Amazing Ignorance of the American gas consumer (a rant in c minor)

[Devastatin Dave]

It simply amazes me watching the Communist News Network (CNN) and seeing people bitching about the "record" profits of the oil companies. Listening to the morons out there in "I'll believe whatever the Democrats and Republicans propoganda machine (the media) tells me" land it is no surprise why our education system is failing.

Gas/oil companies make on average 7 to 8 % profit on gas. Right now most industries/corperations are making much larger prophit margins but for some reason everyone is going ape feces over oil profits. Guess who makes the most money off the gas we buy? The GOVERNMENT!!! The same people that want to spend millions on BS inquiries on "record" prophits that the big evil oil corperations are making right now.

If these so called outraged senators/congressmen want to give the American people a break, stop charging .50 to the dollar on each gallon of gas!!! And with thier BS talk about inquiries on the "record" profits on gas will only make the futures on this product higher and cause the prices to go even higher.

Both Republicans and Democrats should be ashamed for trying to scam even more money from this with these hearings. That goes for the stupid idea from Spector the other day of a windfall profit tax. How the hell is that going to make the prices go down by adding another tax. Corperations don't won't pay that tax, it will be passed down to the consumer.

But I'm sure most of you disagree with me since most of you have been brainwashed enough to believe that the government is taxing the living #### out of us all for the betterment of society. Just pop your mouth of the government tit for 5 minutes and try to understand that this is the biggest scam that the government has ever thrown at the American people since social(ist) security.
This is Bush's fault and everyone under him. I'm madder than hell and I'm not going to take it anymore.

[Byzantine Mercenary]

''gas'' in britain is even more expensive, with loads more tax, you guys are lucky!
as something runs out, its gonna get more expensive!

[drone]

Like this is going to help:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/...ate/index.html

I can't believe that someone would actually propose sending $100 to every taxpayer for "gas" relief. What, the national debt not big enough already? Besides, $100 is just enough to fill up an H2 Hummer, what about next week?

Oh yeah, almost forgot. It's soon to be election time....

[solypsist]

whoa that's some post. paragraphs?

[Dutch_guy]

''gas'' in britain is even more expensive, with loads more tax, you guys are lucky!
as something runs out, its gonna get more expensive!

Same here in Holland, though I'm not sure of the taxes on gas, you guys over there are pretty cheap in comparison.

[Devastatin Dave]

whoa that's some post. paragraphs?

Edited just for you my little sugar nipple...

[drone]

Probably the smartest thing Bush has said: "We are addicted to oil". Shame it took him 5 years to realize it. We can't blame the oil companies, they are just satisfying our demand. We can't blame the automakers, we won't buy small cars. All we can do is blame ourselves for our own shortsighted, indulgent behaviour.

The tax here in the US is nothing like what you Euros pay. When the actual cost of gas goes up, we tend to feel it more since tax is a smaller percentage of the overall price at the pump.

[Tribesman]

But I'm sure most of you disagree with me since most of you have been brainwashed enough to believe that the government is taxing the living #### out of us all for the betterment of society. Just pop your mouth of the government tit for 5 minutes and try to understand that this is the biggest scam that the government has ever thrown at the American people since social(ist) security.

Errrr....Dave , wasn't you sucking at the government tit for most of your working life or do you think that your nice blue uniform and exotic holiday in S.Korea was paid for by something other than taxes ?

[Devastatin Dave]

Errrr....Dave , wasn't you sucking at the government tit for most of your working life or do you think that your nice blue uniform and exotic holiday in S.Korea was paid for by something other than taxes ?

Well if you are comparing my service to the country for a low wage, being deployed away from my family for a year and being honorably discharge after ten years of providing security for my country to some parasite that doesn't work, breeds little parasites, drinks 40's all day, does drugs, and blames everyone else for not being responsible, then I'm guilty as charged for "sucking off the tit" of the government. Of course in your world, someone that actually works doesn't deserve any consideration compared to worthless ####s that don't do #### while recieving a check. Thanks for the insult. How about responding to the topic on hand than being your usual trolling self.

[JAG]

If there was more tax put on gas over there you might actually get it into your heads that it isn't good to buy the biggest piece of metal, you call a car, and drive everywhere when a five minute walk would do and fill up the car to the brink everyday. More tax not less is needed, it might help you guys get your head out of the proverbial and do something about your insane usage of oil.

And you're defending the oil companies? HA! They make more money at everyones expense - and are the most selfish companies around - than anyone else. Dave what have they ever done for you except rip you and every worker in this world off? It is people like you Dave which cause us all to get screwed over, day after day, yet do nothing about it, people like you are the biggest fools on the planet.

