4 ms·

no one I know is concerned about gas prices. Yes, occasionally there is a joke about it costing as much as it does in Europe, but no one I know has changed even

no one I know is concerned about gas prices. Yes, occasionally there is a joke about it costing as much as it does in Europe, but no one I know has changed even little habits. My teenagers still drive around the city needlessly with their friends. My brother still drives 30 minutes away to his "favorite bbq place".

teakettle42 5y ago
This is just a political advocacy piece, not actual news. Gas prices aren’t even that high — just higher than they’ve been for a few years.
- frosted-flakes 5y ago
  In Canada, fuel prices are way higher than they've ever been. For years, diesel hovered around 110¢/L. then in late 2020 it plummeted to around 85 because of Covid before rising to 140 for the past year or so. But last week it jumped to 225, and it's still at 210. I have never seen it above 150 before last week.
- dangus 5y ago
  I agree, gas prices are this huge political indicator that isn't quite as impactful as the media makes it out to be. I wouldn't discount the fact that gas prices affect the poorest people the most, especially since location compromise is how many people save money on housing. Still, gas is only one component of the total cost of driving. Adjusted for inflation, the current price of gas is on the high side, but on the other hand it's been a downright bargain since the end of the Great Recession. Once you adjust for both inflation and higher average MPG of typical Americans' cars, I highly doubt that we're paying the most we've ever paid for gas. On top of that, the most popular cars in America are crossover SUVs, and while they're much more fuel efficient than the old SUVs of the mid-2000's, they still sacrifice about 5 MPG or more from their sedan equivalent. I don't believe that Americans are making "sacrifices" while huge automakers like Ford and GM are completely discontinuing sedans from their lineups in favor of SUVs that categorically get worse MPG due to their inherent aerodynamic disadvantages. Americans have apparently made the choice to not make MPG their top priority for purchase decisions despite living through high gas prices barely more than 10 years ago. In other words, the most economic cars sold in America (cars like the Nissan Versa and Mitsubishi Mirage) are also some of the most fuel efficient. The people who own crossover SUVs and have 2 kids or less really have no room to be moaning about gas prices, as they made a conscious choice to waste fuel in exchange for "convenience" or "driving posture."
  - gruez 5y ago
    > I agree, gas prices are this huge political indicator that isn't quite as impactful as the media makes it out to be. I don't think it's just the media. It's a number that you see on your drive to work, so it makes sense that it's near top of people's mind when it comes to "cost of living" or "inflation".
HWR_14 5y ago
I'd wager "the people you know" are upper-middle class or higher. I don't understand people who don't get how blessed they are. Like, I too wish I had figured out how to make hundreds of millions with a startup, but that doesn't change I know how much better I have it than the majority of Americans.
qiskit 5y ago
Gas prices rise up by 40% in a matter of days and no one you know is concerned about gas prices? You must know a lot of privileged people then. > My teenagers still drive around the city needlessly with their friends. My brother still drives 30 minutes away to his "favorite bbq place". These are you examples? Just because people are living their lives doesn't mean they aren't concerned. You can still drive 30 mins to your favorite bbq place and still be concerned it takes $40 more each time you fill up your tank.

teakettle42 5y ago

This is just a political advocacy piece, not actual news. Gas prices aren’t even that high — just higher than they’ve been for a few years.

frosted-flakes 5y ago
In Canada, fuel prices are way higher than they've ever been. For years, diesel hovered around 110¢/L. then in late 2020 it plummeted to around 85 because of Covid before rising to 140 for the past year or so. But last week it jumped to 225, and it's still at 210. I have never seen it above 150 before last week.
dangus 5y ago
I agree, gas prices are this huge political indicator that isn't quite as impactful as the media makes it out to be. I wouldn't discount the fact that gas prices affect the poorest people the most, especially since location compromise is how many people save money on housing. Still, gas is only one component of the total cost of driving. Adjusted for inflation, the current price of gas is on the high side, but on the other hand it's been a downright bargain since the end of the Great Recession. Once you adjust for both inflation and higher average MPG of typical Americans' cars, I highly doubt that we're paying the most we've ever paid for gas. On top of that, the most popular cars in America are crossover SUVs, and while they're much more fuel efficient than the old SUVs of the mid-2000's, they still sacrifice about 5 MPG or more from their sedan equivalent. I don't believe that Americans are making "sacrifices" while huge automakers like Ford and GM are completely discontinuing sedans from their lineups in favor of SUVs that categorically get worse MPG due to their inherent aerodynamic disadvantages. Americans have apparently made the choice to not make MPG their top priority for purchase decisions despite living through high gas prices barely more than 10 years ago. In other words, the most economic cars sold in America (cars like the Nissan Versa and Mitsubishi Mirage) are also some of the most fuel efficient. The people who own crossover SUVs and have 2 kids or less really have no room to be moaning about gas prices, as they made a conscious choice to waste fuel in exchange for "convenience" or "driving posture."
- gruez 5y ago
  > I agree, gas prices are this huge political indicator that isn't quite as impactful as the media makes it out to be. I don't think it's just the media. It's a number that you see on your drive to work, so it makes sense that it's near top of people's mind when it comes to "cost of living" or "inflation".

HWR_14 5y ago

I'd wager "the people you know" are upper-middle class or higher. I don't understand people who don't get how blessed they are. Like, I too wish I had figured out how to make hundreds of millions with a startup, but that doesn't change I know how much better I have it than the majority of Americans.

qiskit 5y ago

Gas prices rise up by 40% in a matter of days and no one you know is concerned about gas prices? You must know a lot of privileged people then. > My teenagers still drive around the city needlessly with their friends. My brother still drives 30 minutes away to his "favorite bbq place". These are you examples? Just because people are living their lives doesn't mean they aren't concerned. You can still drive 30 mins to your favorite bbq place and still be concerned it takes $40 more each time you fill up your tank.