Thanks to Wal-Mart
Maybe I have a backwards way of thinking. The article states how Wal-Mart is helping the American consumer manage gas prices. I think you'll find most experts agree, that the rising cost of fuel in this country can be directly tied to China's huge economic boom. The more we as Americans consume Chinese products, the more we fuel thier expansion. The more they expand, the more we will eventually pay in the end.
With Chinese oil producers bidding for more and more quantities of oil right along with U.S./European producers, all OPEC can do is smile.
Here's an example, back in 1999/2000 I was paying right at a buck a gallon for gas. Say I get 18 mpg, and I average (per NADA) 12k miles in a year , back then I spent almost $700 on fuel in a year. Figures for $1.50 a gallon gas are right at $1000.00 for a year. Now with near $3.00 a gallon gas we're at 2000.00. So I figure I've lost at least 1k a year in disposable income directly to fuel costs, over at least the last 3 or more years. So explain to me how Wally world is helping me manage my fuel costs? In my opinion Wally world is indirectly at least partially responsible for the higher prices I pay at the pump today.
Wally world may not have been the first to import Chinese junk, but I would guess that today, they are probably China's biggest importer of manufactured goods. While others may have followed thier lead, it wasn't thier choice to do business there, it's a matter of survival for many, ''thanks to Wal-Mart''.
People today have the ''at the moment'' mentality. If it saves them a buck, they'll jump on it, regardless of the long term effect it has on our economy. It's really sad to think that someday our grand kids, or great grand kids, will probably be living in a third world economy the way things are headed here in the good ol' U.S.A., ''thanks to Wal-Mart''.
Maybe I have a backwards way of thinking. The article states how Wal-Mart is helping the American consumer manage gas prices. I think you'll find most experts agree, that the rising cost of fuel in this country can be directly tied to China's huge economic boom. The more we as Americans consume Chinese products, the more we fuel thier expansion. The more they expand, the more we will eventually pay in the end.
With Chinese oil producers bidding for more and more quantities of oil right along with U.S./European producers, all OPEC can do is smile.
Here's an example, back in 1999/2000 I was paying right at a buck a gallon for gas. Say I get 18 mpg, and I average (per NADA) 12k miles in a year , back then I spent almost $700 on fuel in a year. Figures for $1.50 a gallon gas are right at $1000.00 for a year. Now with near $3.00 a gallon gas we're at 2000.00. So I figure I've lost at least 1k a year in disposable income directly to fuel costs, over at least the last 3 or more years. So explain to me how Wally world is helping me manage my fuel costs? In my opinion Wally world is indirectly at least partially responsible for the higher prices I pay at the pump today.
Wally world may not have been the first to import Chinese junk, but I would guess that today, they are probably China's biggest importer of manufactured goods. While others may have followed thier lead, it wasn't thier choice to do business there, it's a matter of survival for many, ''thanks to Wal-Mart''.
People today have the ''at the moment'' mentality. If it saves them a buck, they'll jump on it, regardless of the long term effect it has on our economy. It's really sad to think that someday our grand kids, or great grand kids, will probably be living in a third world economy the way things are headed here in the good ol' U.S.A., ''thanks to Wal-Mart''.
