Gas Strike

[Churchill]

Bernanke also said in those hearings, that he was printing currency/cutting interests rates and when asked why he was doing this, since it was so detrimental to the value of the dollar, only serving to perpetuate the current cycle we were in at the time (Interests rates that were too low for the market, debt, inflation, so print more money to stave the inflation through stimulus and therefor further devalue the dollar and etc), and asked why it was he seemed that he was devaluing the currency on purpose, he responded in agreement.

Either way, you can sit here and argue out of your textbook and love for the Federal Reserve, and I'll argue out of an older one against it. Only one story either of us is presenting is currently happening, so you tell me that the value of the dollar hasn't dropped 30% compared to other monetary systems, and you'll be wrong. You tell me that the value of the dollar hasn't dropped in proportion to the inflation on gas you see, and you'll be wrong. You tell me that your upper middle class families aren't hurting month to month now, and you'll be wrong.

There's always of course, the depression that's coming.

Or will Bernanke save us? lol.

[Plow]

RIDE A BICYCLE!

You know, if you could get a few million people to ride a bike instead of drive one day, that would have a hell of a lot more impact than just waiting a day to buy gas.

[sunb1ind]

That reminds me, I just saw a story on Nightline or Dateline about countries in Europe and how they're dealing with the rise in gas. Basically, they mentioned how it wasn't much of an issue since the majority of their citizens ride public transportation or use bikes to get around town; either because of street regulations, incentives, or geographical convenience. It was funny because at the end they were interviewing someone on a bike in the middle of town and he made a smug remark saying: "I bet your SUV can't get this mileage." while he rode off ringing his lil bell..

You could say that the reason why we haven't adopted similar systems in our metropolitan areas is our difference in lifestyles. I could come up with various other reasons myself, concerning greed and corruption, but that doesn't matter now at this point. America's energy needs and dependency on oil will only get worse as our likely future presidents have no plan to make any changes that will take the power out of the hands of oil corps or place a carbon tax to force alternative fuel investments. People will just adapt and forget about the past when gas was a normal commodity instead of a luxury when it climbs to $5.00+ a gallon.

[kuronosan]

I'm actually thinking of getting a bike, specifically so I don't have to use my car as much. I wish more people would realize it's a better solution if you work closeby or close enough to ride a bike. The best part about bicycles is they require no gas, almost no maintenance, and can often get you where you're going faster since you don't have to obey speed limits or most rules of driving and can use sidewalks.

[Khamsin]

can often get you where you're going faster since you don't have to obey speed limits

You must ride pretty fast.

I live 10 minutes from work by car (tried walking once, took me 45 minutes). I don't have a bike, though. I should get an SUV since I use less gas commuting, meaning I have more of my "ration" left over to splurge!

[Demosthenes11]

That reminds me, I just saw a story on Nightline or Dateline about countries in Europe and how they're dealing with the rise in gas. Basically, they mentioned how it wasn't much of an issue since the majority of their citizens ride public transportation or use bikes to get around town; either because of street regulations, incentives, or geographical convenience. It was funny because at the end they were interviewing someone on a bike in the middle of town and he made a smug remark saying: "I bet your SUV can't get this mileage." while he rode off ringing his lil bell..

You could say that the reason why we haven't adopted similar systems in our metropolitan areas is our difference in lifestyles. I could come up with various other reasons myself, concerning greed and corruption, but that doesn't matter now at this point. America's energy needs and dependency on oil will only get worse as our likely future presidents have no plan to make any changes that will take the power out of the hands of oil corps or place a carbon tax to force alternative fuel investments. People will just adapt and forget about the past when gas was a normal commodity instead of a luxury when it climbs to $5.00+ a gallon.

no, the reason american's don't use as much public transportation is because it's fuckin huge. Take a look at the population density of the US compared to any European country. Things are closer together in Europe

[Palin]

That reminds me, I just saw a story on Nightline or Dateline about countries in Europe and how they're dealing with the rise in gas. Basically, they mentioned how it wasn't much of an issue since the majority of their citizens ride public transportation or use bikes to get around town; either because of street regulations, incentives, or geographical convenience. It was funny because at the end they were interviewing someone on a bike in the middle of town and he made a smug remark saying: "I bet your SUV can't get this mileage." while he rode off ringing his lil bell..

You could say that the reason why we haven't adopted similar systems in our metropolitan areas is our difference in lifestyles. I could come up with various other reasons myself, concerning greed and corruption, but that doesn't matter now at this point. America's energy needs and dependency on oil will only get worse as our likely future presidents have no plan to make any changes that will take the power out of the hands of oil corps or place a carbon tax to force alternative fuel investments. People will just adapt and forget about the past when gas was a normal commodity instead of a luxury when it climbs to $5.00+ a gallon.

no, the reason american's don't use as much public transportation is because it's fuckin huge. Take a look at the population density of the US compared to any European country. Things are closer together in Europe

This is correct, it also has to do with the way America set itself up following World War 2. The oil and car companies promoted the "spread out" lifestyle, encouraging middle class families to settle in the suburbs and get away from the minorities in the city.

