Do Americans truely understand gas prices?

Question

Its supply and demand. The faster you use it the more it’s going to cost. If America stopped using and buying gas for one day, there would be double the gas at the borders. The gas prices would drop at least in half.. However it’s not feasible for people to just stop using gas, However, we can all do our part to reduce the consumption, and lower the prices.

Answer 1

I applaud your question. Americans feel entitled to whatever they want. They want a SUV that sucks gas at 9 miles a gallon then that is what they get. It is all about immediate gratififcation.
We are spoiled. We are ficlke. For instance we drive cars that suck gas, but we don't dig for oil off our coasts or in Alaska. Instead we use the middle East gas and then we complain when there is a war. Geesh
We as a country are smart enough to develop alternative fuels.
I personally have cut back my driving. Americans maybe need $10 a gallon before they cut back.
If the terrorist don't get to us, or the weather doesn't drive us away, we will destroy ourself........but we will at least have our cars.

It seem that the younger generations, in histroy, stands up and fights for the wrongs in society. Where is this generation? ooooooooh, sorry there are on the computer, listening to their ipod and playing a vidio game, before they take a cross country drive.
(sorry just a bit of humor)

Answer 2

Yes, supply and demand has a great deal to do with gas prices. However, this does not answer the question of why they have jumped so high so quickly. Americans did not suddenly begin using massive amounts of more gas daily than they were using before the gas prices jumped so high. So, unless a study is done which clearly shows that Americans have suddenly begun using massive amounts of gas than a few months ago nobody is going to convice me that simple supply and demand has caused these huge leaps in prices.

Yes, if people did not use gas for a few days it would affect the price of gas. However, this would only be a temporary affect as we all need to begin using it again. Consumption is only one factor in what is going on in these gas prices. I sencerelly believe dishonesty and price gouging is occuring all over. Those who supply the gas to the American people, the Bristish people, the French people, the Iran people, the German people etc, are not being honest. They are looking at the world's events and picking and choosing what to charge. The British are paying quiet a bit more at the pumps than we in the U.S. are. So, how does that go towards supply and demand? No, there are other factors at work as well. It is what a buyer is willing to pay a troubled nation which is selling the oil. It is rather like a game of speculation. What happens if the oil is suddenly denied? So, many are upping prices on the possibility that oil will not be available in the near or not so near distant future. It has little to do with the end market, the end consumers, and everything to do with politics. Out country goes to war when the oil supply is threatened. Oh, we come up with all types of excuses for the war, but the bottom line is the oil. We help countried who help us or who have something we want, and we ignore those countries who don't, regardless of what the state of the people are in those countries. Look at the Bosnia war. We did not get involved for a very long time simple because that country did not have anything we wanted. We only got involved because we were shamed into it by the extent of atrocities committed there. Our government kept Bosnia out of the news in order to keep the U.S citizens ignorant of how extensive the horror was. When it finally really hit the nations airwaves in a manner in which all could plainly see the PEOPLE demanded the government DO something.

Sorry, I got off tract. No, there is a lot more going on here than simple supply and demand. The American people are not responsible for the price of oil, or gas. I believe gas station owners are gouging prices and the government for reasons of its own is allowing it to happen. I think one reason is it helps the ecconomy when prices suddenly jump in such a huge manner in such a vital item. With gas prices jumping other costs are going to rise as well. Which can stimulate a run on purchasing property, refinacing due to soon to be increased interest rates, etc. It is much more complicated than normal supply and demand. Great question though. Thanks.

Answer 3

A brilliant observation. Let's all stop using gas. We don't buy gas, we don't go to work. We don't go to work we don't get paid. We don't get paid we lose everything. Good Ideal. Necessity is the mother of invention. Let's get educated and find a better more efficient way of transportation make gasoline obsolete throw away our old cars then maybe with the mentality of society we can create a new product for our vehicles that we can over price so people can't afford to go anywhere. Then we can use socioeconomics to complain about the unaffordable prices and the politicians who have oil companies in their back pockets. Well at least I've understood what I've said. Maybe you do? I'm really not attempting to be sarcastic. I'm trying to say the big picture is there are those who are in place who will cause the elevation of prices no matter what the market, whether in gasoline of ethanol what ever you want to call it. The price of everything is set by the large pocket, not the small one.

Answer 4

You're right; it's supply and demand. However, by the same principle, we shouldn't have to consciously use less, our demand will reduce naturally based on the fact that we can't afford more.

By the way, gas prices in the world aren't completely free to move up and down with the consumer, because oil companies and associations also have a lot to do with it. They decide how much oil they are going to put out on the market. So, in a way, the gas prices follow their supply/demand structure much more than the one of us consumers. But they pay attention to us because we buy their products. It's quite complex, actually.

Answer 5

How can you not depend on gas when there is such a screwed up public transport in this country. Can you manage without a car outside a city? While accusing other countries of being 3rd world and everything just have a look at their public transport system. In Europe and Asia you can easily manage without a car and you won't be left bankrupt unlike here. People in this country have to start thinking about it. Guys you should travel to other countries and see what happening in our country. That is when we will know how much we are losing. Now there is not much we can do other than buying hybrid cars. Wake up people and speak up for your rights for more efficient and affordable public transport around the country.

Answer 6

Your completely stupid and shouldn't be allowed to breed, don't you think that if everyone stopped using gas then the gas companies would have to raise prices to generate enough income to make up for your stupid a** not getting gas! You morons are so f**king stupid. Do you realize that the reason why our country has the LOWEST gas prices is because we use the most!

Answer 7

I dont think most people think that much about gas prices. It STINKS that the prices are so high - but most people throw their money all over the place without a care. Its kinda sad. Spending it on things like ciggs for smoking, beer - McDonalds... I guess gas is one of those things that we have to pay for so we can get to and from work to buy all the other little stupid stuff we waste our money on.

Answer 8

I think you shouldn't blame the whole country because a lot of people think it's unfair. Yes, there is the thing of supply and demand, but that doesn't mean that the gas prices aren't still unjustly priced.

Answer 9

Yes, they understand when they fill up their tank all to much. Also it's irrelevant whether they do or not, it is what it is. But also they should know that every time George Bush or the idiots that work for them open their mouths about attacking some country the price goes up because of the uncertainty of what might happen George needs to think about the consequences when if opens his mouth.

Answer 10

well I understand it, but most of my countryfellows don't seem to
it's the media, I tell you. If you watch American media, they haul out a bunch of people to complain about how high prices are and point to the oil companies. Even the conservative talk show hosts point to oil companies price gouging, when in reality the causes are much more complicated