Second Life Forums Archive - I Am Pissed!!

Juro Kothari

Like a dog on a bone

Join date: 4 Sep 2003

Posts: 4,418

05-13-2006 15:15

From: Surreal Farber

And most of the countries with more expensive gas have usable mass transit, which most of the US does not.

Even Belize, a third-world country (gas $4) had usable mass transit.

Some parts of the U.S. do have usable mass transit. L.A. at one point had one of the most extensive mass transit systems in the world. It was eventually shut down after being acquired (along with systems around the country) by National City Lines working in conjunction with General Motors. The lines were replaced with busses.

_____________________

Juro Kothari

Like a dog on a bone

Join date: 4 Sep 2003

Posts: 4,418

05-13-2006 15:34

From: Spoony Spork

See... here's the problem with the US right now...

1. REALLY FREAKING HORRIBLE gas guzzlers were made
2. We finally figured out that was a bad idea... came up with these nifty-keen FREAKING EXPENSIVE Hybrids, that still aren't as gas-effecient as some Euro models I've seen...
3. The rich dump their gas-guzzlers down on the poor, and get the really freaking expensive hybrids.
4. The poor people are forced to pay as much as they would have to pay in the end for hybrids, just getting poorer, while the hybrids the rich now have barely make a dent, and they just continue to get richer.
5. The REALLY rich people get insane things like the H1. Ugh. 10mpg... but it doesn't matter - they're rich!
6. The poor can't even switch to mass transit, unless they live in NYC or NJ... I mean, if you live in Tampa, if you're even able to figure out what the heck bus you're supposed to be taking, it winds up taking you over 2 hours to go less than 10 miles. I kid you not.

Eurpoe has the nice thing that they have both great fuel effecient cars AND great mass transit. Sadly, I don't have the luxery of moving to Europe or the power to change the mass transit system around here. I'd love to get ahold of one of those nice fuel-effecient cars though :/

I was a lucky one - I was forced to buy gas-guzzlers several times, but finally wound up finding a wee 5-speed Saturn that claims up to 42 mpg (it actually gets closer to 30), for a price I can afford - because no one wants a 5-speed. But most of the time, the only thing people like me can find in their price range is something like one of those freakin HUGE land-yahts that get like 10 mpg... So.. yah. It can't really be helped, and we can be pissed about gas prices. So there.

(yes, I really am just jealous of you Europeans with your government that is actually PRACTICAL for the most part...)

Good points, Spoony, but I'd like to add a few:

1. The U.S. automakers keep producing those guzzling vehicles because we keep buying them, even if we don't really need one.

2. The government has been dragging its feet to update CAFE standards on the 'light truck' class of vehicles, the Big 3 automakers have been working to make sure that the standards stay as they are.

3. The oil companies have been dragging thier feet on reformulating our current diesel formula to a formula similar to what Europe has (low-sulfter, higher grade). Hopefully, we'll see it within a year or two and you'll start seeing some high MPG European diesel cars coming over (yay!).

4. There are plenty of high MPG options out there for folks on limited budgets. Many of the models produced by Japanese makers get excellent MPG. There's also the VW Golf/Jetta/Beetle TDI (a diesel) that gets in the high 30's/low 40's.

5. Hybrid autos might be expensive now, but as with most new technologies, it will come down in cost as time goes on. However, hybrids are most likely not going to replace gas-only autos.

_____________________

Surreal Farber

Cat Herder

Join date: 5 Feb 2004

Posts: 2,059

05-13-2006 15:46

From: Juro Kothari

Some parts of the U.S. do have usable mass transit. L.A. at one point had one of the most extensive mass transit systems in the world. It was eventually shut down after being acquired (along with systems around the country) by National City Lines working in conjunction with General Motors. The lines were replaced with busses.

*shrugs*

The LA trolleys are only a memory. I now live in Philly which has reasonable mass transit. But I grew up in Dallas, TX before they finally built theirs and you needed a car just to go to the grocery store most of the time, not to mention work. When the heat index is above 100 I don't recommend biking IF you are able to live within a decent biking distance. It figures they finally developed a good system after I left.

Then I moved to the Detroit, MI area, after a blissful period living in Germany where I didn't need a car living out in the middle of nowhere. Detroit essentially has no mass transit except within a few small cities.

