Gas: $2 dollars per gallon

Discussion in 'Politics & Current Events' started by verybdog, Oct 18, 2004.

  1. Naughtius Maximus

    Jul 10, 2001
    Shropshire
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Isn't there a story about the son of WInston Churchill, (who shared the same name), who was stopped by an American cop walking around New York one time. The cop wanted to know what he was doing and found the 'perp', (see how I can lapse into the vernacular - impressive, eh?), less than helpful and more than a little surly and perverse.

    Inevitably, I suppose, an unfortunate incident ensued when he asked him for his details...

    "Ok, smart-arse, what's yer name?"

    "Winston Churchill"

    ... SMACK

    Hmm. Come to think of it Churchill might have been driving and stopped for speeding. Good story though, eh? :)
     
  2. Matt Clark

    Matt Clark Member

    Dec 19, 1999
    Liverpool
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    He he he.

    I've got a mate called Alan Shearer. He suffers in much the same way.
     
  3. Naughtius Maximus

    Jul 10, 2001
    Shropshire
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Er, a HAT? Did he say actually say hat?
     
  4. Chris M.

    Chris M. Member+

    Jan 18, 2002
    Chicago
    "Senator Yankee Blue feels we need a more "sensitive" approach to electronic equipment on construction sites. That will only make our construction sites less safe and will put our American construction workers at risk."
     
  5. SgtSchultz

    SgtSchultz Member

    Jul 11, 2001
    Parts Unknown
    I enjoy walking, but please don't tell my fellow citizens.
     
  6. Garcia

    Garcia Member

    Dec 14, 1999
    Castro Castro
    I enjoy walking, too.
    I don't like that many newer communites don't have sidewalks. That should tell you alot.
     
  7. Barbara

    Barbara BigSoccer Supporter

    Apr 29, 2000
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Yes, at least according to The Complete Bushisms...

    http://www.slate.com/id/76886/
     
  8. bitter leftie

    bitter leftie New Member

    Apr 30, 2004
    Western mass
    The racial issues regarding public transportation are shocking, the T in Boston is a prime example of using transportation as a means of keeping 'undesirables' out of certain more fashionable neighborhoods.

    A few years ago some of the big unions (UAW, IBEW and some other trades) got together and came up with something called the 'Apollo Plan'. Sort of like a domestic Marshall Plan in which small increases in gas taxes would go directly to funding a network of high speed rails along both the coasts (the I-95 and I-5 corridors as well as linking major centres in the Midwest to each other and the coasts) The cost estimates were about 10 bil per year over 10-15 yrs, with thousands of jobs being created in the process. Seemed like a reasonable starting point, but given the political climate in this country its probably impossible.

    Not only is there a massive 'car culture' here in the states but there is also this idea that public transportation (Amtrak comes to mind in this regard as well) needs to be financially solvent on its own, meaning it needs to be profit generating. Maybe someone could inform me, but I am not aware of any public transportation system being completely able to raise all of its operating revenue through fares and without significant gov't support, either in Europe or in the states.This isn't to say that some of the Amtrak routes aren't useless and should be eliminated, but I think it merely highlights the center-far right political discourse that carries the day here. Public subsidies that directly benefit the population are bad, but public funding for private profit is encouraged and expanded at any opportunity (Missile Defense anyone?)
     
  9. Naughtius Maximus

    Jul 10, 2001
    Shropshire
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    You guys aren't really going to vote this bloke into office again, are yer?
     
  10. Garcia

    Garcia Member

    Dec 14, 1999
    Castro Castro
    It all depends where you think public transit falls.

    To me, it is quasi-public/quasi-private.

    It doesn't have to make a profit and the director knows it.
    The public is triple and quadruple taxed. We tax gas. We tax (like sales tax) to help operational costs. We tax for roads. We then charge to use the system. I could go on, like the state university that charges the useage fee to all students, even the ones that don't use it and already purchased a parking pass....In reality is this one agency funneling funds to another? In the end, we pick up the tab, right?

    As things are locally, COTA has their own trucks, people and supplies to go and wash the little glass huts that are used at the bus stops. That is too much overhead for a profit-loss operation IMHO. Sub that work out, less overhead, less people on the payroll, no benefits, no equipment to maintain, etc...

    Wasteful thinking, being that these guys are rewarded to operate at a loss, can only cause more waste.
     
