Living with $4 gas

While I agree with much of what you say, it always makes me laugh when the U.S. transportation system is compared Europe. Their public system is so much more user friendly. Take Baltimore for example, who designs a subway system that goes only in a straight line and dosen't even connect to other train systems?

For craps sake...our greedy country can't get enough of everything. Maybe people could afford gas if they stop running their credit cards up buying tv's, ipods, 40K cars, computers, another tv for the bedroom, and misc garbage.

consider, though, the difference in city planning. London has been around for quite a bit longer than Baltimore. The infrastructure was already there to support mass transit, everything is closer together, etc. You can't compare the cities at all.

some of this is just flat crap. Look at I-95 - millions, billions being spent on roads while trains languish and with Democratic and Repbulican approval at Fed and State Levels. Rich fat cats like big AL Gore, Wild John McCain, and Rich Real Estate Mama Pelosi can all act so sanctomonious and righteous as they live in their mansions and jet set all over the country - sometimes on the US Taxpayer tab --- while we the common folk are being bled dry. Aye Carmuba - where have you gone Sensible, Real, Everyday peopel.

I don't understand why everyone is upset with high gas prices, housing market drop, higher sales tax, title fees, and other increasing expenses. Don't you all realize that "hope" and "change" is on the way? Just wait until November, it will all change. Everyone will receive an ample supply of "hope" and "change" to buy everything. And, our Country will be safer because with more "hope" and "change" we can pull out of Iraq and the terrorists will leave the USA alone, as long as the potential new President agrees to do nothing about their blowing up American interests and killing innocent civilians. We might even have enough "hope" and "change" to buy them off. And, of course we have Martin O'Malley here in Maryland. Don't worry "children" Martin knows what is best for you. Martin will insure that if you don't get enough "hope" and "change" from Washington he will create some more local entitlement programs. See, I set it all out for you. Now, go to work, make more money, enjoy Martin's next round of increased taxes, and just think "hope" and "change" when you get down in the dumps. Heck you should be happier today just based upon Mike Miller's "tearful" statement yesterday about how he loves his State and is planning to run for office in the next election. See "hope" and "change" has already started to happen.

Balto Dad wrote:

consider, though, the difference in city planning. London has been around for quite a bit longer than Baltimore. The infrastructure was already there to support mass transit, everything is closer together, etc. You can't compare the cities at all.

Both cities were built before the car. Both cities were built before subway was viable. The difference is that America has planned for the car, while other countries planned for mass transit (and the car). If America didn't have superhighways and cheap gas, people wouldn't live 20, 30, 40, 50 miles from where they work. The reason that mass transit investment is so expensive is that, to be effective, it has to serve such a disparate geographic region. Building a rail line from York, PA, to Baltimore is hardly an efficient plan. But there would be quite a few people who live in York that would take it.

Balto Dad wrote:

consider, though, the difference in city planning. London has been around for quite a bit longer than Baltimore. The infrastructure was already there to support mass transit, everything is closer together, etc. You can't compare the cities at all.

So compare Baltimore to DC, Boston or New York. All of them have significantly better transit systems that Baltimore.

Mitch wrote:

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Both cities were built before the car. Both cities were built before subway was viable. The difference is that America has planned for the car, while other countries planned for mass transit (and the car). If America didn't have superhighways and cheap gas, people wouldn't live 20, 30, 40, 50 miles from where they work. The reason that mass transit investment is so expensive is that, to be effective, it has to serve such a disparate geographic region. Building a rail line from York, PA, to Baltimore is hardly an efficient plan. But there would be quite a few people who live in York that would take it.

Maybe if the liberals that run our cities would control the crime that exists there, fewer people would feel the need to move out.

Personally, I wouldn't live in Baltimore, Columbia, Annapolis, or any other city in this area. I will continue to get raped on gas rather than live in this area.

If maryland wanted to do something, maybe they could build a MARC line between Frederick and Baltimore. Think of the drop in traffic on 70.

Talk about inept, for what they spent on the light rail, they could have improved the subway and made it useful. It doesn't even go to Penn station. What moron thought that was a good idea?

This state has it's head in it's ass and has no intention of removing it.

John G wrote:

While I agree with much of what you say, it always makes me laugh when the U.S. transportation system is compared Europe. Their public system is so much more user friendly. Take Baltimore for example, who designs a subway system that goes only in a straight line and dosen't even connect to other train systems?

Dublin has done that and provided a phenom. bus system that is streamlined and a govnermental train line that runs flawlessly.

Mitch wrote:

<quoted text>
Both cities were built before the car. Both cities were built before subway was viable. The difference is that America has planned for the car, while other countries planned for mass transit (and the car). If America didn't have superhighways and cheap gas, people wouldn't live 20, 30, 40, 50 miles from where they work. The reason that mass transit investment is so expensive is that, to be effective, it has to serve such a disparate geographic region. Building a rail line from York, PA, to Baltimore is hardly an efficient plan. But there would be quite a few people who live in York that would take it.

