Comments on: Making Light Of A Heavy Burden: Jokes About Gas :)

By: Darren Scott

Darren Scott — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:05:18 +0000

This is my last post. This is the last thing I have to do to finish this class, and subsequently graduate from UD. I’ve spent the last 6 years building my house with my own hands in my free time. I grow my own food. I have no expenses. Good luck to everyone in the rat race. I’m moving to my cabin in the middle of nowhere, and couldn’t be happier :)

By: Gregory Pontrelli

Gregory Pontrelli — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:17:07 +0000

I think a 2005 article in the economist predicted that the elasticity of demand wouldn’t change until the price per gallon exceeded $5.
Even at that point, I dont think the slope change was all that large.
Last month gas consumption only fell 5.5%, but that was prob just a temporary blip.

Europeans are use to high prices, germany ex: $8.33/gal to $9.00/gal

The government is loving every moment of the increase in price:
Higher prices with inelastic demand = high tax revenue.

The government has incentive to maximize its profit up to that $5 figure, or more, whatever works.

By: Mallory Houghton

Mallory Houghton — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:51:53 +0000

No matter how high gas prices go, people are going to buy gas. The high gas prices are forcing people to purchase more fuel efficient cars which is better for the environment. I don’t know how much of this is true but I’ve heard that gas prices will go down after Bush’s term ends. However, I also heard they will never go far below $4 per gallon. Everyone whins and says it’s ridiculous, but how many people do you really see doing anything? There are alternative fuel methods available but no one takes the time to use them. People are still driving separately to work instead of car pooling. Nothing is going to change until people force a change.

By: Gregory Pontrelli

Gregory Pontrelli — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:25:24 +0000

This has absolutely nothing to do with Republicans or Democrats.
However, it does have a lot to do with the whinniness and indecisiveness of the American citizen/consumer that is further crystalized by the intentional incompetence of Congress.

The price of oil is high- so people whine.
But no, no one wants to increase the number of refineries in their states,the bottle neck – yet people continue to whine.
But as for Oil supply, what about :
Shale rock off the coast?
That alone could add an estimate of about 150 years of American self sufficient supply.
150 years? Yeah I think that would buy plenty more time for R&D into alternatives. The continued presence of Oil would also serve as competition, telling alternative energy companies to innovate further and lower their price tags.
We shouldn’t try to ravish the Oil industry all together.
The last time I checked, I didn’t know many people who rolled to class in the 150K fully electric tesla sportscar, or the $1mill hyro power BMW.
Although, If you do know anyone who drives the hydro BMW, I’m curious, do they fill up with the $1.20, 20 oz aquafina, the $4, 20 oz Fiji, or the $1.40 20 oz. “Blue Hen Springs” from bleecker st.?
Blue Hen Springs is Definately quality water, it even sounds pristine like Alaska or something

What about Alaska?

There are safe, environmentally friendly ways to go about Alaska as well.
Alaska is one of the reasons we recovered from the energy crisis in the 70s-80s.

And deep sea exploration? thats all China and Russia.
There are plenty of options for Oil, there are plenty of solutions, and it is only time until the present alternatives are affordable to the mainstream consumer.
For the time being though, No one can expect Congress to do anything productive. Both Democrats and Republicans are banking on blaming one another in the upcoming election.

By: Jeremy McElroy

Jeremy McElroy — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:09:43 +0000

Hard to believe there would be a time when gas prices are the main talk on late night talk shows. Shows how much this is really impacting everyone’s life, shaping it on one way or another. Every summer I have lived in Rehoboth Beach, DE and worked waiting tables in the summer. I had an offer to go down this weekend and work two nights and make some great money, however, when it would cost me close to 100 dollars alone just to get me down there and back, the 200 dollars I would of made doesn’t seem quite as nice.

By: Mark DallePazze

Mark DallePazze — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:23:50 +0000

There might be a bright side to these high gas prices. They are forcing car companies to put more money into R and D for alternative fuel cars. After all, isn’t the earth supposed to run out of oil in something like 50 years? That’s really not that far away.

By: Justin Bonifacino

Justin Bonifacino — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 01:40:11 +0000

I can’t wait until someone comes out with the next large scale alternative to oil… I will put every dollar to my name in the stock of that company. My predictions are the gains of google stock over the last few years will look small compared to a new alternative to fuel the American economy

By: Cliff Seals

Cliff Seals — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:03:26 +0000

This joke really made me laugh

“Republicans in Congress are demanding that President Bush investigate whether oil companies are now gouging consumers on these gas prices. That’s a good idea, Republicans asking Republicans to investigate other Republicans. And you know who they’re going to blame? The Democrats.” -Jay Leno

I myself am slightly left leaning. In my opinion, when a republican is in office he will let things sit if his term is almost up. The current Presidential office could very easily go to Obama, but if it does he will be left with a load of problems. He will need to do some things that will upset some people, and then the Democrats will be blamed for ruining America. Although Democrats are not perfect either, so we’ll see what happens. Here’s another few jokes I saw online

“There was a sign at the station near by my house that said, ‘We take Visa, Mastercard, Discover Card, and American Express.’ After I filled up they took my Visa, Master Card, my Discover Card, and my American Express.” –Jay Leno

“President Bush spoke with the Amish. He didn’t want to, but it was the only group he could find that wasn’t upset about the high price of gas.” —Jay Leno