but you chose to live there, right? You can't expect a bus route to accomodate every single house around Cleveland...what you can control is living in an area that allows you to use the public transportation. Or you can live elsewhere, and choose to drive. Looks like there are plenty of park and ride options, and other public transport methods
http://www.gcrta.org/
with plans to expand in the future
http://www.ecocitycleveland.org/transpo ... d_hub.html

Last Fall I was paying up to $3.33 for a gallon of gas. Luckily for me I drive a fuel efficient car but thats besides the point.

Oh and the oil companies posted record setting profits over the past year plus (i have a cousin that works for Sunoco) so go talk to a few of their executives.

Well, consumption of gas increases every year. Consumption increases, sales increase, profits increase. Pretty standard economics

Home Depot has a sales growth of 10-12 percent each year. Most companies have similar growth models

trade for a hybrid

Very true

I've lived here my entire life, but when I move out someday (10-15 years down the road!), I'll try to live in an area where I can access decent public transportation.

also, what is everyone's opinion on

http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net

hey i'm 17. this is ALL I PAY FOR. well besides my clothing, food unless i eat at home but usually nobody cooks, and stuff i happen to do and buy.
with a 7 dollar per hour job, who refuses to give you a raise after a year and a half, and rarely gives you hours, it's difficult to think the way you do, because right now i don't have anything else to compare it to.

Let's lower your taxes!

shut up
i can complain if i want to. 2.75 is ridiculous. it's just tough to buy a lot of gas with a shitty job.

How many times must I tell you people to go buy a motorcycle?

I'm on your side here. I was mocking a certain party's typical response to your problem.

This argument only works if your geography and income are accomodating. Some of us live in areas where we have to travel significantly and we're not able to car pool with spouses or neighbors. That $30 a week becomes $60. Which becomes 3-thousand a year. Add to that the very low average salaries for some rural areas, which are often substantially under 20-grand a year and you're still paying 8-10% of your income on gas.

The fact that Europeans are being robbed blind is not a good enough reason for 3-dollars a gallon to be "okay" for us. They're getting raped, we're just getting ass-fiddled. But fiddling is still wrong.

Your comment about inflation is correct, but it's also true that real wages in states like mine have lagged far behind inflation.

I'm also laughing at the "but you choose to live there" statement.

Your average married couple with a mortgage, kids in school, careers, multi-generational community involvement can't just "up and move" just because they think somewhere else will be better.

Many people don't have savings because monthly bills cost so much. They've often had to dip into the savings to cover emergencies.

Cut cable TV? Sure, but I WORKED for that cable. There's only so much I'm willing to do without and smile about it after decades of working for it. Also, the cable, phone and internet 3-in-1 package is only a small anount more than it would cost to have a regular phone and dial-up. Some of us do freelance work on the internet. We can't just "cut costs" as it's a communication necessity. In my case long distance calls are free with internet phone. Keeping in touch with far flung family and friends by phone by paying for long-distance would quickly match what I pay for the internet

You add up a monthly mortgage, electric bill, fuel bill, utilities, insurances, student loan payments, vehicle payments, etc, etc. and you quickly arrive at a figure that is at or beyond salary. There isn't much to "just cut" besides groceries and lesiure activities. And, believe me, many of us have tried.

I certainly think I have the right to complain about fuel costs. I worked my first job at age 5 and am about to turn 40, yet inflation has outstripped wages perpetually, so that I currently have no more savings than I had 20 years ago. Yeah, I'm gonna bitch about it.

High costs are the nature of the beast, but saying we shouldn't bitch about the beast because other countries are raped even more severely, that's silly.

"Blame ME, Tania!"

[img][650:488]http://www.nissanhelp.com/Models/2002/Xterra/XTERRA2.JPG[/img]

Sounds like this is your complaint then, not fuel prices. Fuel prices are one of the only things that have lagged inflation, if anything that is working in your favor.

It is ridiculous why? Because it doesn't fit into your budget?

Technically true, yes. But it's something concretely in one's face that one can bitch about.

come on you guys, the oil companies need our help!


I just filled up my entire tank for $20 in Jersey and am utterly shocked. In a place where you're not allowed to pump your own gas you'd think it'd be more expensive....

gotcha.

I am not trying to champion the oil and gas companies, but having worked as an engineer supporting offshore oil and gas extraction, I know of the costs associated with getting it to shore. It is very expensive, and only getting more expensive as all of the 'easy' oil has already been tapped. My old companies best platform, delivering 250,000 barrels a day daily, was nearly wrecked during Katrina. All of that production was lost in the short term, which is a big hit, and it costs hundreds of millions to repair.

My only point is that gas is still relatively cheap compared to both other countries and compared to inflation. Also, it is a small percentage of most people's budgets (<5%), and if a 10-30 cent increase in gas prices really causes strife than I guarantee they can cut that out of entertainment or restaurant expenses easily.

But I understand people's need to take out money concerns somewhere, and gas prices are an easy target, however illogical it can be.

Sorry that wanting to be able to fill up my '91 Honda Accord for less than $40 is illogical, J. Paul.

lol...I would like to fill my car up for less than $10, but I don't see that happening

Ha, I just saw this! I wasn't complaining...I live in a state where gas prices are always going to be higher than most states in this country. It's a fact of life I've learned to accept. Having a 60 mile R/T commute to work doesn't help my gas budget. Add to that, I now have two cars -- both 4 cylinder vehicles -- and it costs the same to fill up the tank (even for a Kia Optima).

I wish I lived closer to work, but unfortunately can't afford the prices charged unless I acquire a roommate. And not many affordable places accept 3 dogs.

I hear you Tania, I have 75 miles R/T, definitely adds up. But no way am I going to sacrifice not living in Boston to save on gas

I'd like for $10 worth of gas to last me more than two days, but I don't see that happening, either.