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

It is people like you Dave which cause us all to get screwed over, day after day, yet do nothing about it, people like you are the biggest fools on the planet.

how's your horse?

[Tribesman]

How about responding to the topic on hand than being your usual trolling self.
So Dave , you don't like tax , you don't like the government wasting tax money , and you don't like the government giving out bullshit .
Welcome to the world .
This is Bush's fault and everyone under him.
Welcome to the real world

[yesdachi]

Here is a great site describing the breakdown of gas prices. I have spoilered a portion about the tax breakdown.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Taxes - Taxes, including federal and local, account for about 20 percent of the total price of gas in the United States. Federal excise taxes are 18.4 cents per gallon, and state excise taxes average 20 cents per gallon. There may also be some additional state sales taxes, as well as local and city taxes. In Europe, gas prices are far higher than in America because taxes on gas are much higher. For example, gas prices in England have risen as high as $6 per gallon, with 78 percent of that going to taxes.

It is frustrating to see gas/oil companies enjoying such massive profits but it is even more frustrating that the government has done absolutely everything they can to stop us from advancing oil and oil to gas production here. No new drilling in the continental 48 states, no expanded pumping in Alaska (the Alaskan Pipeline only operates at %40), not allowing any new refineries to be built in over 25 years, etc. (I’m not checking my facts BTW) We have allowed our government to apply so many restrictions on oil production and so few on oil use that the slightest adjustment throws us into a crunch.

Where the oil/gas companies frustrate me is in the fact that every year and especially this year with new ethanol additive requirements they act like it is a big surprise that more people are using more gas and there are these “shortages” that force price increases to discourage us from buying more. Summer comes the same time every year.

I am 100% for eliminating/reducing the use of fossil fuels but let’s use some of what we have or can have right now and ease the burden on the wallets of the working class and set up some realistic timeframes and goals for a switch over to more eco-friendly fuels.

I would really like the gas/oil companies to run some commercials detailing the price breakdown of a gallon of gas and tell the public to stop being pissed at them although they are greedy old monopoly making oil barons they are not nearly as bad as our own government.

[Devastatin Dave]

.

And you're defending the oil companies? HA! They make more money at everyones expense - and are the most selfish companies around - than anyone else. Dave what have they ever done for you except rip you and every worker in this world off? It is people like you Dave which cause us all to get screwed over, day after day, yet do nothing about it, people like you are the biggest fools on the planet.

Since you apparently can't read a map and compare the topography of your little nation to the US let me assist you. The United States is much larger and public transportation works better where you live because of the shorter distances between places you need to go. Another thing that your socialist mind can't comprehend is that the amount of profit the oil companies is much lower than the majority of everyday products (food products, clothing, etc). Again the largest chunk of money that is in the price of gas goes to the government, not the oil companies. If it was up to you we would all be happy little North Koreans or Cubans working 15 hours a day and being murdered for even mentioning disdain for our governments. Sorry, I prefer a free market and a good economy not in the hands of government. So while you respond from your computer that was made possible by the capitalist engine and not by some governmental socialist system, wallow in your hypocrisy for anyone with any concept of supply and demand laughs at you. Power to the people comrade.

[master of the puppets]

Yeah, the government is getting most of the money from oil production, why?, because they ARE the oil companies, i heard (heard mind you) that like 30% of the rich polotitions are wealthy due to oil, bush is!, when we say the government is lining the pockets of oil companies aren't they simply benifiting themselves?

[Proletariat]

The only thing that's more annoying at the moment than all the people who complain about this issue who own completely unnecessary, fashion SUVs are the Euros who complain about their gas prices. Socialized healthcare isn't free, for God's sake.

[_Martyr_]

Neither are hundred billion dollar wars... go figure.

[doc_bean]

I'm actually on dave's side in this one, the oil companies have shown a ton of good will over time. Sure they make a hell of a profit, but not nearly what they could have made, owning the most in-demand resource in the world.

The only thing that's more annoying at the moment than all the people who complain about this issue who own completely unnecessary, fashion SUVs are the Euros who complain about their gas prices. Socialized healthcare isn't free, for God's sake.

1. the money isn't spent on healthcare, at least not here
2. Dave was complaining, and venting about Americans complaining, Europeans just added that you guys still get it pretty cheap.
3. You own a SUV don't ya ?

[Devastatin Dave]

2. Dave was complaining, and venting about Americans complaining, Europeans just added that you guys still get it pretty cheap.

A good American rant with some good spices from the Old World makes a thread complete!!!

