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A driver of a car that get 40 MPG and drives 400 miles a week is using the same amount of fuel, BUT they are putting far more wear and tear on the highways. IMO, the SUV driver is being more socially responsible in this comparison.
Then there are those of us who's daily commute is 80+ miles a day. And, it is what it is
Then there are those of us who's daily commute is 80+ miles a day. And, it is what it is
I absolutely agree with you, and I would add that those who drive that much for whatever reason are consuming a disproportinate amount of resources. That is neither good not bad...it just is.
Then there are those of us who's daily commute is 80+ miles a day. And, it is what it is
I absolutely agree with you, and I would add that those who drive that much for whatever reason are consuming a disproportinate amount of resources. That is neither good not bad...it just is.
Yet, we pay for the utilization of that resource -
Yet, we pay for the utilization of that resource -
IMO, paying for the utilization of that resource is poor rationale for disproportinate consumption.
evilnewbie wrote:
EXACTLY! We pay for it cause we use more of it...so what is the problem? Should fat people get charge more taxes because they eat more?
Personally, I'd love to see a graduated Consumption tax replace the Income Tax. The more a person consumes, the higher the tax they pay. However, making something like that work would be a major challenge.
So how does that work, when our refineries are currently lowering their production with our current surpluses?
Yea I agree... in some extent the refineries are controlling the prices today. Even though there is a surplus of Crude, it's gasoline that makes things run. If refineries limit their production, then that means that the oil companies are actually restricting supply, and therefore keeping prices high or making it go higher.
It's sad but true, even with the dollars decent, USDX decline of ~30% since 2002 doesn't really explain the way crude oil price has increased over 500% (2002 - $20/barrel now $109/barrel - Brent Crude Index). Even gasoline prices have tripled (300% - Energy Information Administration) since '02 (1.10/gal to 3.30/gal April).
So, I guess as long as gasoline use is inelastic, oil companies control the spigot (refineries), car manufacturers are in collusion, and oil companies line our politicians pockets... gasoline prices will continue to crop up.
The only way we can control some part of this is to get out of the inelastic part, and conserve as much as possible.
Personally, I'd love to see a graduated Consumption tax replace the Income Tax. The more a person consumes, the higher the tax they pay. However, making something like that work would be a major challenge.
I don't think that would ever happen cause the high-end retailers would send their lobbyists. I agree though a graduated sales tax determined on the price of the product sounds like a good idea but not easily done as you mentioned... the absurdly wealthy however will either consume less and pay more or consume more by traveling to another country and buy without paying the higher taxes...
Yea I agree... in some extent the refineries are controlling the prices today. Even though there is a surplus of Crude, it's gasoline that makes things run. If refineries limit their production, then that means that the oil companies are actually restricting supply, and therefore keeping prices high or making it go higher.
It's sad but true, even with the dollars decent, USDX decline of ~30% since 2002 doesn't really explain the way crude oil price has increased over 500% (2002 - $20/barrel now $109/barrel - Brent Crude Index). Even gasoline prices have tripled (300% - Energy Information Administration) since '02 (1.10/gal to 3.30/gal April).
So, I guess as long as gasoline use is inelastic, oil companies control the spigot (refineries), car manufacturers are in collusion, and oil companies line our politicians pockets... gasoline prices will continue to crop up.
The only way we can control some part of this is to get out of the inelastic part, and conserve as much as possible.
crude oil prices lagged so badley through my lifetime , i am 61 they eventually had to catch up.
gas was .30 cents a gallon when i started to drive.
the subway was .15 cents , pizza and a soda was .25 for both , ice cream was .15 cents , a hot dog was .25 cents so and so on.
every other product soared but the one product that came from some of the most inhospital places on the planet, had to be shipped around the world ,processed and refined ,had more middleman handling it , and huge taxes , was cheaper than a bottle of water or milk .
it is amazing the product is not way more . the only reason it is not is the oil companies were the worst price fixers ever.
they had to pay big dividends just to attract investors for decades until profits rose for their shareholders .
next time you complain about gasoline think about what a gallon of bottled water cost or milk which comes from a cow upstate.
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