  11. Roel

    Roel Member

    Jan 15, 2000
    Santa Cruz mountains
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    No way! Y'all going to re-appoint that fine Tony Bliar?
     
  12. Barbara

    Barbara BigSoccer Supporter

    Apr 29, 2000
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    God, I hope not. I can tell you that if he is voted into office again, it's not going to be with my vote.
     
  13. ElJefe

    ElJefe Moderator
    Staff Member

    Feb 16, 1999
    Colorful Colorado
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Personally, my wife and I both own reasonably fuel-efficient cars, so the cost of gas doesn't really affect me directly too much. Yeah, I get to spend $27 to fill up my Camry, while it only cost me $16-18 a few years ago, but I live only a few miles from work, so it's pretty manageable.

    However, I feel no sympathy for many of my fellow suburbanites who own large SUVs mostly as status symbols and commute 35-40 miles a day into downtown Dallas, especially the ones who live in my area, where there is good light rail service into downtown. And not surprisingly, they're the ones who are bitching the loudest about the price of gas.
     
  14. Naughtius Maximus

    Jul 10, 2001
    Shropshire
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Actually I'm one of those, (probably naive), souls that believe he didn't lie as such - he was mistaken and 'his heart was in the right place' - his brain? Well, I'm gonna plead the fifth... even though we haven't got one here.

    I think that Blair has some brownie points because of his actions in Kosovo and in UK politics but I also believe he's lost all of those because of his judgement of character in general, (that relates to solely UK politics issues as well), and because of the way he couldn't see the difference between 'the truth' and 'the Truth' in the case if Iraq. Typical lawyer bullsh!t I'm afraid. I'd be happier with David 'Iron Man' Blunkett myself.

    I'm afraid voting socialist is hardwired into my limpic brain, (such as it is) - what're you gonna do?
     
  15. 96Squig

    96Squig Member

    Feb 4, 2004
    Hanover
    Club:
    Hannover 96
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    1.169€ /liter (=$5.58/Gallon) in Hanover, Germany normal Gas
    1.039€ /liter (=$4.97/Gallon) Diesel
    I drive a VW Golf III, so average usage. my dad's BMW uses 10.7l/km Diesel, so...
    I though that Germany has the highest gas prices in Europe, but appearantly that's UK... Wow, nad than such crowded mass trans systems as the tube...
    btw, anybody riding bikes here? my way to school is about 5 miles (no school buss but mass transport) which I ride often by bike... same with my job, about 4 miles.
     
  16. jackrock

    jackrock Member

    Aug 19, 2003
    Talcott. WV
    Club:
    DC United

    oh i hope to God not. I might turn into an expatriate and move someplace quite and peaceful....like Belefast.

    and just a quick comment, I live in a rural rural part of the country, with pretty bad roads and sh1tty winters, (snow, ice, sleet). and plus you have to drive, EVERYWHERE. grocery store? 20 miles. Enterainment, (movies, bars, [decent bars, not juke joints] ..a mall) 40-50 miles. my comute to work is 50 miles, one way. Public transportaoin is not an option, cause there isn't any. Alot of the population here drives suv's and trucks, but I really think it CAN be justified, and they b1tch about the gas prices, but they pay'em anyway. Plus I use suvs loosley. lots of jeeps and trucks. I think its just pompous for friends of mine in northern virginia/maryland to drive navigators, or escapades, and hummers? gimme a break! Flat terrain, sheeit the roads get plowed and salted like daily! We're lucky to get our secondary roads cleared weekly. I NEED 4 wheel drive, my point is living in the suburbs and owning a H2, or a LExus SUV is like demanding uzi's to hunt with, its over the top. And the whole soccer mom tale is crap, buy a mini van or a sedan, your taking the kids to the park, not across the serengeti.
     
  17. 96Squig

    96Squig Member

    Feb 4, 2004
    Hanover
    Club:
    Hannover 96
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Applaus!
     
  18. bojendyk

    bojendyk New Member

    Jan 4, 2002
    South Loop, Chicago
    Incidentally, there is an excellent article in last weeks New Yorker about Manhattan as a "green" city.

    One of the more interesting facts: if NYC were granted statehood, it would be roughly the 10th most populous state in the country. In terms of the amount of enery consumed, however, it would rank 51st.
     
