Who Luvs Ya Baby? If You Live In The Heartland, It Ain't The Democrats
By haystack Posted in Bad Democrat Policy | Gas Prices | Liberals | sticking it to the little guy — Comments (15) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Tacking on to Erick's earlier piece, it's worth noting this New York Times article which points out that it's rural America that is taking the worst hit from gas prices:
Gasoline prices reached a national average of $4 a gallon for the first time over the weekend, adding more strain to motorists across the country.
But the pain is not being felt uniformly. Across broad swaths of the South, Southwest and the upper Great Plains, the combination of low incomes, high gas prices and heavy dependence on pickup trucks and vans is putting an even tighter squeeze on family budgets.
There is an outstanding map that shows just how distinct the differences are between rural America and the rest of the country in terms of the percentage of income currently being spent on fuel. This is a MUST see graphic folks.
What is amazing to me, at least, is the willingness of Democrats from Massachusetts to California to advocate bills (Energy and Cap and Trade, for example) that makes gas more expensive while simultaneously ignoring the plight of most American families – those living outside large cities and those without access to mass transportation.
Look closely at the map, then call your Democrat Political Heroes and thank them for the Pelosi Premium...not that they'll actually give a flip.
Who Luvs Ya Baby? If You Live In The Heartland, It Ain't The Democrats 15 Comments (0 topical, 15 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
I'm east of Austin and we broke 4.00 this morning...and I have a diesel truck...4.80 for that puppy.
Iustum et tenacem propositi virum non civium ardor prava iubentium, non vultus instantis tyranni mente quatit solida.
-Quintus Horatius Flaccus
Sad thing is, it was 3.79 on my way home Friday night, 3.89 on Saturday, 3.95 yesterday afternoon, and 3.99 this morning.
"A touch of grey kinda suits you anyway."
we live in Texas, that makes it seem a little better.
/Katy zip code
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
Here in Alaska the rural villages are getting hit really hard. The summer barge and deliveries jumped the price close to 8.00 a gallon in some places. Here in Fairbanks, I'm fueling my car up looking at the refinery the gas came from and paying 4.25, and the pipeline the crude came from is right next door.
We need the north slope opened up, right now. It's painful to know that it probably won't happen. McCain isn't for it, and Obama certainly isn't either. If things keep going they way they are and the dems pick up more seats, the prospect is even more remote.
In my few comments here its pretty obvious I lean to the left, but as an Alaskan there are two very very conservative parts of me, my guns, and the environment. I have no doubt the earth is warming, but I have my doubts that its because of us. It's not worth crippling the country just for the sake of a few degrees. I for one, welcome a warmer winter...
You say "McCain isn't for it". Why is that?
Iustum et tenacem propositi virum non civium ardor prava iubentium, non vultus instantis tyranni mente quatit solida.
-Quintus Horatius Flaccus
True, but his constituency is against it. That doesn't fix the problem, but it means that he's likely to be more moderate/listen to reason then Obama.
"I will look for people in the cast of John Roberts, Samuel Alito, and my friend the late William Rehnquist – jurists of the highest caliber who know their own minds, and know the law, and know the difference." - John McCain
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
And while it makes sense, I wonder how much the map might be more of a reflection of housing costs than any other factor. In some (all?) of those purple areas, folk are putting a huge percentage of their discretionary income to housing costs. The rising cost of energy isn't going to displace housing dollars, energy will ADD to those dollars. And there might not be any substantial free dollars to make up that demand. With a rapidly growing energy burden on top of a huge housing burden, American families may be in for some horrific financial choices. I am truly losing sleep at night contemplating the full negative impact of the rising cost of energy on America (and the rest of the world). Our elected politicians seem more interested in what to do about the NE Patriots' cheating in the NFL and steroid use in MLB than in whether or not the USA is on the edge of outright economic destruction.
So energy is going to be a lower % and you are right, housing is going to be higher.
Bottomline, we will be losing a bit of the tradition of America with these prices. And some people are really going to be hurting...
For my global warming friends, have you ever seen the chart showing the price of gas vs. the popularity of the president? It's pretty clear that when the price of gas goes up, the popularity goes down.
I hope we will see some easing by November...
"Broadly speaking, liberalism emphasizes individual rights and equality of opportunity. ... including extensive freedom of thought and speech, limitations on the power of governments, the rule of law, the free exchange of ideas, a market or mixed economy,
Something to consider. In the purple areas like SFO, DC, NY Chicago, there is amazing and highly utilized public transportation. If you don;t drive to work everyday, the impact of gas on the budget will be less.
I actually did a check to see if I could ride the bus here in Mesa, AZ to get to my office. Sure enough, If I was willing to walk a total of 1.25 miles this simple 16 mile trip would take 53 minutes. Right now it takes me 19 minutes. What a trade off.
_____________________________
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
--Aristotle
I used to live in Chandler and worked in downtown Phoenix; if I drove it I could leave at 6:20 to be at work at 7. If I took the bus, I had to catch it about 2.5 miles away and be at the bus stop at 5:30 to make it to work by 7. And that was an "express" bus.
"A touch of grey kinda suits you anyway."
was his dismissal of the federal gas tax holiday as only saving the average family $30 over the summer. Well, part of my family lives in Wyoming, where travel times are reckoned in hours, and people out there really feel it every week. And this is something we can say while also ignoring the obvious impact on commercial fuel consumption.
Yesterday the news reports that the average tank of gas was now $4 a gallon. Here in Arlington, TX going into the weekend the price for a gallon of gas was $3.88. Today it had dropped to $3.79 a gallon. When I expect it to go higher it drops 9 cents.