Let's get some perspective about gas prices

[blackangst1]

So you really think we pay too much for gas? Actually we are about smack in the middle of world gas prices. So quit complainin'

Nation City Price in USD Regular/Gallon
Netherlands Amsterdam $6.48
Norway Oslo $6.27
Italy Milan $5.96
Denmark Copenhagen $5.93
Belgium Brussels $5.91
Sweden Stockholm $5.80
United Kingdom London $5.79
Germany Frankfurt $5.57
France Paris $5.54
Portugal Lisbon $5.35
Hungary Budapest $4.94
Luxembourg $4.82
Croatia Zagreb $4.81
Ireland Dublin $4.78
Switzerland Geneva $4.74
Spain Madrid $4.55
Japan Tokyo $4.24
Czech Republic Prague $4.19
Romania Bucharest $4.09
Andorra $4.08
Estonia Tallinn $3.62
Bulgaria Sofia $3.52
Brazil Brasilia $3.12
Cuba Havana $3.03
Taiwan Taipei $2.84
Lebanon Beirut $2.63
South Africa Johannesburg $2.62
Nicaragua Managua $2.61
Panama Panama City $2.19
Russia Moscow $2.10
Puerto Rico San Juan $1.74
Saudi Arabia Riyadh $0.91
Kuwait Kuwait City $0.78
Egypt Cairo $0.65
Nigeria Lagos $0.38
Venezuela Caracas $0.12

Source: http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/global_gasprices/

 

[techs]

The US pays less than most countries as a result of our formerly completely self supporting domestic supplies.
Since oil companies were located on American soil pumping American oil they used their financial clout to keep US gas taxes lower than any other developed country.
Other countries, esp. europe. cannot afford to have a huge trade deficit so they tax gas to reduce consumption.
btw what is it in Iraq? About 30cents per gallon?

 

[Meuge]

The difference is that in most of these countries the price is determined by very heavy taxation of gas, which leads to the popularity of highly efficient gas vehicles, and an abundance of the much more efficient diesel engines.

If the price in Romania is $4, it's because $1.5-2 of that is taxes. In the U.S., the governemnt actually subsidizes the fuel companies, hence if the price is $4, damn near 100% of that goes straight into the oil company pockets.

 

[Forsythe]

Taxes, taxes and taxes.

 

[blackangst1]

Yeah we pay much less taxes, but my point was the cost to the end users, not what each country pays for it (which is determined by OPEC anyway).

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Yeah we pay much less taxes, but my point was the cost to the end users, not what each country pays for it (which is determined by OPEC anyway).

First: Minus taxes, the US is ahead of many of those countries. 2nd, doesn't matter what most of those countries pay as they chose to pay that much via taxation. If one of your main consumables more than trippled in the last 6 years or so, you would bitch too.

3rd: OPEC doesn't set prices. The market does (many factors in there). Traders set the price.

 

[Jaskalas]

People are complaining because they cannot afford the cost of living increases. America isn't nearly as rich as people imagine, this illusion comes from our federal size and high standard of living. Yet if cost of living increase continues you'll see civil unrest with a starving population.

 

[MadRat]

I can complain about gas because there is this little thing called free speech. I will exercise it by griping and ripping off a bunch of insults concerning the competancy of my representatives in government. And I will vote, this is my ultimate slap at their hind asses allowed me. If that is not enough then I will find ways to get around the need for the fuel. But what I will not do is let it defeat me. Gas is triple what it was before Bush, therefore I will celebrate the day his little choir of yes men leave the White House. It won't change a thing but at least I feel better getting the thoughts off my mind.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Yeah we pay much less taxes, but my point was the cost to the end users, not what each country pays for it (which is determined by OPEC anyway).

