[BabyPeanut]

Philly Central Daily (link)
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'L')ike a millionaire baseball owner who's willing to spend $200 million and break the bank to win a World Series, Americans' spending on their automobiles defies any economic logic of supply and demand. This May, when prices were in the midst of their record runup, U.S. gasoline consumption was actually 1 percent higher than in May 2004.

The result of sky-high gas prices, so far, has been nothing like the long lines and consumer panic of the 1973-74 Arab oil embargo, or the crushing recession when prices hit their inflation-adjusted records in 1979-81.

This time around, adjustments have been minor. Small businesses have been passing along price increases when they can. Individuals are trying to drive less, although they say that's hard when most driving is for work and family activities. They talk of buying a more fuel-efficient car when the one they drive now gives out.

Drivers are angry, but not filled with rage - not yet.

"It makes me really mad," said Anne Martella, a 38-year-old Philadelphia bartender, as the Wawa attendant pumped $23 of gas into her Cutlass Supreme. "But I can't change my habits - you've got to do what you've got to do."

[rockdoc123]

inelastic demand.....one of the first signs of the apocalypse.

[seldom_seen]

My analogy would be a crackhead who is just about to check himself in to rehab, but decides to go on a 48 hour crack bender, just to have a little fun before reality sets in.

[IanC]

We have a long way to go int he US until people give up their cars. The reasons for this have been well documented in the various PO forums. Gas costs in Europe/UK have been much higher than in the US for a long time and people there still drive a lot.

I was an exchange student in Bielefled, Germany in 1991. There was a 100km traffic jam getting into Berlin for spring break that made headlines. If Europeans with very expensive gas are still willing to drivefor leisure, you can bet that Americans will do the same for some time to come.

The really pathetic thing about my countrymen, though, is that they are willing to finance all their driving using credit cards. I think talking about this behavior in terms of "addiction" is very close to the mark.

-IanC

[NeoPeasant]

I'm afraid far too many Americans are destined to drive themselves to bankruptcy and homelessness because they don't know what else to do. Far too few will walk away from their cars while they are still solvent.

"We'll be the first nation in the world to go to the poor house in an automobile" -Will Rogers

[Petro]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('IanC', 'W')e have a long way to go int he US until people give up their cars. The reasons for this have been well documented in the various PO forums. Gas costs in Europe/UK have been much higher than in the US for a long time and people there still drive a lot.

I was an exchange student in Bielefled, Germany in 1991. There was a 100km traffic jam getting into Berlin for spring break that made headlines. If Europeans with very expensive gas are still willing to drivefor leisure, you can bet that Americans will do the same for some time to come.

The really pathetic thing about my countrymen, though, is that they are willing to finance all their driving using credit cards. I think talking about this behavior in terms of "addiction" is very close to the mark.

-IanC

[joewp]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Petro', '
')Havn't you guys seen the TV advert where the black chick is standing inside an elevator and the commentator asks: "...could you give up your car for the environment..."? She replys: "...jeez that's like asking me to give up chocolate...I got to have my car...".

Is there anything more to ask...?

[MacG]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('seldom_seen', 'M')y analogy would be a crackhead who is just about to check himself in to rehab, but decides to go on a 48 hour crack bender, just to have a little fun before reality sets in.

[I_Like_Plants]

Yes it's exactly analogous to addiction.

I'm glad I bike everywhere these days (no car) and a lot of chocolate hurts my stomach so I hardly eat the stuff.

[tokyo_to_motueka]

inelasticity of individuals' demand curve for gasoline...

...there's a topic that's been kicking around the PO forums since Adam drove his new Chevy through the Garden of Eden to pick up Eve on a HOT date!

(sorry... )

Addiction, yes.

But MAYBE the crux is:
what percentage of disposable income does gasoline need to be before car use is curtailed significantly?

this question may become irrelevant if disposable income includes refi-ATM $100 bills from heaven and/or no-limit credit cards. Oh well...

[BabyPeanut]

another one:

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=45596
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')For some East Valley residents, like Nolan Baldwin of Gilbert, rising fuel prices are an irritating fact of life.

"Look at the price of diesel, it really makes me mad," Baldwin said, as he paid $75 to fill his diesel truck with 28 gallons of fuel at the Shell station at Warner and Gilbert Roads in Gilbert.

As a co-owner of Day Break Construction, Baldwin uses his truck for work and can’t change his fuel costs.

"I’ve got a stucco business and I’ve got to do it. I’ve got to go out to jobs, take a look at prospective ones," Baldwin said.

And personally, Baldwin said he’s not reducing family trips up north.

"When it first goes up, I say that I’m going to cut back but after a while then I think, ‘You know, I’m just going to do it,’ " he said.

[k_semler]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('BabyPeanut', '[')url=http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/sports/football/nfl/philadelphia_eagles/12241657.htm]Philly Central Daily (link)[/url]
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'L')ike a millionaire baseball owner who's willing to spend $200 million and break the bank to win a World Series, Americans' spending on their automobiles defies any economic logic of supply and demand. This May, when prices were in the midst of their record runup, U.S. gasoline consumption was actually 1 percent higher than in May 2004.

The result of sky-high gas prices, so far, has been nothing like the long lines and consumer panic of the 1973-74 Arab oil embargo, or the crushing recession when prices hit their inflation-adjusted records in 1979-81.

This time around, adjustments have been minor. Small businesses have been passing along price increases when they can. Individuals are trying to drive less, although they say that's hard when most driving is for work and family activities. They talk of buying a more fuel-efficient car when the one they drive now gives out.

Drivers are angry, but not filled with rage - not yet.

"It makes me really mad," said Anne Martella, a 38-year-old Philadelphia bartender, as the Wawa attendant pumped $23 of gas into her Cutlass Supreme. "But I can't change my habits - you've got to do what you've got to do."

[I_Like_Plants]

I just can't get over that in one part of the US, there are gas stations called Wawa. They need to come up with a convenience store and call it Baba, then when both are together, you have a Baba-Wawa.

I think addiction is the only applicable model for describing the relationship between 'murricans and their cars. But, a psychological addiction mostly, with only a slight physical addiction. (It's hard at first to go to walking, biking, etc at first, but once over the hump your body is much happier.)

The fact that non-'murricans also get addicted to cars shows the force of addiction is strong. Helps that the same people who run the governments of the world also own the car manufacturing plants and gas stations.

[jdmartin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('I_Like_Plants', 'I') just can't get over that in one part of the US, there are gas stations called Wawa. They need to come up with a convenience store and call it Baba, then when both are together, you have a Baba-Wawa.

I think addiction is the only applicable model for describing the relationship between 'murricans and their cars. But, a psychological addiction mostly, with only a slight physical addiction. (It's hard at first to go to walking, biking, etc at first, but once over the hump your body is much happier.)

The fact that non-'murricans also get addicted to cars shows the force of addiction is strong. Helps that the same people who run the governments of the world also own the car manufacturing plants and gas stations.

[BabyPeanut]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jdmartin', 't')he disgusting mess we call food and snacks these days.

[jdmartin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('BabyPeanut', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jdmartin', 't')he disgusting mess we call food and snacks these days.