No gas? (Charlotte, Asheville, Matthews: pre-k, pricing, storage)

[BrusselsSprouts]

Originally Posted by wilmar13

You do realize this whole shortage was created by the government trying to set prices with the anti-gouging legislation? Energy policy to blame? LOL Anyone with a cursory understanding of economics understands what happens when you don't let the market determine the price (either surpluses or SHORTAGES). Eh, makes a lot more sense to wait in lines and drive all over town to find gas than to let the price of gas float huh? No instead we should ration fuel, or only open the stores during certain hours/days/etc.... LOL

Perhaps you should move to a country where the government's purpose is to "protect the people"... Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, all seem like a good fit for your values. Or just hang on a couple more years as the US government is almost there.

Being the devout conservative that I am, I should not have used the word "protect' in this situation (although there are some situations where this is true); I should have used the word "provide". Providing for the citizens in North Carolina is the job of our elected representatives. Provide what? Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, including an environment and commodities that we need to prosper, like fuel, medicine, safe food, etc. I don't believe this particular situation was caused by any "anti gouging" legislation. This shortage is front and center p_ss poor risk mitigation and contingency planning, period. Yes, I will remember who the ass warts in charge are next time I vote. These warts seem to think the problem is entirely caused by consumers; that is just a clever way of deflecting blame from where it belongs. The fact is, in this situation, you can't buy gas at ANY PRICE. So, market be damned in this situation.

[flexysteve]

Originally Posted by wilmar13

You do realize this whole shortage was created by the government trying to set prices with the anti-gouging legislation? Energy policy to blame? LOL Anyone with a cursory understanding of economics understands what happens when you don't let the market determine the price (either surpluses or SHORTAGES).

Completely agree. People wouldn't have made such a run on gas when they were Chicken Littled into buying it, if prices had gone up to say $6 a gallon. Everyone would have said "Geez maybe I don't need gas that bad". It was that initial demand that got everyone panicked and then the cycle starts. I'd be surprised if its a month before we're back to how it used to be.

I also think its the best thing to get people to use public transportation. One lady in the Observer said she would have driven to the Panthers game if she wasn't worried about finding gas. So she settled on taking the Lynx and it cost her only $1. Are we too good for public transit? Nearly everyone in Boston rides it. Billions of people around the world ride bikes, buses, trains or walk to work and you don't hear them Boo Hooing about gas prices.

[SunnyKayak]

I remember when I was younger we use to pay $3.50 for a gallon of gas


Those was the good ol days

[Barkingowl]

Originally Posted by flexysteve

Are we too good for public transit? Nearly everyone in Boston rides it. Billions of people around the world ride bikes, buses, trains or walk to work and you don't hear them Boo Hooing about gas prices.

Yes but in Boston you have the T, light rail & a well developed bus system. Here the bus system is incomprehensible & we have a single light rail line running up South Boulevard. Charlotte is a city based around the automobile.

[mullman]

Originally Posted by flexysteve

Completely agree. People wouldn't have made such a run on gas when they were Chicken Littled into buying it, if prices had gone up to say $6 a gallon. Everyone would have said "Geez maybe I don't need gas that bad". It was that initial demand that got everyone panicked and then the cycle starts. I'd be surprised if its a month before we're back to how it used to be.

Exactly.

At $7-10 gallon I would be taking my kids to school and wife to work and just let one car sit in the driveway. The genius of the marketplace would have dealt with this situation much better.

FWIW, I know the owner of a station (who owns just one station) in Union County, NC. Being just one tiny station, he has no buying power and receives the worst wholesale price. He claims if he bought 87 octane and sold for 1 cent profit or a wash, the pump price would be around $4.75. Instead he just made the decision not to buy any fuel, versus be charged with gouging.

[QC Misfit]

No quick end to gas shortage in Southeast - USATODAY.com

[flexysteve]

The bus system in CLT is fairly extensive. The tools for finding routes are good as well. CATS TPS Main Menu (http://tripplanner.ridetransit.org/tripplanning/jnot/start.oci - broken link)

Also its not going to get any better if people keep voting against light rail and moving further out of the city. Anyone who has to drive to downtown from Mooresville or Rock Hill should not complain about gas or traffic. Move closer to where you work or find a job closer to home. Its not that difficult.

[mullman]

Originally Posted by flexysteve

Also its not going to get any better if people keep voting against light rail and moving further out of the city. Anyone who has to drive to downtown from Mooresville or Rock Hill should not complain about gas or traffic. Move closer to where you work or find a job closer to home. Its not that difficult.

This is what I have been advocating here time and time again.

[rosstermyer]

i really need some premium gas. i cant find it anywhere! i have been going out on hunts for gas every evening on my moped trying to scout the area. good thing im off work today, but as for tomorrow i have to find some before then!

[uncgirl98]

Originally Posted by flexysteve

The bus system in CLT is fairly extensive. The tools for finding routes are good as well. CATS TPS Main Menu (http://tripplanner.ridetransit.org/tripplanning/jnot/start.oci - broken link)

Also its not going to get any better if people keep voting against light rail and moving further out of the city. Anyone who has to drive to downtown from Mooresville or Rock Hill should not complain about gas or traffic. Move closer to where you work or find a job closer to home. Its not that difficult.

I was curious so I used the above tool to map my way to work if I have to start using public transportation (as it is today).

1 mile to bus stop
1 hour 5 minute trip with 3 transfers
2 miles to office from last stop

.....all in heels. ha.

Good news is my boyfriend and I carpooled this morning. We work one exit apart, so we decided to join forces on the days it makes sense (no offsite meetings, after work committments, etc....)