Sorry, but you are comparing apples to oranges. European cities are more compact because they have to be. There simply is not the same amount of available land.

I'll take mass transit when all the representatives to the Maryland Legislature ride on a regular basis. And we all know THAT ain't gonna' happen anytime soon.............

They installed the same faux subway system in Buffalo, NY. It goes virtually nowhere and the few places it does go, you better hope you don't miss that last train or you end up walking in hood-ville where even a cab won't pick you up.

Let's keep a good thought eh Sunpapers?

It doesn't matter that the world is awash with light sweet crude or that the shale oil reserves in the US dwarf the oild fields of the middle east and will be easier and easier to pump over the next 100 years does it? Let's gin up more false speculation!!!

If we do not increase oil production as soon as possible, any day now millions of Africans will begin to die of starvation due to higher food prices (driven by higher energy prices due to tight supplies). Next winter, when heating oil prices hit $6-8 a gallon, eventually we will pick up our newspapers and read about the New England family found frozen to death huddled in their home because they could not afford $3,000 to fill their tank.(expect this story to be repeated hunders of times).

So those of you who worry about boutique issues like "global warming" (1 degree in 100 years? And this is bad - why? No matter we'll be dead long before then with no energy supplies) need to realize we have a human catastrophe on our hands. Unless we boost energy supplies (i.e. start drilling) we are signing the death warrants of millions in the developing world.

phil wrote:

some of this is just flat crap. Look at I-95 - millions, billions being spent on roads while trains languish and with Democratic and Repbulican approval at Fed and State Levels. Rich fat cats like big AL Gore, Wild John McCain, and Rich Real Estate Mama Pelosi can all act so sanctomonious and righteous as they live in their mansions and jet set all over the country - sometimes on the US Taxpayer tab --- while we the common folk are being bled dry. Aye Carmuba - where have you gone Sensible, Real, Everyday peopel.

That is where the money from the gas tax is supposed to go.

The answer to oil prices is simple. All our government has to do is announce that we are going to drill off shore and in alaska. Sit back and watch the prices drop. Remember a lot of the price of oil is built on some group looking into a crystal ball and the strength of the dollar. If we start to drill or even if the oil producing countries think we may they have to lower the price to make it not in our best interests to do so. when its only one gas station in your area they can charge what ever they want but the minute another opens the first one will lower his price.

VoteEarlyVoteOften wrote:

<quoted text>
Maybe if the liberals that run our cities would control the crime that exists there, fewer people would feel the need to move out.
Personally, I wouldn't live in Baltimore, Columbia, Annapolis, or any other city in this area. I will continue to get raped on gas rather than live in this area.
If maryland wanted to do something, maybe they could build a MARC line between Frederick and Baltimore. Think of the drop in traffic on 70.
Talk about inept, for what they spent on the light rail, they could have improved the subway and made it useful. It doesn't even go to Penn station. What moron thought that was a good idea?
This state has it's head in it's ass and has no intention of removing it.

What is your reason for Columbia, it is pretty much one of the safest places in the state.

JohnD wrote:

If we do not increase oil production as soon as possible, any day now millions of Africans will begin to die of starvation due to higher food prices (driven by higher energy prices due to tight supplies). Next winter, when heating oil prices hit $6-8 a gallon, eventually we will pick up our newspapers and read about the New England family found frozen to death huddled in their home because they could not afford $3,000 to fill their tank.(expect this story to be repeated hunders of times).
So those of you who worry about boutique issues like "global warming" (1 degree in 100 years? And this is bad - why? No matter we'll be dead long before then with no energy supplies) need to realize we have a human catastrophe on our hands. Unless we boost energy supplies (i.e. start drilling) we are signing the death warrants of millions in the developing world.

Tight supplies are due to OPEC keeping a close watch on consumption and producing just enough to sell at artificially high prices and no extra. This drives oil futures on wall street, and the newly-merged oil company monopolies make windfall billions. We need to drill, but more importantly develop EVERY ALTERNATIVE we can including clean diesel from coal, ethanol from additional sources not just corn, electric cars, wind, nuclear, etc. Also the oil monopoly needs to be broken up again. Teddy Roosevelt broke them up 100 years ago, Bush approved the merger of these same companies and look where our prices are going. Let some of the oil-rich countries help out in Africa. We don't have the money anymore, it has gone to Saudis for the high priced oil.

ByronMoreno wrote:

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Sorry, but you are comparing apples to oranges. European cities are more compact because they have to be. There simply is not the same amount of available land.

You couldn't be more wrong. There are lots of areas, not far from major cities, that are very rural and undeveloped. Rather, Europe has always been an energy importer. Thus, they've needed to use less of it and have built their cities to do so. The per capita energy usage in Europe is much lower than in America.

We live with it because America is made up mostly of lemmings and sheep. Thank God, we are surrounded by water and friendly nations, because someone with bahlls could come in here and take away everyone's SUVs that they don't need!