RICHMOND, Va., April 28, 2008
Truckers Protest Record High Gas Prices
Truck Drivers Gather In Washington To Blast Horns, Rally At Capitol
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Truckers drive by the Capitol while blaring their horns in protest of high fuel prices, in Washington on Monday, April 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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Interactive Gas Prices State-by-state averages, tips to improve mileage and a look at what fuels prices at the pump.
Members of Truckers and Citizens United circled the National Mall before parking their rigs at RFK Stadium. From there, about 100 protesters marched and took shuttles to the Capitol, where an afternoon rally was held.
"The high price for oil is hurting our economy," organizer Mark Kirsch said. "It's hurting middle class people."
The national average price of a gallon of regular gasoline is a record $3.51, according to a recent survey of stations by AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. The price for diesel - used to transport most food, industrial and commercial goods - is $4.20 a gallon.
Independent trucker Dave Gares of Lebanon, Pa., is among those reeling from the soaring prices. He said it costs up to $1,400 to fill up his tractor-trailer rig with 220 gallons of diesel fuel.
To bring relief, the truckers are urging Congress to stop subsidizing big oil companies, release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserves, and end exports of oil from Alaska, among other things.
Many of the truckers drove to Washington from Harrisburg, Pa., and other areas to the north. One passenger circling the Mall held a sign that read "Enough is Enough," and a driver used a bullhorn to yell at Congress as he passed by.
William Lockridge of the Washington Metropolitan Area Truckers Association said independent truckers are barely breaking even. "If the truck stops, the economy stops," he said.
Nathan and Tara Horn of Normal, Ill., said they were visiting museums and other sites, but came to the Capitol to see the truckers' protest.
"Just knowing the influence that our citizens have to talk to our congressmen and senators ... This is awesome," said Nathan Horn, stopping to watch the trucks pass in the rain."
Tara Horn said she works at a food bank where more people are seeking assistance because of rising food prices. The price of fuel has made transporting goods across the U.S. more expensive.
Traffic was not significantly affected by the convoy of vehicles, though a few truckers drove through red lights as they honked their horns.
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Add a Comment See all 87 Comments
- When George heard those truckers protesting the high price of fuel, George was heard to have said, "Mission Accomplished"!
- Reply to this comment
- When George heard those truckers protesting the high price of fuel, George was heard to have said, "Mission Accomplished"!
- Reply to this comment
- When George heard those truckers protesting the high price of fuel, George was heard to have said, "Mission Accomplished"!
- Reply to this comment
- Posted by frankbowers at 08:01 PM : Apr 29, 2008
+ report abuse
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good idea..i think that was the same argument given to al gore and his ''global warming tour''... - Reply to this comment
- now they want to use corn for fuel.. What about the oil in fast food places that is tossed out.. Can''t they use that. Can''t they remove the food out of it and use it to run the cars since the trown it out..
- Reply to this comment
- What that should happen to conserve the gas and diesel is requiore the p[resident to walk home. I bet that would get the RNC and the neocons a good idea of what the price of gas and diesel is after all they must be a billion gas/diesel stations between DC and crawford. Just think of how much gas the jet uses to take that *******/jacka$$ from DC to Crawford and then back make the ba$****$ walk and then and only then will they get the point. the best of goodbyes to all,
Frank Bowers of Austin, TX - Reply to this comment
- driver is an idiot expecting anyone but a few head cases to believe the Dems, with just a two vote majority, can change anything.
Thats right call me names because you cant stand the truth. All I herd during the months leading up to the midterm election in 2006 was how it was all the GOP''s fault gas was 2.10 a gallon and how the Dimwitocrats, once in office, would fix it.
They fixed it alright, not even two years later and gas is now 3.70 a gallon, some places it''s 4.10!
The Dimwitocratic party sure fixed things good once they were in charge of congress.
Now all you have to do is put Nobama or Clintoon in the white house for things to get really bad.
5.00 a gallon anyone? Anyone? LOL. - Reply to this comment
- Why should it be only up yo the truckers?? Where were all the soccer moms? Where were all the 4 wheelers (cars) that should have joined the trucks driving around the capitol building?
You let big oil pay OPEC their price and pass the higher cost on to you. Their profit stays the same or goes up. You,ll pay it and like it till every one, not just the truckers, park your transportation and shout.
I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore!
Till then I''''ll meet you all out there on the highway in the next traffic jamb. I''''ll be the one in the 18 wheeler looking out at you saying--"the stuff on this rig is gonna cost you all more!!
Keep drinking the dimwitocrat koolaid! - Reply to this comment
- thats right thgdriver!all those 4 wheelers that still go everywhere just to go.sit in their suvs and complain,buy,then go vac.supply n demand!duh!if they want to eat,or buy ANYTHING,they will pay dearly for what we bring to them.everybody blames rep.but what about clinton.times were good with him cause it takes till next pres. to see effects of last pres.think bush is bad,hum wait till hillary gets in.we aint seen bad yet!
- Reply to this comment
- driver is an idiot expecting anyone but a few head cases to believe the Dems, with just a two vote majority, can change anything. And lets all forget the GOP had total control for the last 7 years leading into this mess.