With the exception of the E. coast and a few highly urban areas, most of the US requires a car. I came off the Appalachian Trail in a sizable city in Georgia with pneumonia there was no bus, train, or airport connection - heh, I couldn't even rent a car.

Now it doesn't require gas guzzlers...

On a related note, the necessity of owning a car is one of the things that sucks when you're already poor. You can usually only afford a junker which means it is less reliable and more apt to cost your more cash. Or maybe a car payment is eating you alive. Then insurance and gas. A nasty trap if you have no other choices.

_____________________

Surreal

Phobos 3d Design - putting the hot in psychotic since 2004

Come see our whole line of clothing, animations and accessories in Chaos (37, 198, 43)

Musuko Massiel

Registered User

Join date: 4 Nov 2005

Posts: 435

05-13-2006 16:02

Petrol is twice as expensive over here. Suck it up. Petroleum is one of the cheapest liquids out there.

Perhaps if your cars got more than 20mpg you might not have a problem.

Musuko.

Spoony Spork

Registered User

Join date: 24 Feb 2006

Posts: 99

05-13-2006 17:42

From: Juro Kothari

Good points, Spoony, but I'd like to add a few: ...

When I say 'poor', I mean, I was pushing it to buy my current car for $3000, and I'm not even THAT poor. I just can't afford more than that at once, nor $200/month car payment, plus $170/month insurance, plus child care, rent, gas, etc...

There are other people out there, millions and millions of them, who are pushing it to pay the $500 at once for their gas-guzzling circa 1979 monsters. I actually just gave my old gas-guzzler to one such family, and they still spend hours riding bikes to work because they simply cannot afford the gas for anything but the once-a-week trek to the grocery store. The fact that "they were the ones to get themselves into that mess in the first place" is totally not true, and another argument entirely anyway

*shrugs* Something tells me by the time the Hybrid hand-me-downs reach them, it'll be a bit too little a bit too late.

Really, I think the only way to solve the whole mess (which, we in the US ALL got ourselves into... or at least, the higher classes did, with their whole macho vehicle thing...) is to make a useful mass-transit system in each and every state. Hell, turn the interstate highways into bullet-train roads or something, seeing as expanding them does NOTHING to bring down the traffic in dense areas...

...I'll stop now before my brain explodes with the flood of ideas I just got. Who wants the dreaming pipe next?

Surreal Farber

Cat Herder

Join date: 5 Feb 2004

Posts: 2,059

05-13-2006 19:21

From: Spoony Spork

Really, I think the only way to solve the whole mess (which, we in the US ALL got ourselves into... or at least, the higher classes did, with their whole macho vehicle thing...) is to make a useful mass-transit system in each and every state. Hell, turn the interstate highways into bullet-train roads or something, seeing as expanding them does NOTHING to bring down the traffic in dense areas...

I've been soapboxing this idea for years. The U.S. will not do anything forced to by an economy of scarcity. Why would we? It seems that many people can't grasp the concept of resource limits.

_____________________

Surreal

Phobos 3d Design - putting the hot in psychotic since 2004

Come see our whole line of clothing, animations and accessories in Chaos (37, 198, 43)

Helen Goff

Registered User

Join date: 26 Mar 2006

Posts: 71

05-13-2006 19:42

From: Creami Cannoli

July 31st.

I still stress, especially since I just quit my job. I know it will get worse as time goes on, and I will still bitch about it.

I suppose I could direct my energies at the baby name book I have and try to figure out a middle name to go with Kylie.

Any suggestions?

Kylie Morgan
Kylie Taylor
Kylie Margaret
Kylie Louisa
Kylie Gayle
Kylie Louann
Kylie Brianna

Everything will be better in august. Trust me!!!!

Richie Waves

Predictable

Join date: 29 Jun 2005

Posts: 1,424

05-13-2006 19:53

From: Creami Cannoli

$3.05 a F'ing gallon for regular unleaded.

The world is ending!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, maybe not, but my pregnant ass is walking....and it won't quit raining. This just sucks. I know there is nothing I can do about it, but I can still be pissed.

My friend was sweet enought to send me a picture message on my cell phone because she just got gas. She was at my house about 2 hours ago and it was still at $2.99. She noticed the price when she drove by because she needed gas. I guess she should have gotten it then and not waited a few hours.

I would type a whole string of curse words directed at whoever runs the oil companies but I don't want to get moderated.

you know its like euro1.05 a litre over in ireland right?.. drive a smaller car ffs.. 5litre engine is not needed on flat roads.