This is also why you see the city structure reversed in American, with the poor often staying in the cities, while the middle class and rich are out in the suburbs. In Europe its largely the other way around, the place to live is inside the city, and thus public transportation is more accessible.

[sunb1ind]

no, the reason american's don't use as much public transportation is because it's fuckin huge. Take a look at the population density of the US compared to any European country. Things are closer together in Europe

I was mainly trying to get at the fact, even in densely populated areas, the public transportation system, for the most part, is piss-poor compared to Europe. The ratio of bikes to taxis/cars in the streets is ridiculous in our major cities. We should be encouraging bikes/buses on the streets for alternatives to subways(if that's even an option).

I'll stop there, because Palin makes a good point:

This is also why you see the city structure reversed in American, with the poor often staying in the cities, while the middle class and rich are out in the suburbs. In Europe its largely the other way around, the place to live is inside the city, and thus public transportation is more accessible.

I never really stopped and looked at it that way. This is really the dividing statement between our cultures. And it shouldn't be that way. We are the ones who have it backwards. The more you think about how the 2 different scenarios affect ways of life and their disadvantages/advantages, the clearer it becomes. I would take a bet that this type of city structuring is a fairly new idea and hasn't been practiced in other major empires/civilizations of the past? Nothing comes to mind at the moment, but I can't say I'm an expert in ancient empires lol

[Beckwin]

in addition to the suburban effect, American cities just aren't designed as compactly. It's gotten to the point where entire cities are set up like suburbs. older cities, particularly back east, tend to have "ok" public trans but most newer ones are terrible because of urban sprawl. like the Phoenix metro area (6million+ people I think, #8 (or 6? idr) in the country) is absolutely massive, and all the development is horizontal. the whole valley is on a grid system of big surface streets.

A lot of southern california is the same way (with more hills but still sprawl).

[Demosthenes11]

I don't really feel like it's "wrong." Personally, I'd rather have more space than public transportation, smog, and noise.

[Palin]

Most European city's public transportation system is so good that the majority of people don't own cars. Makes smog a lot less of a problem than in say, Los Angeles.

[Khamsin]

I'm a transportation engineer (design roads and urban projects) and pretty much all the current standards for new urban roadway construction involve at least a 5-lane section with landscaped medians, 10 foot sidewalks and 5-10 foot planter strips between the sidewalk and road. Plus a generous setback for new building construction. This is mostly done to allow for expansion, since if you look at some of the older cities you'll find buildings that are right at the back of the sidewalk, two lane roads with no left turn lanes, and oddly-angled or offset intersections. You can't widen the road because there's no room without taking out buildings, and you can't add in better sidewalks or landscaping for the same reasons. You can't straighten the intersections or align them better, either. There's just no room.

So nowadays, they take as much room as possible so someday, when they expand, they have room to actually improve or fix things so as not to have those issues.

[Quicklet]

I'm a transportation engineer (design roads and urban projects) and pretty much all the current standards for new urban roadway construction involve at least a 5-lane section with landscaped medians, 10 foot sidewalks and 5-10 foot planter strips between the sidewalk and road. Plus a generous setback for new building construction. This is mostly done to allow for expansion, since if you look at some of the older cities you'll find buildings that are right at the back of the sidewalk, two lane roads with no left turn lanes, and oddly-angled or offset intersections. You can't widen the road because there's no room without taking out buildings, and you can't add in better sidewalks or landscaping for the same reasons. You can't straighten the intersections or align them better, either. There's just no room.

So nowadays, they take as much room as possible so someday, when they expand, they have room to actually improve or fix things so as not to have those issues.

You know, sometimes I wonder when MMO designers are going to take that approach.

[Charismatic]

Interestingly enough, that's the approach SE took when they made FFXI... they just suck ass at fixing things.

[kuronosan]

can often get you where you're going faster since you don't have to obey speed limits

You must ride pretty fast.

I live 10 minutes from work by car (tried walking once, took me 45 minutes). I don't have a bike, though. I should get an SUV since I use less gas commuting, meaning I have more of my "ration" left over to splurge!

Speed is relative. You'd be surprised how fast you can get somewhere when you don't have to drive on roads with idiots.

[Khamsin]

can often get you where you're going faster since you don't have to obey speed limits

You must ride pretty fast.

I live 10 minutes from work by car (tried walking once, took me 45 minutes). I don't have a bike, though. I should get an SUV since I use less gas commuting, meaning I have more of my "ration" left over to splurge!

Speed is relative. You'd be surprised how fast you can get somewhere when you don't have to drive on roads with idiots.

I meant, riding faster than the speed limit. Unless you meant on 25/35mph roads.

[kuronosan]

Yes, that's what I meant. Sorry for not specifying.

[Plow]

Well for one thing you legally still have to follow the speed limit on bikes, for another thing faster than 35 mph on a bike is REALLY DAMN FAST.

[Kurp]

15 miles per hour is a good average for an urban commute. It can definitely be faster than car or bus, but that all depends on how heavy the traffic is really.