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Posted by trillion1 at 10:05 AM : Apr 29, 2008
Actually, IMO Nancy Pelosi is the idiot because I certainly remember her saying how wonderful it is going to be now that the Dem''s control Congress. Now you''re tellinmg me she didn''t realize it was only by 2 votes and that really that Dem majority can''t do anything? - Reply to this comment
- Ye know who is using the most oil..well..it is the military govt..I am sitting here and the heater is off..I use blankets on the bed to stay warm. The govt has their oil and lots of it plus hinding places..We will not have places to go. bush don''t care..We will run dry and the govt will be able to push us around as the govt will have oil..
- Reply to this comment
- Absolutely nobody should benefit financially from it! NOBODY!
Posted by NAUcoming4U at 10:44 AM : Apr 29, 2008
I agree! But apparently Bushit, and Cheney are. Why else to continue a war that is unpopular, and one that will be the death nell to us?
And I also agree that, in a war, sacrifices must be made, but, why must the rich, and super rich be left out of the sacrifices? If Bush was seriouse about winning this war, he could enact measures that would affect all people , and not just the poor and middle class.
All classes should sacrifice, something. After all, we are in the middle of a war. - Reply to this comment
- As we all know,,we can not sustain a decades long war. No country can, before we all realise that we will collapse, economically!
Posted by slim1h2o at 10:19 AM : Apr 29, 2008
............
Slim, I have never seen or read about any successful war that came at the same time of huge tax cuts.
If we as a country are to engage in battle, the costs are going to be high. Absolutely nobody should benefit financially from it! NOBODY! - Reply to this comment
- I would like to change that but I cant do it alone.
Posted by thgdriver at 10:22 AM : Apr 29, 2008
Well, get all your Republican friends to help you.
Surely, instead of wringing your little GOP hands and crying because "liberals" are messing up your comfortable little worlds, you can do something about all this?
Haven''t seen much of anything out of you Republicans yet.
Or maybe main stream US Republican citizens are feeling just as powerless against this administration''s corruption as every other main stream US citizen feels? - Reply to this comment
- trillion1
I never expected it, But thats what the democrats said and you sheeple bought it.
It''s not the republicans or Democrats. I knew that when the Democrats were blaming congress and the white house. Go ahead Put Nobama or Clintoon in the white house and watch gas go up some more. Then what veto will be you excuse?
It''s oil company''s ability to pass higher costs on to you and you pay and pay and pay. I pay more for the fuel in my truck and you pay more for whatever I deliver. I would like to change that but I cant do it alone. - Reply to this comment
- This is one of many cases where a mere tax cut will NOT do the job, short term or long term!
Posted by NAUcoming4U at 10:09 AM : Apr 29, 2008
You are exactly right. The building blocks for this recession, and ensuing depression was set in stone the day we invaded Iraq. And not having a exit strategy didn''t foster any good will toward our economy either. As we all know,,we can not sustain a decades long war. No country can, before we all realise that we will collapse, economically!
This is just a start. - Reply to this comment
- BP and Shell have announced massive profit results today. BP up by 48% and shell up by 4.6 billion, the government tax and sales tax share rose accordingly.
Why the F--- are we standing for this, it needs serious action NOW ! Never mind driving in circles waving flags and sounding horns, we must all cut right or stop buying it, force the market down. Apart from loosing out on his petroleum stocks big time, Al Gore will be delighted. - Reply to this comment
- Thanks a lot!!! You and your party really fixed things !Posted by thgdriver at 09:59 AM : Apr 29, 2008
More of your "Bush is not responsible" retoric, thgdriver?
You heard it here, folks. Thgdriver sez BUSH IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS OR ANY OTHER MESS. See, he''s done nothing for the US for 8 years and so CAN''T be held responsible for anything.
So keep uselessly blaming liberals, Muslims, terrorists, and any one else so you can continue to look yourself in the mirror and say you voted for Bush...twice.
Congress Republicans have supported a Republican president and his veto pin for going on 8 years.
If a Democrat president had done this.....he''d be strung up. That it is a Republican president, let''s blame the Democrats ANYWAY.
Just pathetically laughable and totally ineffective in helping this nation.
Keep the divisions going, thgdriver. Rush is VERY proud of you. - Reply to this comment
- Why should it be only up yo the truckers?? Where were all the soccer moms? Where were all the 4 wheelers (cars) that should have joined the trucks driving around the capitol building?
You let big oil pay OPEC their price and pass the higher cost on to you. Their profit stays the same or goes up. You,ll pay it and like it till every one, not just the truckers, park your transportation and shout.
I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore!
Till then I''ll meet you all out there on the highway in the next traffic jamb. I''ll be the one in the 18 wheeler looking out at you saying--"the stuff on this rig is gonna cost you all more!!
Keep drinking the dimwitocrat koolaid! - Reply to this comment
- "People always waiting for government to help them."
james12341-
You are such a dumb f*ck.
The majority of people are not looking for handouts like you love to preach and p!ss about. It''s called a return on your investment. We pay these losers, trillions of $$$ a year, and they blow it like a high schooler with their parents credit card. They don''t invest it in this country, they invest it into blowing up Iraq and then building Iraq at prices qualifing as extortion.
I know I''m wasting my breath on you, being Bush''s Anti-America call girl. Keep pushing the Bush Admin. lies and misinformation, propaganda nazi. - Reply to this comment