_____________________

no u!

I Am Pissed!!
Juro Kothari Like a dog on a bone Join date: 4 Sep 2003 Posts: 4,418	05-13-2006 15:15 From: Surreal Farber And most of the countries with more expensive gas have usable mass transit, which most of the US does not. Even Belize, a third-world country (gas $4) had usable mass transit. Some parts of the U.S. do have usable mass transit. L.A. at one point had one of the most extensive mass transit systems in the world. It was eventually shut down after being acquired (along with systems around the country) by National City Lines working in conjunction with General Motors. The lines were replaced with busses. _____________________
Juro Kothari Like a dog on a bone Join date: 4 Sep 2003 Posts: 4,418	05-13-2006 15:34 From: Spoony Spork See... here's the problem with the US right now... 1. REALLY FREAKING HORRIBLE gas guzzlers were made 2. We finally figured out that was a bad idea... came up with these nifty-keen FREAKING EXPENSIVE Hybrids, that still aren't as gas-effecient as some Euro models I've seen... 3. The rich dump their gas-guzzlers down on the poor, and get the really freaking expensive hybrids. 4. The poor people are forced to pay as much as they would have to pay in the end for hybrids, just getting poorer, while the hybrids the rich now have barely make a dent, and they just continue to get richer. 5. The REALLY rich people get insane things like the H1. Ugh. 10mpg... but it doesn't matter - they're rich! 6. The poor can't even switch to mass transit, unless they live in NYC or NJ... I mean, if you live in Tampa, if you're even able to figure out what the heck bus you're supposed to be taking, it winds up taking you over 2 hours to go less than 10 miles. I kid you not. Eurpoe has the nice thing that they have both great fuel effecient cars AND great mass transit. Sadly, I don't have the luxery of moving to Europe or the power to change the mass transit system around here. I'd love to get ahold of one of those nice fuel-effecient cars though :/ I was a lucky one - I was forced to buy gas-guzzlers several times, but finally wound up finding a wee 5-speed Saturn that claims up to 42 mpg (it actually gets closer to 30), for a price I can afford - because no one wants a 5-speed. But most of the time, the only thing people like me can find in their price range is something like one of those freakin HUGE land-yahts that get like 10 mpg... So.. yah. It can't really be helped, and we can be pissed about gas prices. So there. (yes, I really am just jealous of you Europeans with your government that is actually PRACTICAL for the most part...) Good points, Spoony, but I'd like to add a few: 1. The U.S. automakers keep producing those guzzling vehicles because we keep buying them, even if we don't really need one. 2. The government has been dragging its feet to update CAFE standards on the 'light truck' class of vehicles, the Big 3 automakers have been working to make sure that the standards stay as they are. 3. The oil companies have been dragging thier feet on reformulating our current diesel formula to a formula similar to what Europe has (low-sulfter, higher grade). Hopefully, we'll see it within a year or two and you'll start seeing some high MPG European diesel cars coming over (yay!). 4. There are plenty of high MPG options out there for folks on limited budgets. Many of the models produced by Japanese makers get excellent MPG. There's also the VW Golf/Jetta/Beetle TDI (a diesel) that gets in the high 30's/low 40's. 5. Hybrid autos might be expensive now, but as with most new technologies, it will come down in cost as time goes on. However, hybrids are most likely not going to replace gas-only autos. _____________________
Surreal Farber Cat Herder Join date: 5 Feb 2004 Posts: 2,059	05-13-2006 15:46 From: Juro Kothari Some parts of the U.S. do have usable mass transit. L.A. at one point had one of the most extensive mass transit systems in the world. It was eventually shut down after being acquired (along with systems around the country) by National City Lines working in conjunction with General Motors. The lines were replaced with busses. shrugs The LA trolleys are only a memory. I now live in Philly which has reasonable mass transit. But I grew up in Dallas, TX before they finally built theirs and you needed a car just to go to the grocery store most of the time, not to mention work. When the heat index is above 100 I don't recommend biking IF you are able to live within a decent biking distance. It figures they finally developed a good system after I left. Then I moved to the Detroit, MI area, after a blissful period living in Germany where I didn't need a car living out in the middle of nowhere. Detroit essentially has no mass transit except within a few small cities. With the exception of the E. coast and a few highly urban areas, most of the US requires a car. I came off the Appalachian Trail in a sizable city in Georgia with pneumonia there was no bus, train, or airport connection - heh, I couldn't even rent a car. Now it doesn't require gas guzzlers... On a related note, the necessity of owning a car is one of the things that sucks when you're already poor. You can usually only afford a junker which means it is less reliable and more apt to cost your more cash. Or maybe a car payment is eating you alive. Then insurance and gas. A nasty trap if you have no other choices. _____________________ Surreal Phobos 3d Design - putting the hot in psychotic since 2004 Come see our whole line of clothing, animations and accessories in Chaos (37, 198, 43)
