Why is America so spoiled with low gas prices?

DOGS THAT BARK

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Agree price of oil here is not bad when compared with other places.--and while I would like to see it cheaper I can't say I lay all the blame on oil companys. Using DJV time frame, in 1980 tax on gas was 4 cents a gallon with 100% of proceeds going into Highway account. Ok I for that--but now taxes have risen out the roof with proceeds going to highway plus Mass Transit account and (the one that gets me) "designated as "Other Trust Funds"
In addition taxes have been intiated on refining-storing and transporting gas which the oil companys have to pay.
While I am sure there is some colusion under the table-competative free enterprise seems to keep things in check much better than Gov monopolies that Cisco aluded to.
 

selkirk

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here where I live in the great white north it is .85 liter. believe 4 liters to a gallon ?? so it is a lot more here. however over 50% of that is taxes so cannot blame it all on oil.

most people whine about high oil prices and it is a problem to the economy but I cannot stand when oil companies and the industry are blamed. Or people feel it is time for more regulation.

where were these people when oil was below $10, know a few in the industry who lost everything. was their any crys for help from government. just hope they are all back and making $$

by the way the prices are high look at where oil is produce many of these places are not the safest in the world.

by the way biggest complaint with the Hummer is it has poor fuel economy, what a shock.........

thanks
selkirk
 

djv

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The gas mileage item is getting old. They the big three instead of doing something and they know how. I guess they rather lose some more share to the Europe and Japan compines. I mean when you have to dam near give then away with 4000 rebates. And the off shore compititon is at 1500 or less. Should tell us all something. Ford is in such bad shape thay dont expect to see a profit for 2 maybe 3 years. Look at there stock price. And nobody is saying buy it because it's so cheep. Why? Many believe It could go down another buck or two. GM is pushing them hard and keeps taking share. Problem is GM is not taking anything away from the off shore companies either. First out fit that wakes up and gives reliable decent car with better mileage. Wont need 4000 rebates. Get the fu// out of bed with the oil companies is a good starting point.
 

Chanman

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Don't think it'll ever happen djv. I remember living in Florida in '73 when there were long lines @ the gas station and short tempers. Its almost like it never happened cause we, (Americans), didn't learn much from the experience. Even in Japan in late 70's I remember how a special Japanese permit was needed for cycles over 750cc. All those Kawasaki 900's, Honda 750's, etc. we for export to the US. Its probably still that way as Japan is mountainous and traffic is so slow the big touring bikes are more of a hinderance than help. Naw we like our horsepower too much I guess. Personally I like to conserve the energy.:shrug:
 

djv

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There are some nice middlers. I have a S/S Monte Carlo 200 hp V6. Takes me where I want and very quckly if I need. Has lots of room. They say I should get 20 city 29 highway. I do get around 18 city. And have gotten 30 highway. But it stays closer to the 29. To be able to do that with that size car. Tells me to go up to 21 city 33 highway is there but they wont. Not till more Americans pressure them.
 

SixFive

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I'm just glad that we don't pay what our neighbors to the north do. That .80 cents a liter thing gets rough, especially when you're driving an SUV up there on vacation ;)
 

DOGS THAT BARK

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I mentioned in other post that 3 significant pieces of data were released yesterday-Crime at 30 year low-highest homes sales ever last month-and gasoline price had highest hike ever.
I remarked todays papers would be reporting on the latter as significant news.

Todays USA today bold front page stories.
Top "gas costs a record $1.74 a gallon"
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...e=1&u=/usatoday/20030826/ts_usatoday/11702192
However they did mention
But prices are below their all-time high when adjusted for inflation. The average price in March 1981 of $1.41 a gallon would be $2.87 today."

Now their 2nd bold print headline
Post War Deaths Match War Toll (138 since May 1)
NOWHERE in article does it say less than half of these are war related.

