason gas isn't $4 a gallon is because it's so heavily subsidized

Source, please.

[Grizzly]

http://www.progress.org/2003/energy22.htm

[SypheDMar]

Obama mentioned in the 2011 State of the Union that gas is subsidized, too. So yeah, it's definitely true.

[Bobboau]

http://www.progress.org/2003/energy22.htm

the subsidies in listed in that source amount to $33 per person per year.

[Scotty]

I don't exactly think that $4 a gallon caused the housing market to collapse...

Of course it didn't, but the events coincided fairly nicely, which was my attempt to illustrate how the economy won't magically epic-collapse if gas hits $4 again while we're in a recession.

[LordMelvin]

I don't exactly think that $4 a gallon caused the housing market to collapse...

Of course it didn't, but the events coincided fairly nicely, which was my attempt to illustrate how the economy won't magically epic-collapse if gas hits $4 again while we're in a recession.

WAKE UP, SHEEPLE! Of Course there's causality between those co-incidental events! That's BasIc CorreLationist tHeory! We're all gonna die! It's the End of Days! My Toes Itch! 9-12 was an outside job! gyaaaaahhhhhhh!

</nervousbreakdown>

4$ gas may not bring about the end of the world as we know it, but, speaking as someone who has to drive 10 miles to the corner store, it's sure gonna suck big time.

[sayoqod]

Teehee, "Sheeple".

But in all seriousness, I acknowledge that we're in a recession, but few people ever think that they have "enough" money. It's probably time to just grit our teeth and bear it. Economy is cyclical. It will get better.

[Drogoth]

Teehee, "Sheeple".

But in all seriousness, I acknowledge that we're in a recession, but few people ever think that they have "enough" money. It's probably time to just grit our teeth and bear it. Economy is cyclical. It will get better.

Economy is cyclical, so is history. The point is not that things will be horrible forever, the point is whether or not America is financially sound enough to weather the bad times if they get much worse. Just because we live in modern times doesn't mean nations are safe from the cycles of history. America is in bad shape, and its gonna take a lot of work to pull through this in one piece

[iamzack]

I don't exactly think that $4 a gallon caused the housing market to collapse...

Four-dollars-per-gallon probably didn't have a significant effect, but at a certain price-point, people start considering accomodations closer to their jobs, local government offices, and businesses.  In other words, given a sufficient spike in gas prices, the suburbs start to empty, and urban housing gets packed.  It's not necessarily a formula for a total collapse of the housing market, but in the case of a sustained increase in fuel prices, the whole paradigm of build-out-not-up would have to get turned on its ear.

I can't be the only one who sees that as a good thing.