Musuko Massiel Registered User Join date: 4 Nov 2005 Posts: 435	05-13-2006 16:02 Petrol is twice as expensive over here. Suck it up. Petroleum is one of the cheapest liquids out there. Perhaps if your cars got more than 20mpg you might not have a problem. Musuko.
Spoony Spork Registered User Join date: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 99	05-13-2006 17:42 From: Juro Kothari Good points, Spoony, but I'd like to add a few: ... When I say 'poor', I mean, I was pushing it to buy my current car for $3000, and I'm not even THAT poor. I just can't afford more than that at once, nor $200/month car payment, plus $170/month insurance, plus child care, rent, gas, etc... There are other people out there, millions and millions of them, who are pushing it to pay the $500 at once for their gas-guzzling circa 1979 monsters. I actually just gave my old gas-guzzler to one such family, and they still spend hours riding bikes to work because they simply cannot afford the gas for anything but the once-a-week trek to the grocery store. The fact that "they were the ones to get themselves into that mess in the first place" is totally not true, and another argument entirely anyway shrugs Something tells me by the time the Hybrid hand-me-downs reach them, it'll be a bit too little a bit too late. Really, I think the only way to solve the whole mess (which, we in the US ALL got ourselves into... or at least, the higher classes did, with their whole macho vehicle thing...) is to make a useful mass-transit system in each and every state. Hell, turn the interstate highways into bullet-train roads or something, seeing as expanding them does NOTHING to bring down the traffic in dense areas... ...I'll stop now before my brain explodes with the flood of ideas I just got. Who wants the dreaming pipe next?
Surreal Farber Cat Herder Join date: 5 Feb 2004 Posts: 2,059	05-13-2006 19:21 From: Spoony Spork Really, I think the only way to solve the whole mess (which, we in the US ALL got ourselves into... or at least, the higher classes did, with their whole macho vehicle thing...) is to make a useful mass-transit system in each and every state. Hell, turn the interstate highways into bullet-train roads or something, seeing as expanding them does NOTHING to bring down the traffic in dense areas... I've been soapboxing this idea for years. The U.S. will not do anything forced to by an economy of scarcity. Why would we? It seems that many people can't grasp the concept of resource limits. _____________________ Surreal Phobos 3d Design - putting the hot in psychotic since 2004 Come see our whole line of clothing, animations and accessories in Chaos (37, 198, 43)
Helen Goff Registered User Join date: 26 Mar 2006 Posts: 71	05-13-2006 19:42 From: Creami Cannoli July 31st. I still stress, especially since I just quit my job. I know it will get worse as time goes on, and I will still bitch about it. I suppose I could direct my energies at the baby name book I have and try to figure out a middle name to go with Kylie. Any suggestions? Kylie Morgan Kylie Taylor Kylie Margaret Kylie Louisa Kylie Gayle Kylie Louann Kylie Brianna Everything will be better in august. Trust me!!!!
Richie Waves Predictable Join date: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 1,424	05-13-2006 19:53 From: Creami Cannoli $3.05 a F'ing gallon for regular unleaded. The world is ending!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, maybe not, but my pregnant ass is walking....and it won't quit raining. This just sucks. I know there is nothing I can do about it, but I can still be pissed. My friend was sweet enought to send me a picture message on my cell phone because she just got gas. She was at my house about 2 hours ago and it was still at $2.99. She noticed the price when she drove by because she needed gas. I guess she should have gotten it then and not waited a few hours. I would type a whole string of curse words directed at whoever runs the oil companies but I don't want to get moderated. you know its like euro1.05 a litre over in ireland right?.. drive a smaller car ffs.. 5litre engine is not needed on flat roads. _____________________ no u!

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