So lets see what they are ranting about.
We take a country the size of CA in full blown war with only 138 casualties,Which is absolutely beyond comprehension and never remotely preceded in any war known to mankind So how do you make this picture bad. You compared all related deaths afterward whether combat or not. I quess if there was one killed in the war and 2 afterward they could really whoop it up on double the amount.
Now I am glad that the liberals all of a sudden have regards for our military(although for the wrong reasons) and appear to have abandoned concern for their voters as while Iraq is bout same size as CA casualties from after war are just about par with the homicide rate of just ONE of Californias counties ,Orange County,(Watts)

O.C. Homicides: First six months of each year
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997//87 86 91 91 63 55
 

ferdville

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I don't give a rat's ass what gas costs in France, Sweden, or anywhere else. Hell, if you want a watermelon in Tokyo, it will cost you $80. If you buy a diamond in South Africa it will be cheaper than here. All that stuff is relative to what is available. I am just sick of the blatant rip-offs in the form of refineries going down for maintenance and crap like that.
 

djv

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DTB we agree more then we disagree. But I do think we are still at war. It's just a undeclared war. Those deaths for the loved ones at home are the same no matter what cause.
For what I think most Americans were led to believe after war was thoguht to be over. And the bad guys out of power. Just don't seem to be woking out to well. It's bound to pi?? many of them off. I dont think anyone was ready for us to lose more men after the majior fighting was said to be over. We lost 2 more to day. The Brits have lost 22 more since end of May? It's starting to look like we have made are self a nest for terrorest. And we gave them the targets closer to there homelands. I keep hearing things are much improved in Iraq. I guess I just cant buy into that just yet.
 

DOGS THAT BARK

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I agree with you my friend that 1 death is one too many. But what is the very purpose of armed forces existance?
Here are my thoughts why I take this in stride. I have been reading other countries papers for past 3 years and data we get on terrorism here is just tip of iceberg. The bulk of terrorism worldwide is anitiated out of middle east and Malaysia. It was a matter of time before they brought it stateside. Islamic fundamentalist do not want peace period and there is no way to end it but to irradicate them.
Let say for sake of argument that all reasons for us to go in there at the beginning was hype by the government. Lets say they just wanted an excuse to occupy this territory to put us in a territory that we could more closely montor the heart of terrorist.
Whatever the reason we went in, here have been the results.
We are sitting dab in the middle of Saudi-Iran and Syria and putting heat on them that could not have been done by any other means.We have cut of there easy access across Iraq.
We have stopped their little OPEC arrangements in future on oil prices.--as a by product we have freed a country of tyranny.
Whether they are receptive or grateful has yet to be seen.
Iran is very close to having a revolt of pro U.S. revolutionaries--how ironic we are in such close proximaty to help.
Do you think Saudi's turn around of late would have ever come had we not invaded Iraq?
The biggest change I have seen of late particularily in other countries is the peaceful Muslims are now getting involved against the Islamic Fundalists where prior they had sat on sidelines. However I would make note it is more the result of the terrorist oversight that they can kill even innocent peaceful Muslims without them becoming angered more so than any result of U.S. policy.But there has never been such a joint network of countries sharing info vs terrorist as has occurred in last 6 months. and it is most definately necessary.IMHO
One thing I wish would occur is (if) Iraq is successfully rebuilt I think they should repay at least partially the U.S. with future oil to offset cost. Kind of like paying the reward on the 2 boys from money confiscated from them. Also all the frozen terrorist accounts would go a long way in the right org (if there is such a thing) to fund other countries in similiar circumstances in the future. lots of speculation and opinion but food for thought.:)
 

djv

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DTB the rebuilding of Irag has a large price tag on it. Estimate out this week just for bridges, water suppy, electricity, 30 billion. This was not in numbers for war effort estimated at 60 billion. We get to pay untill they can get oil flowing everday. And they have big problems there. So it's on us. Im surprised with our weapons as accurate as they are. The damage we caused to the electricity, water supplies and the bridges.
An the out cry with every day reports of death to our GI's. The smell of Nam is creeping in fast. We were to have learned from Nam. Remember we had a president not run for re-election because of that mess. Something Bush better remember.
 

dr. freeze

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what an idiot strategy to focus all the terrorists off our turf and get them all to fight us in Iraq....and to try to encourage them to all come and fight in Iraq by saying "bring it on!"

geez you liberals should be able to see the genius behind this plan!!!!

we have all the terror groups converging on our military in IRAQ!!! from Saudi, Iran, Palestine, Jordan, etc.!!!!

what a perfect place to stand and fight!!!!
 

djv

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Doc I be carefull with all my joy. There still Ameraican deaths. I would think with the money were spending for Home Land Security something should work right. But these bastards have there way so I still wonder what there next step is. In Afgahistan it's getting to be a mess all over again. These are our resourse going out the window with little help from anyone else. So in away the terroest have made there point. Were throwing our money around like we have a endless supply. Think of the good we could do with that money here at home.
Bring it on was dumb. Becasue they keep bring it. We keep loseing men.
 
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