[Devastatin Dave]

Here's my government leaders showing their support for the American people...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...602307_pf.html
Much like many quasi-socilalist here railing against capitalism on their supped-up computers that can have over 10,000 troops on their screen with 0 delay.

[Byzantine Mercenary]

The only thing that's more annoying at the moment than all the people who complain about this issue who own completely unnecessary, fashion SUVs are the Euros who complain about their gas prices. Socialized healthcare isn't free, for God's sake.

didn't we establish that you guys spend more per person on healthcare than us?

http://www.growingdemocracy.com/fact...althspend.html

but i kinda support the tax anyway i was just pointing it out, oil is finite so it should be damn expensive, once you use it its gone, it ain't coming back and your stuck with extra co2 in the atmosphere!

[drone]

While a higher, Euro-style, tax on gasoline would force Americans to make smarter vehicular choices, I've always wondered what affect these taxes have on the overall economy. If I remember correctly, there is no gas tax exemption for trucking and freight in Europe. I would imagine that this has a large effect on the price of goods due to shipping costs. For this reason alone, I would not want a higher gas tax over here. Increased CAFE standards while closing the loopholes would be a better option in my opinion. The US automakers always complain about the CAFE levels, and it's cheaper to buy votes in Congress than it is to raise gas mileage, so we get the current situation. If forced into it though, I'm sure they could do better, it's just cheaper not to.

[solypsist]

thank god for mass transit

[Proletariat]

1. the money isn't spent on healthcare, at least not here
2. Dave was complaining, and venting about Americans complaining, Europeans just added that you guys still get it pretty cheap.
3. You own a SUV don't ya ?

1. So you have nothing to show for your high gas taxes?
2. I know, and it's irrelevant.
3. What makes you think that?

[Lemur]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- we should be doing massive investment into green and renewable energy. Not because it's the right thing to do, but because it's the next big market.

And Dave's rant is uneven (as usual), but he's spot-on about how funny it is to see people driving vehicles that get ten miles to the gallon kvetching about gas prices. Cause, meet effect. Effect, meet cause.

Oil has probably peaked. It's time to get serious about the next big thing. In the meantime there ain't much anybody can do about gas prices. Not George W. Not Hillary C., not Queen E., nobody. 'Nuff said.

[Csargo]

Edited just for you my little sugar nipple...

Umm.............ok I'm officially freaked out now.

[yesdachi]

In the meantime there ain't much anybody can do about gas prices.

Well… except for the people who own the oil fields, they could raise um.


I think you are correct about getting on the bandwagon early for the “next big thing”.

[Strike For The South]

There is no mass tranist in my city. I live far enough out to where the bus is a good hr walk and they dont even cover the city. A smaller forigen car cant be used for what I need a vheicle for. Until mass transit is a realization or we a have viable new energy source gas should be lowered as much as possible.

[Crazed Rabbit]

If there was more tax put on gas over there you might actually get it into your heads that it isn't good to buy the biggest piece of metal, you call a car, and drive everywhere when a five minute walk would do and fill up the car to the brink everyday. More tax not less is needed, it might help you guys get your head out of the proverbial and do something about your insane usage of oil.

Here's a crazy thing: it's called freedom.

As in, freedom to do want you want without the government trying to push you to do one thing.

And you're defending the oil companies? HA! They make more money at everyones expense - and are the most selfish companies around - than anyone else. Dave what have they ever done for you except rip you and every worker in this world off? It is people like you Dave which cause us all to get screwed over, day after day, yet do nothing about it, people like you are the biggest fools on the planet.

The most selfish companies? Please.
It's called supply and demand. Supply is not going up much. Worldwide demand is rapidly increasing. Also, refineries are phasing out MTBE additives after getting stabbed in the back by the government, and the ethanol makers aren't coming online as fast as they said they would.

Would you rather the oil companies didn't exist? No gas might put a bit of a dent in the economy.

Ripping people off? Do you really think the gas companies, whom you say care only for profit, would not slash prices so as to get more business and thus more money? Try and comprehend economics instead of just repeating your monthly solialist student's pamphlet.

Oh, and how does you hate or oil companies square with your love for Chavez, who controls Citgo?

And Lemur, while I support more renewable energy and I believe we are headed that direction, I don't support the government spending money trying to move it along. When was the last time the government spent money wisely? And how are the airheads in congress going to know which clean system to back?

Crazed Rabbit

[solypsist]

i understand the economics of supply and demand and yet i have a negative visceral reaction when i hear the phrase "record profits" and realize that oil companies are still being subsidized by the u.s. gov't.