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I just don't get why anger at higher gas prices is directed at politicians vs. oil companies who make considerable profit.
Because they operate under the delusion that only the public sector can "tax" or compel them to pay fees. If you confront them with spiraling food prices or health care costs, they will respond that you can always choose not to pay or to "shop around." I even heard a Randite on the O'Reilly Factor once state, when gas prices shot up after the beginning of the Iraq War, that people who don't want to pay those prices should "stop driving."
They only recognize public hierarchies that control their lives and limit their freedoms. They refuse to acknowledge private hierarchies that limit their freedoms and take money from their wallets.
Because the price of gasoline is affected by policies put in place by the administration. Aside from the state and federal taxes on gasoline, which average just under 50 cents per gallon currently, the policies put in place by the president are what controls the supply side of the supply/demand equation when it comes to gasoline.
When you have a president who is resistant to allowing crude oil drilling in the United States, you are forcing oil companies to purchase the crude oil that is needed for gasoline production from other countries and limiting the available supply, thereby increasing the cost of a barrel of oil, which increases the cost of gasoline.
Add to the above the fact that the current administration has managed to weaken the dollar so badly that United States purchasing power is at nearly historic lows.
Why does the president get the blame for high gas prices? Because he deserves it for pushing policies that directly affect the cost of gas prices.
Gov. Tom Corbett struck a populist note in this week's budget address, saying lifting the Oil Company Franchise Tax cap would force oil and gas companies to "pay their fair share." But the increase will likely be passed on to consumers at the pump and may make Pennsylvania gasoline the most heavily taxed in the nation.
As levied now, the tax is about 9 percent of the price of a gallon of gas, but calculated on a maximum price of $1.25 per gallon, yielding about 20.3 cents. By gradually lifting that cap over time to reflect actual gas prices - already more than double the cap - the amount of the tax paid per gallon could more than double.
Corbett tried to soften the blow by cutting another state tax on fuel, the excise tax, from 12 cents down to 10 cents.
Because the price of gasoline is affected by policies put in place by the administration. Aside from the state and federal taxes on gasoline, which average just under 50 cents per gallon currently, the policies put in place by the president are what controls the supply side of the supply/demand equation when it comes to gasoline.
When you have a president who is resistant to allowing crude oil drilling in the United States, you are forcing oil companies to purchase the crude oil that is needed for gasoline production from other countries and limiting the available supply, thereby increasing the cost of a barrel of oil, which increases the cost of gasoline.
Add to the above the fact that the current administration has managed to weaken the dollar so badly that United States purchasing power is at nearly historic lows.
Why does the president get the blame for high gas prices? Because he deserves it for pushing policies that directly affect the cost of gas prices.
I just don't get why anger at higher gas prices is directed at politicians vs. oil companies who make considerable profit.
Here is an answer to your quandary in two words: Keystone Pipeline
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