Nancy Pelosi and a whole bunch of Democrats--Barack Obama too--still don't comprehend the ramifications of soaring gasoline prices. It's not just about driving an SUV wherever and whenever you want.So let's use as an example what's happening in America's Heartland and how it is forcing Dodge City, Kansas schools to spend a lot more money on gasoline and diesel fuels.
From the Dodge City Globe:
USD 443's fuel budget will increase next school year, and school meal prices will also rise for students and staff.
The fuel budget will be $82,000 higher in order to cope with rising costs, but the district is not making any adjustments to its bus routes.
William Hammond, assistant superintendent for business and finance, said the district's gas and diesel costs were $152,494 last year and will be $279,950 this year. The district's fuel expenses are mainly for diesel fuel for buses. Currently, the district is buying diesel from different energy companies for an average price of $3.90 per gallon.
Food is getting expensive for all Americans, not just schools. Farmers use diesel for their tractors, trucks use the same fuel to transport food.
Related post:
My Kansas Kronikles: Dodge City, Beef Kingdom
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8 comments:
How does adding a few drills in a decade help lower fuel costs today?
You've yet to explain that one.
Even Pres. Bush's own Energy Dept. admits: "The projections in the OCS access case indicate that access to the Pacific, Atlantic, and eastern Gulf regions would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030."
In case you haven't noticed it's 2008, John, not 2030. ;)
Folks aren't buying this 10 years, 20 years stuff. And many who do, like myself, expect to be alive in 2030.
As you've admitted, oil is a finite resource. By 2030 we'll be that much closer to the end of that road.
Shouldn't we be concentrating our efforts, our investments, our resources, our soap opera-style "twitter revolts" on sustainable energy, rather than finite pollutants?
...And just because conservative partisans "aren't buying" the truth doesn't make it any less true.
In 1962 I read an article in Popular Science magazine indicating we'd deplete our copper resources in 10 years.
Didn't happen.
I'll bet the same can be said for the fear mongers wailing about oil reserves... we'll find more, and of course we'll find alternatives.
Inflate your tires, Rob. It'll make you feel better. And you guys keep running your mouths about not drilling for oil. It's a winner for ya.
Mean it!
Grey,
No, we didn't deplete copper by 1972. We recycled more of it and found new sources.
But ask yourself what the main reason is behind the steady, dramatic price increase in minerals like copper over the last several years?
Any expert will tell it's scarcity of resources.
We've only got so much stuff on this planet, and we're digging out all the easy to get to bits at an astonishing rate.
I defer to your massive intellect, Rob, since you reinforce the point I made in my comment.
Thanks.
Your posts have a point to them, Grey? ;)
We may or may not be at peak oil. Some scientists think we are, others think it's well into the future.
The bottom line on that though is that we do know it's a finite resource (even Mr. Ruberry admits that) which means sooner or later we're going to have to figure alternatives.
And while most of the conversations of recent days have focused on cost and related issues like supply and demand, there's another very good reason to ween ourselves off oil sooner rather than later -- pollution.
Whether or not you "believe" in global warming or its causes, we know pollution from burning fossil fuels harms our environment in the form of acid rain, smog, etc. It also harms our health with increased rates of asthma and other ailments.
I'm simply more proactive about tackling those issues than apparently you or Mr. Ruberry are. I'd rather not continue to delay progress on fossil fuel alternatives, essentially passing the problem on to our kids and grandkids.
We got proactive about copper. We can do the same about fossil fuels.
Good Job! :)
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