Oil Field Math

[giantstogie]

OIL FIELD MATH


A 15 mpg clunker that travels 12,000 miles a year uses 800 gallons of gas a year. A 25 mpg vehicle that travels 12,000 miles a year uses 480 gallons a year. So, the average Cash for Clunkers transaction will reduce US gasoline consumption by 320 gallons per year.

They claim 700,000 clunkers were turned-in, so that's 224 million gallons saved per year. That equates to a bit over 5 million barrels of oil. 5 million barrels is about 5 hours worth of US consumption. More importantly, 5 million barrels of oil at $70 per barrel costs about $350 million dollars

So, the government paid $3 billion of our tax dollars to save $350 million. We spent $8.57 for every dollar we saved.

I'm pretty sure they will do a great job with our health care, though.

 

[hdroadglide]

amen.
but the government is SO MUCH smarter than the rest of us. they're only acting in OUR best interest. right?

 

[PLUSH]

but it made you feel better didn't it :roundtheh

 

[Chas]

Ha! Great One - one of me favs - while back I did one of me cartoons on this very math project - check out the link to see the illustration that goes with ~:0)

http://www.artwanted.com/imageview.cfm?id=879597

 

[Soundwave13]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/clunkers.asp

 

[ChazHollywood]

Was anyone claiming the oil savings would make up for the cost of the program? I thought a major part of this was stimulating the economy, no? Seems like the sort of thing we ought to be doing when so many people are out of work?

It's not that the government knows better, it's that the government is large and in a position to make a difference. Or we could all individually try to get the economy going again without the government's help?

-Charles

 

[hdroadglide]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/clunkers.asp

c'mon aj. don't try and muddy our fun with facts!!!:wink:

 

[hdroadglide]

and perhaps just as interesting. the govt taxed that "cash", but didn't tell you about it til after the fact. and have we seen how many people bought new cars that might not really be able to afford them? temporary artificial stimulation is not the answer.

 

[smokemifugotem]

I agree to a point...this is based off of one year. So after 9 years this would equal out...which still does suck...but after that it is in the plus. And in the end it was set up to stimulate the economy more than save money on gas. And in the end...americans are spending more than they were before. Being part of retail...we are seeing double digit swings from where we thought we would be last Christmas vs 2008. So it is probably arguable either way...but if it helped in any way shape or form to get the consumer to spend...god bless it...because we need it. And hopefully this is just the beginning of positive things to come.

Please don't take this as my political affiliation in any way. just bringing another perspective. Every thing else in my book is f'd

 

[srduggins]

Read the snopes article. It equals out in 4 years. Still not the best trade-off, but that isn't all this was intended for.

IMO, this is actually a good program and one of the few things the government has actually done right. Although, I agree with Bob that, "temporary artificial stimulation is not the answer", this did help our country in a dark time.

The housing and bank bail out was much worse IMO.

 

[PLUSH]

Read the snopes article. It equals out in 4 years. Still not the best trade-off, but that isn't all this was intended for.

IMO, this is actually a good program and one of the few things the government has actually done right. Although, I agree with Bob that, "temporary artificial stimulation is not the answer", this did help our country in a dark time.

The housing and bank bail out was much worse IMO.

it was a horrible program as it was only geared towards one segment of American society, the poor. Just like welfare and food stamps. Most of these people only had basic liability, now they have to get full coverage. What will happen when these people realize, shit, I can't afford these payments and insurance now. Maybe the government will step in and offer insurance too. If the intent was to stimulate the economy it would have been made available to all Americans. I would took advantage of it. I have an old 88 Jimmy as a second crap car. I just made too much money to take advantage of the offering.

 

[Pietastervw]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/clunkers.asp

Damn snopes ruins everything hehe

 

[dpricenator]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/clunkers.asp

This was an informative read, and not only to debunk the original math.

 

[Ed Monton]

I thought it was all about saving the American car industry.

 

[swat253]

 

[srduggins]

it was a horrible program as it was only geared towards one segment of American society, the poor. Just like welfare and food stamps. Most of these people only had basic liability, now they have to get full coverage. What will happen when these people realize, shit, I can't afford these payments and insurance now. Maybe the government will step in and offer insurance too. If the intent was to stimulate the economy it would have been made available to all Americans. I would took advantage of it. I have an old 88 Jimmy as a second crap car. I just made too much money to take advantage of the offering.

I should learn to keep my mouth shut when it comes to things I don't know a lot about. I thought this program was available to everyone. I still like the idea of getting rid of the gross polluters (especially here near LA), stimulating the car industry (even if only temporary) it's better than just giving the car companies money (which they have done in the past) and the secondary market for these junkers (parts and scrap) is an added bonus. Considering how bad government intervention usually is, this program still seems fairly innocuous, and I've never believed the governement's responsibility is to save us from ourselves, so the whole "What will happen when these people realize, shit, I can't afford these payments and insurance now." problem doesn't mean anything to me unless "the government will step in and offer insurance too." really happens. Which is a seperate issue.

 

[krulos]

I should learn to keep my mouth shut when it comes to things I don't know a lot about. I thought this program was available to everyone. I still like the idea of getting rid of the gross polluters (especially here near LA), stimulating the car industry (even if only temporary) it's better than just giving the car companies money (which they have done in the past) and the secondary market for these junkers (parts and scrap) is an added bonus. Considering how bad government intervention usually is, this program still seems fairly innocuous, and I've never believed the governement's responsibility is to save us from ourselves, so the whole "What will happen when these people realize, shit, I can't afford these payments and insurance now." problem doesn't mean anything to me unless "the government will step in and offer insurance too." really happens. Which is a seperate issue.

This program was available to all. My father in law makes upwards of $150k/year and traded in a salvage title Dodge Ram (that he couldn't have otherwise sold) and got a new Tundra for the full credit.

 

[ChazHollywood]

Well let's see...

... nope.

-Charles

 

[Chas]

it was a horrible program as it was only geared towards one segment of American society, the poor. Just like welfare and food stamps. Most of these people only had basic liability, now they have to get full coverage. What will happen when these people realize, shit, I can't afford these payments and insurance now. Maybe the government will step in and offer insurance too. If the intent was to stimulate the economy it would have been made available to all Americans. I would took advantage of it. I have an old 88 Jimmy as a second crap car. I just made too much money to take advantage of the offering.

So True Hulkster - BTW, those who rely on Snoops might be a bit surprised to learn that it is not a non-partisan well staffed research organization, but a husband and wife who are supporters of you yank's prez BHO. That's from our newsroom guys here in Oz and trust that our newsies don't swallow the Reuters or AP Kool-Aide either - Google(tm) for yourself - funny what one picks up cartooning - Ha! :stretchgr

 

[smokinghole]

I've always found stimulation to be pleasing whether artificial or real long term or short term.

Oh wait you're talking about the economy. The govt should keeps it sticky little fingers out of the lives of Americans. I think it happens to be the govt's fault we're in the mess we're in dating way way back not just because of Bush. We've had PLENTY of utter disasters elected to president out of the 44. Hell Teddy Roosevelt is the assface that was president when we were gifted with the progressive income tax. So Obama, Bush, Clinton....they're all a wash. Hell Washington DC is nothing but a turd covered with polished marble. Sure it looks nice on the outside but on the inside it stinks of shit.