So Why Is Gas So Expensive?

[Ice]

I'm glad that a 60% tax hike doesn't bother you.

It doesn't bother me when the tax being raised is such a minimal amount. That's like saying "taxes went up 200%, what an outrage"

" what were they and what are they now"

"1 cent to 3 cents"

"uh, ok"

Although, I never had you pegged as being in the "give til it hurts" school of thought when it comes to taxes.

I'm not usually, but a tax on gasoline is used for a very specific purpose; road maintenance, or so I believe. I'd rather pay a minimal 10 cent more a gallon on gas than neglect the nation's highway system.

But, we all know they need it judging by how miserly they've been with spending those funds in the past. I mean, it's absolutely critical to our nation's economic infrastructure that the parking lot of my local arena be paved using half a million in federal highway funds.

Who said there wouldn't be pork? I'd be willing to bet the majority of funds go to worthy projects.

This stems back to the realistic vs idealistic thread. You refusing to pay an extra 10 cents a gallon on gasoline isn't going to make the government spend it funds more efficiently. That would take a major overall. The roads here in Michigan are enough, I'm not going to gamble on something so idiotic as paying a mere 10 cents per gallon more.

18 cents a gallon is very cheap but when theres already a price hike that some people are struggling with it might not be a good idea, 10 cents a gallon extra really doesn't sound like a lot though....

It isn't a lot at all. If it is, good. Sometimes I'd wish they would tax gasoline as much as you Euros do. You would hardly see any SUVS on the road and the could be used to better the road system and build more public transportation.

Wow I'm turning more to center every day here.

[Kralizec]

This stems back to the realistic vs idealistic thread. You refusing to pay an extra 10 cents a gallon on gasoline isn't going to make the government spend it funds more efficiently. That would take a major overall. The roads here in Michigan are enough, I'm not going to gamble on something so idiotic as paying a mere 10 cents per gallon more.



It isn't a lot at all. If it is, good. Sometimes I'd wish they would tax gasoline as much as you Euros do. You would hardly see any SUVS on the road and the could be used to better the road system and build more public transportation.

Wow I'm turning more to center every day here.

I know squat about how much our state spends on infrastructure, but it's bogus that they use every penny collected through gas and verhicle tax on it. Government transparency, gah

[yesdachi]

It is BS to have the government try and regulate the amount of anything being bought or sold by raising taxes. Let the rules of capitalism apply, unless the gov is going to subsidize or take over ownership. The free market will right itself given some time and reduced governmental interference (something our gov on all levels is poor at).

I did some quick math, if there are 5 million drivers (10mm total population) in MI and each would pay an additional 20$ a month that is 1.2 billion in extra cash per year right? I would actually be ok with that tax increase if it meant that the next year we used that money on a alternate fuel source to reduce my gas bill by 20$ per month. But I am afraid it is more likely that arenas across the state would have newly repaved parking lots and I would still be paying extra taxes on gas so I can drive to work to pay more taxes.

[Hosakawa Tito]

What some people seem to not realize is that the rising costs of fuel affects every single aspect of a consumer's budget. All consumer goods, necessities & luxuries, are transported, most by truck somewhere along the chain. So it's just not that extra $20-30 to gas up the car; the cost for everything you buy also rises. Meanwhile wages for most have either stagnated or lost buying power.

[atheotes]

What some people seem to not realize is that the rising costs of fuel affects every single aspect of a consumer's budget. All consumer goods, necessities & luxuries, are transported, most by truck somewhere along the chain. So it's just not that extra $20-30 to gas up the car; the cost for everything you buy also rises. Meanwhile wages for most have either stagnated or lost buying power.

Exactly... a lot of people i come across ignore this aspect when it comes to fuel prices... and see increasing fuel prices as a separate issue limited to how much fuel they use

[Sigurd]

The oil price is sinking.
From a $147 USD high to a $123 USD low in July.

This should have an effect on the petrol prices. About 60 cent pr gallon difference when just considering the difference in oil prices. The added percentages on taxes, transport and refinement should lower the consumer price further.

[seireikhaan]

The oil price is sinking.
From a $147 USD high to a $123 USD low in July.

This should have an effect on the petrol prices. About 60 cent pr gallon difference when just considering the difference in oil prices. The added percentages on taxes, transport and refinement should lower the consumer price further.

Should, being the key word. I'm not really holding my breath.

[Craterus]

I'm not sure how wise it is to quote Jeremy Clarkson but I think he raised an interesting point on this.

What he basically said was that, considering the process and transport involved in oil, it's quite good that we can still get it for £1.10 a litre or whatever it is now.

Not sure if the point's already been made but it's only relatively expensive. And it's definitely still affordable. So stop whining.

[yesdachi]

Not sure if the point's already been made but it's only relatively expensive. And it's definitely still affordable. So stop whining.

So it would be better to wait until it is extremely expensive to start “whining”?

[Craterus]

So it would be better to wait until it is extremely expensive to start “whining”?

And when is that point? It's completely subjective.

Also, it's your choice to drive a car. That's a luxury. If you don't like the prices, find another way to get around.

[yesdachi]

And when is that point? It's completely subjective.

The point is that whining draws attention and attention causes change. The whining should have started a few years ago and maybe by now we could have reasonable alternatives. Instead of now whining and having to wait to see that alternatives when the prices are extremely expensive. I would say it is completely relative rather than subjective.

Also, it's your choice to drive a car. That's a luxury. If you don't like the prices, find another way to get around.

A ridiculous statement. Our entire society is built around the ability to move quickly and efficiently between great distances. There are around 280 million cars in the US that’s almost one per person. Cars and using them is the standard operating procedure for the way the country is set up. Could it change? Yep. Is it going to any time soon? Nope. Luxury, what type of car maybe but having and using is a necessity. Not everyone can live in a city with a good public transportation system or in Walnut Grove next to Pa Ingalls, living off the land.

If I don’t like the prices why should I find another way of getting around when I can find ways to make the prices more acceptable?

Yes, I would like some cheese with my wine.