Why does middle class keep on whining about gas prices?!?

Question

People of substance deal with the reality instead of crying... Why dont they just change their habits a little? They need to ask themselves... Do I need a Ford Excursion if I only have 2 kids? Do I need that trip to the mall every weekend? Can I carpool to work with my neighbor or maybe take a bus like low income people do... There are plenty of solutions around if you start using your brains!

Answer 1

and impede my decadent self absorbed lifestyle, there must be somewhere else with oil we can invade.

Answer 2

It's human nature. Rather than adjust and be greatful for what does go right, we gripe and moan about what goes wrong. If you look in the bible, the Israelites were brought out of slavery - something they should have been greatful for - and were taken into the desert to go to their promised land. They were only supposed to be there for 3 days, but they ended up staying 40 years for the same thing most people do today... gripe and moan about their situation and their leadership. Most people would rather find reasons to complain than a reason to change, because change is hard.

I, personally, am a middle class citizen. Gas is a stretch for me and I could easily complain about it. But I choose not to focus my attention on it because my complaining doesn't do any good. All it does is just make me forget the GOOD things I have in life. I have been blessed with a good job that enables me to pay for a necessity such as gas, and food, and rent, and electricity, and all my other bills. I am blessed because I know how to manage what little money i have, and because of it, I have never been in a position of debt. I have great friends and family, I don't live in a third world country, and I am free. If I have to pay $3.00 a gallon for that, then so be it.

And by the way... the Boston Tea Party was a farcry from higher gas prices. The boston tea party was done because of unfair tariffs put in place by an oppressive British Government - tariffs that were put in place for the sole purpose of reminding the colonists that they could be taxed. It was an act of revolution, not a tantrum. (which is what most people today are throwing.) The higher gas prices are a result of supply and demand.

But, hey, I guess that doesn't matter.. We're 21st century Americans. Why should we bother actually keeping things in context?

Answer 3

I think if someone has worked hard enough to be making a ton of money, they have a right to spend it the way they want to. Are you saying that if you had the money to buy whatever you wanted to, you wouldn't, just for society's sake?
This is not a "class" issue...people will always spend more than they make. That's why there are credit cards. People who make a lot of money, spend a lot of money. People who have even more money, spend even more money. Even millionaires have credit cards. Instead of a $250 car payment, they have a $700 car payment.
Not just low income people take the bus and carpool. Do you really think everyone on the bus is low income? Everyone is affected by the high gas prices. Not just low income families.

Answer 4

You see even though that does make sense I also don't get the people that they blame. The people that they blame are either Bush for the war or the oil companies. What they don't get is that the oil companies are selling it for cheap and that Bush has very little power over the economy. That and more than 50% of what people pay in taxes is due to the huge amount of taxes that Congress placed on the oil companies. OPEC is also responsible for about 5-15% of the price as well depending on the equation. Also the stupid octane and ethanol polices that we have makes refining oil more expensive because it has to be much clearer than it was before.

Sorry I got on a rant but some people need to take a course in economics. Seriously, I think that 75% of liberals would turn conservative if they understood simple economics.

Answer 5

A great many people live in the country. For years we were encouraged to spread out. Now that means more and more transportation costs - - more money for gasoline.
These people, many millions of them, must get to work. They have no choice. Many need pick-up trucks in their work or business. Driving is not a habit with them, it's a necessity.
A great many do not go shopping as a recreation. They do their necessary buying on the way back from work.
Carpooling is great when you have close neighbors who's place of work is very near yours. Just try to find this situation.
I lived in the country all my life. I never lived anywhere near a bus route. The idea is great. Putting it in practice is next to impossible, except in a very few cases.
Why don't you start using your brains ?

Answer 6

The problem is that being middle class is not as easy as it used to be. Most are living month to month and some are just one major disaster away from poverty. So any major change in their budget can have a major effect on them. I have a very good car a Ford Focus. I drive 30 miles to work and 30 miles twice a week to complete my MA. My gas cost have gone up from about $30 a week to over $60. With two kids that $120 a month can be huge. But I will not whine so you can be happy.

Answer 7

Gas price increases come from oil increases. That means for the middle class, gas prices go up, fuel oil goes up, plastic goods go up, the cost of food goes up, the cost of clothing goes up. That creates inflation where the price of everything goes up. Since the middle class does not get to give themselves a raise, every week their dollar does less. The rich have investments that grow with inflation, the poor get automatic increases from the government. And where does the government get its money? Not from the rich, but from the middle class you are loosing buying power everyday. Did you ever stop to realize most people who are middle class don't live in the cities so they can't ride the bus. Maybe you can use your brain to figure out how to pay for everyone else's free ride when only the middle class does the paying?

Answer 8

It's not just the people that drive SUV's that are getting hit hard at the pumps. I drive a 3 cylinder car, and I carpool, but I am still reeling from the rapid increase in gas at the pumps.

The point is that the petrol companies are gouging the consumers because they think they can. And, there are people like you that just accept it and let them rip you off.

Hey, you're more than welcome to send me the $50 Canadian that it costs to fill my car every 1-10 days...or, you can just send me the $15 difference between where gas prices should be, and where they are...that'd be cool of you!

Answer 9

I don't whine about it, and I consider myself middle-class. It could be worse. I don't think people will stop driving SUV's even when gas is $6.00 a gallon. You can't stop some people. Credit cards are a great thing. I know alot more people buying SUV's, Excursions, Hummers, and the like than I know buy those little hybrids. I live in the 6th largest city in the country.

Answer 10

My brainy narrow minded friend. You are not thinking out of the box. Your perspective, although somewhat valid, is lacking consideration of other important issues such as: public transportation cost and accessibility, why high gas prices?, who is benefiting from high gas prices, why do people depend on private transportation, what is the government doing to accommodate the consumers. Yes you can be "brainy" about making choices but, don't for get that some things are forced upon us not the other way around.

Answer 11

I see your point - to A point

I take the bus to work, and only drive on the weekends practically; i used to take the bus to save money, now it is a requirement
but there is the possibility that i might get transferred to an office much further than where i live and i HAVE to drive; it will add another $200/month easily to my expenses

since i cannot 'whine' will YOU pay by bill for me?