But you still miss the point that the COST in other countries is actually mitigated by the benefits of higher taxation:
1) industry/individuals take multiple steps to use less and use what they do more efficiently
2) foreign policy benefit of not being totally beholden to the Oil Pirates of Expected Corruption
3) domestic benefits in particular to auto/engine manufacturers . . . producing fuel efficient vehicles that will likely dominate domestic AND foreign (US) markets
4) environmental benefits of reduced extraction, transport, refining, transport, and consumption

So US consumers take in the rectum twice . . . we subsidize excess consumption directly and then we face a host of "hidden" costs.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Yeah we pay much less taxes, but my point was the cost to the end users, not what each country pays for it (which is determined by OPEC anyway).

But you still miss the point that the COST in other countries is actually mitigated by the benefits of higher taxation:
1) industry/individuals take multiple steps to use less and use what they do more efficiently
2) foreign policy benefit of not being totally beholden to the Oil Pirates of Expected Corruption
3) domestic benefits in particular to auto/engine manufacturers . . . producing fuel efficient vehicles that will likely dominate domestic AND foreign (US) markets
4) environmental benefits of reduced extraction, transport, refining, transport, and consumption

So US consumers take in the rectum twice . . . we subsidize excess consumption directly and then we face a host of "hidden" costs.

The new Republican American way we all love so much.

 

[blackangst1]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Yeah we pay much less taxes, but my point was the cost to the end users, not what each country pays for it (which is determined by OPEC anyway).

But you still miss the point that the COST in other countries is actually mitigated by the benefits of higher taxation:
1) industry/individuals take multiple steps to use less and use what they do more efficiently
2) foreign policy benefit of not being totally beholden to the Oil Pirates of Expected Corruption
3) domestic benefits in particular to auto/engine manufacturers . . . producing fuel efficient vehicles that will likely dominate domestic AND foreign (US) markets
4) environmental benefits of reduced extraction, transport, refining, transport, and consumption

So US consumers take in the rectum twice . . . we subsidize excess consumption directly and then we face a host of "hidden" costs.

The new Republican American way we all love so much.

Oh...this is the Republicans fault? ::roll::

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: blackangst1

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Yeah we pay much less taxes, but my point was the cost to the end users, not what each country pays for it (which is determined by OPEC anyway).

But you still miss the point that the COST in other countries is actually mitigated by the benefits of higher taxation:
1) industry/individuals take multiple steps to use less and use what they do more efficiently
2) foreign policy benefit of not being totally beholden to the Oil Pirates of Expected Corruption
3) domestic benefits in particular to auto/engine manufacturers . . . producing fuel efficient vehicles that will likely dominate domestic AND foreign (US) markets
4) environmental benefits of reduced extraction, transport, refining, transport, and consumption

So US consumers take in the rectum twice . . . we subsidize excess consumption directly and then we face a host of "hidden" costs.

The new Republican American way we all love so much.

Oh...this is the Republicans fault? ::roll::

you didn't get the memo? He's the anti-limbaugh - same mindless drivel, different polarity. If those two ever come in contact, they will anihilate and release an immense amount of energy...

 

[jrenz]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: blackangst1

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Yeah we pay much less taxes, but my point was the cost to the end users, not what each country pays for it (which is determined by OPEC anyway).

But you still miss the point that the COST in other countries is actually mitigated by the benefits of higher taxation:
1) industry/individuals take multiple steps to use less and use what they do more efficiently
2) foreign policy benefit of not being totally beholden to the Oil Pirates of Expected Corruption
3) domestic benefits in particular to auto/engine manufacturers . . . producing fuel efficient vehicles that will likely dominate domestic AND foreign (US) markets
4) environmental benefits of reduced extraction, transport, refining, transport, and consumption

So US consumers take in the rectum twice . . . we subsidize excess consumption directly and then we face a host of "hidden" costs.

The new Republican American way we all love so much.

Oh...this is the Republicans fault? ::roll::

you didn't get the memo? He's the anti-limbaugh - same mindless drivel, different polarity. If those two ever come in contact, they will anihilate and release an immense amount of energy...

I wouldn't count on that.