  19. topcatcole

    topcatcole BigSoccer Supporter

    Apr 26, 2003
    Washington DC
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Oh my, change the name from Blair to Bush and change socialist to republican and you'll see why Bush is likely to be reelected!!
     
  20. Naughtius Maximus

    Jul 10, 2001
    Shropshire
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Well, if Blair's family had strong oil connections, if he had cut taxes on the rich and hadn't increased spending on social programs like health, education and pensions, hadn't made strenuous efforts to raise fuel taxes so it's over $7/gal, (which caused him a great many problems over here)... indeed, if he hadn't done a whole raft of things which are now largely forgotten... I wouldn't be voting for him either.

    Personally I think that Blair is a well meaning, but not particularly bright, person. Bush, as evidenced by his politics which is the only way we really know any politician - and the only one that really matters - is a greedy, petty, uncaring idiot. I think that Blair loses some sleep over Iraq. I don't think Bush does.

    I choose the former but, like I said, I'd prefer someone else.
     
  21. topcatcole

    topcatcole BigSoccer Supporter

    Apr 26, 2003
    Washington DC
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think most people on both sides in America would agree with this!!
     
  22. jackrock

    jackrock Member

    Aug 19, 2003
    Talcott. WV
    Club:
    DC United
    bad can o' worms.

    The irony is Bush flip floped. WMD, WMD, WMD, they have the power to attack us!! was the cry. And I bought it, 100%. Suddenly NO WMD, and then it's all, "well, the worlds a safer place."


    ????????????

    WEll, maybe, but why are we in charge of policing the globe? If we as a nation are so extremly worried about the safty of the worlds citezens, then why the hell aren't we in Sudan RIGHT NOW???!?! And if the argument is that we are cracking down on the terrorist most likley to threaten us, then that blows the Saddam thing out of the water, because the biggest threat was OBL. Who we took the focus OFF of to attack Iraq. Regarless if he had faulty info, Bush should be held responsible for the quality of the people he surrounds himself with. If a CEO, with all good intentions, puts the company into massive debt, and gets employees killed, he loses his job.
     
  23. verybdog

    verybdog New Member

    Jun 29, 2001
    Houyhnhnms
    I just wonder how could people in Europe survive by paying two to three times as much on gas for driving a car?
     
  24. 96Squig

    96Squig Member

    Feb 4, 2004
    Hanover
    Club:
    Hannover 96
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    That nobody really cares about Sudan is a shame! And if France, Russia and Germany were so interested in making money with Saddam, why didn't they prevent any action as China and Russia are doing it atm about Sudan?
    At the other hand what would be possible there ifthe ressources (of both $€ and human lives, as far as this can be senn as a ressource) spent into the Iraq War would be spend into Sudan?
    Saddam didn't do genocide, maybe he would've if he was able to, but fortunately he wasn't. What is happening in darfur is just terrible imo
    (sry for off topic)
     
  25. jackrock

    jackrock Member

    Aug 19, 2003
    Talcott. WV
    Club:
    DC United
    well, yeha he did. But he didnt fly planes into the WTC.

    My whole take on defense is ...defense. Against people who can and will damage the Us. Fvcking pakistan was selling nuclear technology, North Korea basically flipped us off, The murder in Sudan, Saddam, Palestine, these are all horrible situations, but am I stupid for wanting to take out the people who carried out 9/11 FIRST? just seems like a priority. Osama, AQ, then linked groups. If there was any link proven, and IF they had discovered a metric fvck ton of WMD, then this whole thing would almost make sense. If Bush gave a press cconference today talking about implementing a troop movment of significant proportion from Iraq to the afgan/pakistan border, sheet, i would vote for him. even leaders make mistakes, but its a total shrugging off of accountability and lack of flexability to not change tactics even when it's obvious out boys are in a meat grinder for nothing but bad policy. And this isn't anti troop rehetoric, I respect the sh1t out of our guys, people I know over there, and it's all the more tragic that they are being used in the wrong place.
    and wait just a second, were the heck are the liberal crazies? Bill cheats on his wife and you have that midget kenneth star foaming at the mouth. OUR COUNTRY IS LIED TO! INCOMPENTANCE ABOUNDS! HALIBUTON! CHENEY! NO BID CONTRACTS! and nothing? no special prosecution? no inquiries?
    this guy can NOT BE OUR PRESIDENT FOR 4 MORE YEARS.
     

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