PHOTOS: February 28, 2008. San Mateo, California

[Bluebear]

[CC]

1. You might want to send a copy to the

Whitehouse. The idiot there doesn't believe or think about gas hitting $4.00 a gallon.

[Sabriel]

3. "$4 a gallon gas? Uh, duh, I hadn't heard that...."

I guess I should be happy I can still be amazed and appalled by his idiocy.

And I'd better shut up about paying $3.09 here in Wisconsin....

[amborin]

2. good

only if pump prices continue to rise will enough americans mobilize to pressure for better R and D for alternative fuels (that don't do more damage than gasoline in the long run) and greener technology.

lower income folks should of course get some kind of compensatory subsidies

but we have to get people out of the SUVs into greener vehicles or public transportation

[Bluebear]

4. Noble, but the problem is, working people can't afford this

All of a sudden half their paychecks are going into the tank. Instead of buying food, heat, clothes, etc.

[madokie]

45. I'm disabled so I'm not working

if I was to become able to return to work which I would love to do mind you, I would be taking a big pay cut even though I'm on disability now because of the expense of fuel alone. My type work, placing and finishing concrete, required a lot of gas, somedays a tank full. We're just glad all in our family live within a few miles of their work. we're paying 3 dollars a gallon here now and I suspect we'll see 4 dollar gas before summer is out.

Peripheral Artery Disease or PAD is the docs word for it, colarderteries is my word for it. clogged arteries ;-)

[Mountainman]

49. Don't you like it when people have only a one sided view of things.

Hurray! make people suffer then they will come around to my point of view!

[Sabriel]

5. Yes, it's great that food prices and other staple items are rising

Are you nuts? This is hitting low-income people the hardest, and they aren't going to be getting any more in food stamps or "compensatory subsidies."

Not to mention people here in Wisconsin and other places having to choose between food and heat and getting around.

I don't see how ANYONE at this point can say that higher fuel prices are going to do anything but hurt the average citizen, particularly since we saw very little R&D come out of the gas crisis in the '70s.

[ReadTomPaine]

6. Every dollar extra just strengthens the oil industry further...

these prices are profit taking, pure and simple. That extra money isn't subsidizing anything - it's just making the people responsible for the problem richer, stronger and more powerful.

[Bluebear]

7. Exactly. Read: Bush, Cheney, Rice

What fools people were to think "they're just like us!!!"

[ReadTomPaine]

10. Here's a link a somewhat related article in LBN - "Silicon Valley Hummer to close"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3203610

I dropped a reference to this thread there - it seemed appropriate!

[amborin]

39. that's too simplistic

part of the reason pump prices keep increasing has nothing to do with gas corporations

it's due to the futures market on petroleum

it's the futures market that has been behind much of the price increases

[Submariner]

8. Stop complainin' and go shoppin' with your stimulus check

Your Governator will make everything nice..nice..

[truedelphi]

9. California's state budget is 14 billion dollars in the hole

Tremendous cuts hitting the school system - teachers and teachers' aides, janitors and others being laid off.

[trashcanistanista]

11. Don't forget he also is dumping

120,000 poor, elderly and disabled off of MediCal. He is a cold heartless bastard and the state is paying for it.

[ReadTomPaine]

16. One good shot of him deserves another..

[LiberalAndProud]

20. good 'un!

[FunkyLeprechaun]

12. Still cheaper than the UK

We pay £1.05 a LITRE (which is approximately £4.20 a gallon, which is $8.35 a gallon). I really wish we had your prices over here.

[liberal4truth]

13. And we wish we has a national healthcare plan like you blokes do.

[FunkyLeprechaun]

67. That's the problem with you guys complaining about the high gas prices

Our gas is mainly taxed in order to provide funds towards these departments (NHS, etc).

It's the same with cigarettes, even though they've banned it from indoor places, they tax the cigs very highly. A pack of Hamlets is nearly £4 each ($8). I just wonder why people haven't quit here when the cigs are so expensive.... they just try to buy as much as they can from the duty free.

[ReadTomPaine]

14. The extra money you pay subsidizes more than oil industry profits.

Here that money just goes right down the drain.

[FunkyLeprechaun]

68. That I have to agree with you

I remember I participated in the caucus in MN a while back. One of the issues someone raised was to raise the gas prices so it can be paid towards services.

A high school student disagreed with this person. She wants the prices to stay low enough so she could afford to drive to school.

Now... our driving age here is 18... People normally graduate high school in MN at 18. When I moved to Boston I immediately didn't need a car.

Also we have a much better transportation system here as well. Regular bus times.

[Bluebear]

22. I really wish we had your transit system over here, but we don't.

And so there is our reality. See the bumper sticker at the bottom of the OP again. Lower income working people are being absolutely hammered here.

[FunkyLeprechaun]

69. Some cities like Boston

Have a really good transit system but the smaller cities tend to not have that sort of transit system, which I can understand what you're coming from.

[FirstLight]

15. Oh god, here it comes....

:scared:

I AM one of those 'lower income people', and I am not seeing and end to the tunnel. food has doubled, gas is still rising, and I live in a place where the food & goods are also higher because the truck has to drive it up the mountain...

