Originally posted by midcoastme:
Originally posted by Fmr12B:
Gas prices need to be raised!





I've had co-workers who had to spend 5 months in San Diego on a job tell me their 3 bedroom, basic apartment was $2700/ month.
A $40K-50K job here in Maine would be $80K-100K in CA. It's all relative, I suppose.



Well I live in Silicon Valley, basically the most expensive area to live outside of Manhattan in the US

But due to the dot bomb bust prices have subsided a bit. Most of my friends pay about $1250 for a 1bdrm, $1600 for a 2bdrm, and $1900 or so for a 3bdrm. In the boom days of year 2000 add $500-$1000 for the Apt prices. Its all relative when you consider the salary. Our gas is higher here in Cali as only 2 refineries were cpable of producing fuel, the 3rd went offline due to a issue. It is back up now but I'm glad I'm not paying $2.50/G for Super like we were when the refinery went down.


As stated its not a perfect system and yes the idea of putting more money into the Govt's pockets is scary but if the money was earmarked for widening of freeways and other improvments I would gladly pay. Just as long as I;m not supporting an illegal immigrant with 7 kids I'm fine with where the majority of my tax dollars go.


Originally posted by JVT:

You also have to realize that people in Europe don't have to drive NEARLY as far as we do here in the U.S. Smaller engines, diesel being 20% less expensive than gas, and etc., $70 to fill up a Mondy isn't that ridiculous



We have to drive far because we choose to live in Suburbs. Live next to your job/school. Driving cost will reduce by more than 50%. I lived near campus while going to college, used my bicycle or shuffled my feet everyday. I now live within 6 miles to my office building.
In urban cities across the west coast there is a huge push of people moving back into the city centers and reclaiming the run-down areas so they can spend time with there familys rather than commuting. See Sacramento, San Francisco, Portland, & Seattle for exmaples.

Urban sprawl and strip malls need to cease.

Money doesn't always bring happiness. People with ten million dollars are no happier than people with nine million dollars ~ Hobart Brown