[o2ny]

Question about the pennies: they're not still made of copper, are they? I think they're zinc with copper plating. I know they used to be copper, but I figured they switched to something cheaper like they did with quarters & dimes in the 60's. (they went from 90% silver to copper/nickel alloy).

[Leanan]

I found the article here.

They are considering the value of the zinc in their analysis. The cost of zinc has gone up, too.

[o2ny]

Interesting to note that starting in 1965, quarters and dimes are over 90% copper, so there's a heck of a lot more copper in them... of course the face value is a lot higher for quarters/dimes over pennies. It would probably be worth doing the math though if the price of copper keeps climbing.

[J-Rod]

You'd have to smelt it yourself though. It's a federal crime to deface currency, so you'd have a problem showing up at the local scrapper with a bucket of dimes.

[seldom_seen]

The addiction analogy is just too fitting. Who else sells their stuff at the pawn shop? crackheads, speed freaks, wasteoids, tweakers, coke fiends and junkies of all sorts.

[Novus]

I guess you can add oil addicts to that list.

[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('seldom_seen', 'T')he addiction analogy is just too fitting. Who else sells their stuff at the pawn shop? crackheads, speed freaks, wasteoids, tweakers, coke fiends and junkies of all sorts.

[aflatoxin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('J-Rod', 'Y')ou'd have to smelt it yourself though. It's a federal crime to deface currency, so you'd have a problem showing up at the local scrapper with a bucket of dimes.

[Vexed]

Thieves go after copper

[Cobra_Strike]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Dreamtwister', 'I')t would be funny if it weren't so dangerous.

Sooner or later, people are going to run out of things to hawk for gas money. When that happens, there'll be blood.

[aflatoxin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cobra_Strike', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Dreamtwister', 'I')t would be funny if it weren't so dangerous.

Sooner or later, people are going to run out of things to hawk for gas money. When that happens, there'll be blood.

[yoda]

The day I can no longer afford propane, I will strip all the copper piping from my heating system, and sell that as well as the boiler for scrap metal. It will happen in alot of homes. Why does one need piping if there is no fuel for heat?

I think that day is not far away. We barely could afford it this winter, and we kept the thermostat at 52. We live in Upstate NY, so it was pretty cold. I bet next winter we will have no propane.

What is the going rate of scrap metal? Is there a guide somewhere?

[J-Rod]

I recall a few years ago, the groundsman for the local graveyard was complaining about people stealing the bronze vases from graves.

[newhunter-gatherer]

I recall seeing a women holding a placard a few months back in support of the invasion of Iraq on some documentary that read "Kick their ass and steal their gas!".

Maybe that same person a few months from now will be holding a placard reading "Will sell my ass for gas!"

[Zardoz]

Leanan posted this on the home page:

Rising gas prices have heavy impact on poor

[Leanan]

That was a sobering article. One man ended up in the hospital because he tried to cut back on his high blood pressure medication.

High fuel prices are still just an inconvenience for most Americans, but those who are poor and on fixed incomes are really suffering.

I loved this bit:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'B')ut corporate America is responding.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the nation’s largest retailer, warned earlier this week that it expected reduced sales throughout 2006 from its least wealthy customers, and the company highlighted its strategy to market more higher-end goods to maintain growth.

[magician]

you know i was reading this thread and the linked articles yesterday. I live in huntington wv, so the post from charlston wv was interesting. at work at the tobacco/convienence store today I mentioned this to a co-worker and she remarked that she already cannot afford it. Not 5 minutes later the first of 3 customers of interest came in. All regulars who know us, they were trying to sell compact discs, jewlry, and personal electronics to pay for gasoline. two for gas to get to work and one so he can see his parents. the last one was afraid he wouldent get another chance anytime soon because of the gasoline prices. my parents from richmond va (solidly middle class for years) cant even afford to come up to huntington to see my new garden. this is getting kind of creepy.

--frater coyote

[SoothSayer]

General question from the UK: do most Americans - even the middle class - live from hand to mouth?

In other words would say an unexpected $500 bill for house repairs knock a family's spending off-line for a month or two?

Or do most families have a degree of financial buffer available to them?

[Leanan]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'O')r do most families have a degree of financial buffer available to them?

[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SoothSayer', 'G')eneral question from the UK: do most Americans - even the middle class - live from hand to mouth?