...we could also be in danger of losing housing assistance (govt programs like HUD wil be the first to go), or mediCAL
I will end up on my parent's couch with 3 kids, or in my car
wth a daughter that has an endocrine deficiency (and a brain cyst and partial blindness)
I just lost 3 weeks of work to the flu and sick kids and no 'sick childcare'
we are SO screwed, I can't even see straight

...god, I am depressed

[fight4my3sons]

60. I am one of those "low income people" too

:hug:

[casus belli]

17. Ouch. :( n/t

[BB1]

18. Just sold my car this week

and now I'm back to public transport and hitch hiking.
Gas is doing 1.50 euro/litre now.

The dollar is sinking as well, which is bad for all you guys.

[Sweet Pea]

19. Part of it

is that these photos were taken in California! Even here in the DC area it is still 3.05 a gallon. If someone wants to live in California, one of the prices they pay is exorbitantly priced gasoline. Deal with it. If you complain, I'll kick your ass all the way to the gas station because you choose to live there.

[Bluebear]

21. Truly one of the coldest, most idiotic things I've seen posted here.

'If someone wants to live in California, one of the prices they pay is exorbitantly priced gasoline. Deal with it.'

So, if those people all of a sudden don't "choose" to live there anymore, will you buy their house and move them somewhere where they can make a living to suit you?

[Twist_U_Up]

23. sweet pea knows no better

some people just cant be reached

[Sweet Pea]

26. Hell no!

Hey...they *choose* to live there! Its called free will. Its called being able to make decisions in your life that affect your *quality* of life. Its called paying the price for the decisions you make. If you want to shed some poor little tears for someone who lives in California and has to pay $4+ a gallon in gasoline, fine. I'm not. I'll laugh at them as I fill up on $3.05 in my Prius and spend $25 for a week-plus worth of driving.

Living where I am and having the quality of life that *I* have was the decision *I* made and I'm happy with it.

You wouldn't find me in California if it was the last place on earth.

[Bluebear]

41. 'I'll laugh at them as I fill up on $3.05 in my Prius' - a real fountain of progressive compassion

[Greyskye]

44. Here's your sign

[EFerrari]

28. Sweet Pea can start with my single brother and his three little girls

who live in San Mateo. I'm sure he'd love the help.

[Sweet Pea]

36. No thanks....

I don't know what convinced him that living in a place that is in the shadow of one of the most expensive costs of living areas in the nation (San Fran) was a good idea, but you brother needs to get a clue and get the hell out of Dodge. If he doesn't, then no tears for him OR his kids.

[EFerrari]

50. Well, he lives here because his WORK is here.

There are no Broadway shows in Tulsa.

Tell you what, we'll be satisfied if we really don't see you here.

[NMMNG]

25. Pfft

I left the DC area not that long ago and a little extra for gas is a small price to pay for the vastly reduced murder rate and increased quality of living. So kick your own ass.

[Sweet Pea]

34. Increased quality of living?

LOL....keep telling yourelf that! It will be easier to drink the kool aid that way and you may....just may...convince yourelf that is true sometime!

[EFerrari]

51. Have you ever been to California?

It doesn't sound like it. There's every kind of place to live in California, no matter what kind of community you want to live in.

I wouldn't trade this job market, my $60 dollar winter heating bill, my town or living by my family for anything.

[shanti]

53. sounds like jealousy to me

hmmmm

[Sweet Pea]

58. Uh-huh....

jealousy for the highest housing market in the nation? $4+ a gallon gas. Crime index at 1,390,710 or 1 crime for every 25.98 people, of which 13.67% (190,178) were of a violent nature while 86.33% (1,200,532) were crimes against property, crime ranking (with 1 being good and 51 being bad) based on number of crimes per capita #26 and a safety Rank based on number of violent crimes per capita #37, ranked number 26th out of 50 in state and local tax burden as measured as a percentage of income per capita.

Yeah...*I'M* jealous!

[Sweet Pea]

59. 3 Times, actually....

Fresno area, Monterey and San Diego. Nice places, but no way in hell I'd ever like to live there. Too many negatives, but lost of people don't seem to mind those negatives. I just have a problem when they complain about the very lifestyle they choose.

[Bluebear]

65. Yeah, those Fresno people sure are choosing a hella glamorous "lifestyle"

:eyes:

[EFerrari]

72. California has many different kinds of communities

with many different income averages, ditto for cost of living.

Your criticism makes no sense at all. California is not a monolith.

I hope your problem gets better.

[shanti]

52. so.....where do YOU live?

my family has been in california for over 100 years. now what?

[Sweet Pea]

70. I live in Virginia n/t

[NMMNG]

57. Right now its around 65F without a cloud in the sky

We haven't had a snowflake all year (and never do). As to crime, if there is a murder in this city that makes the news because it's such an anomaly. Most years go by without a single instance of it, and only one or two forcible rapes. Other crimes are just as low.

So I'll take this over the cesspool I left any bloody day.

[Sweet Pea]

71. Bully for you!

You're not complaining! Great!

By the way, it is 50 degrees with no clouds in the sky here - a BEAUITIFUL day in northern Virginia! All that PLUS $3 a gallon gas, lower insurance rates, lower tax base, lower overall cost of living, a better crime rate/ranking. I'm not complaining, either! We're two of a kind!

[EFerrari]

73. Beautiful here today. It's 56 but feels like 72. Big old sun

after the fog burned off. Have to go pay my $30 heating bill.

:woohoo:

[liberal1973]

29. $3.05 is still waaaay to freaking high

[anakie]

55. it's not. n/t

[awoke_in_2003]

31. You do realize

that some of the people living in California were BORN there? And some of these people cannot afford to relocate?

[ourbluenation]

33. I live in Cali and love it AND the gas is hella high. now come here and try and kick my ass.

suck it, bitter pea.

[Sweet Pea]

35. Read My Other Post

I wouldn't be caught dead in California, so I guess you'll have to take your gas prices and your housing prices and your traffic and everything else eat it when you can't afford anything else.

[kineneb]

47. like wine? peaches? almonds? lettuce?

oops, sorry, much of the fresh produce sold in groceries is from our great valleys... we are not just the coastal cities... please stay in DC.

California Native, celebrating the family being 100 years in the Golden State!

[shanti]

54. hey kineneb

:hi: native here, and my mother's family has been in cali since before 1900 too! we ain't going nowhere!

[kineneb]

61. 1908 - 100 yrs in CA

Gr.Grand-father & -mother came west in a wagon with the 8 youngest kids. They were too poor to take the train... long story.

[ourbluenation]

56. I get it, your 1 of those peopl who think all californians live in LA. Here's the fresh hell where..

I live.... :rofl:











rural northern california...where you can breathe clean air, hike in unspoiled forests, walk to downtown, picnic on the beach and see no one for miles, buy your food from local growers, buy your pot from local growers, buy your wine from local producers, buy a house for a quarter of the price of the city, experience zero traffic congestion...holy shit I could go on and on, but instead I'll invite you to come out for a visit to see for yourself how wrong you are.

[shanti]

62. beautiful!

:hi:

[Bluebear]

66. My stars is that beautiful!

[kineneb]

46. ya' know...

some of us are Native-born Californians, and we have our opinion of those who are unfortunate to choose to live elsewhere in the US, especially the DC area... you get to guess!
:evilgrin:

Oh, and here, we do not have to shovel snow, nor do we have humid summers.

Thanks, Sweet Pea, I will stay here... and gas near my house was $3.31/gal., 'way out here in the boonies.

...don't go askin' for trouble, ya' just might get it.

Bear Flag Republic, Yes!

[NuttyFluffers]

24. we used to have a bus line come to my home development...

but since BART is only 3 miles away, i'm not too worried yet. really wish we had our bus line here though. at some point it will be cheaper to live right on top of the BART station; thankfully there's been a massive reinvestment in housing and condos around many east bay stations. customer traffic on CalTrans, AMTRAK, BART, and AC transit are going to be surging in the near future.

hmm, if i was a democratic party leader i'd be pushing the 'at risk' poor community to register in droves to pressure for more mass transit. a few more buses and this place could be a lot closer to Europe than this oil madness elsewhere in America.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

27. Is that the gas station in Woodside?

Hell, they can afford it.

[Bluebear]

42. 'Hell, they can afford it.' - Hmm. Rich area, eh? Do they have housekeepers?

Gardeners? Anyone else who may need gas in the area who can't "afford it"?

[fed-up]

30. where in San Mateo is that? near the Hillsdale Mall or up by 280? (former San Bruno native here) nt

[AndyTiedye]

40. El Camino just South of 92

That is a notoriously expensive station.

[leftofthedial]

32. maybe we should invade Saudi Arabia

[gasperc]

37. so much for it being a "possibility

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. Ah send that to the White House

[madokie]

43. I do the gas pumping around here and I must say that scares me

its just a matter of time when I will have to go to 60 bucks at a time rather than the 40 I mostly do now. In '98 I bought a new f150 and I could fill it up on 20 bucks, it hardly ever get driven anymore so it doesn't get gas often and sure won't be filled up today at our just 3 buck gas.
Under any other administration this would be illegal what the oil companies are doing. supply and demand has nothing to do with the price anymore if it ever did that is, now its what the market will bear that controls the price.

[ramapo]

48. Still 'cheap' in NJ

More than a dollar less than San Mateo

[bullwinkle428]

63. Christ Almighty - my car's tank is just about 17 gallons...

...a $75 fill-up seems absolutely mind-boggling!! I guess I can economically justify the purchase of a hybrid if those prices hit my area...

I absolutely feel fortunate that I'm still in a position to at least handle the current prices...my heart totally goes out to those that were already walking a tightrope prior to this latest round of price increases.

[TahitiNut]

64. Palo Alto gasoline prices range from $3.49 to $3.67 ... $4.23 is for FOOLS.

Although the Peninsula and city prices are high, they're not THAT high.

San Mateo prices are currently running $3.45 to $3.62 ... and at one for-idiots station for $3.77 at Hillsdale and Saratoga.

http://www.sanfrangasprices.com/San_Mateo/index.aspx