Why does the American government owe its citizens cheap fuel prices?
953352
The government of the United States was not established to act as a purchasing agent.  What do Americans expect, free fuel?\n\nA large part of the cost of automotive fuels is the high cost of refinng, with the legislated requirement of reduced pollution, both on the road and at the refinery.  Recent legislation requires new low levels of sulfur in diesel fuel, which is great, although it will raise the cost of transportation and the cost of goods at every store, and reduced profit at the refineries.\n\nSince the Democrats have gained more seats in Congress, and have promised to "investigate" Big Oil, they are simply driving my retirement nest-egg into overseas investments, because I can't afford to invest in American companies whose profits are being depleted by their own government.  Goodbye Exxon Mobil.  Hello Petroleos Brasilieros.
506737
OK I will say to you what I said to everyone else.  Bush does not make the laws.  It's the senate and congress.  Bush has no power.  Why blame someone that is there for show.  It's all politics. Read up on your govt.  Please!   Calling him an As s Hole is like me calling you an B itch for gas prices going up.    And for our soldiers dying.  The congress voted yes on war they could have easily voted no.  And for the soldiers dying I was a soldier at one time.  I knew the consequences so do all of our soldiers at this day and time.  So to blame someone for their death we should just say thanks to those who serve instead.  Also as for gas prices it's all in the Lobbyist that control congress.  Before you ask any other question as stupid as this please read into how politics work.  I am not political but just one person that tries to keep informed on the reasons behind it.
507281
You are right.  Because we have comparatively lower costs for oil, and because all these taxes are something which seem hidden and don't hit us all at once in our paychecks, and because we have a good quality of life overall compared to most other countries, we are not a nation that values or sees the need to conserve, reduce, reuse, and recycle.  \n\nAnd you are right again: one side has better x; the other side has better y.  Overall I think Americans need to be more globally aware, realize that oil is a finite natural resource and that when it runs out, it runs out.  I believe if people really cared about the environment and about the quality of life for generations to come, they'd change their behavior.  But humans are pleasure-seeking animals, and a change of behavior is hard to do if we don't see a need or any scarcity.  \n\nThanks for the question.  There are many sides, many facets to this.\n\nCheers, K
403467
you probably can put the blame on the greed of the country's\ncorporate policy's of wringing everything they can out of the average workers income.starting with the oil companies who by the way are experiencing windfall profits while charging the average person the highest gasoline prices ever.the average person then has to take out more and more money out of your bank and put less and less into it.and by the way those gas prices are reflected in everything you buy.its no wonder then that anybody can survive.only when greed is done away with will people go back to putting money back in your bank.do you think that's going to happen?
722705
My guess is that the price of gas keeps going up because we are still willing to pay it..  even though we should all just buy bicyles.  Second hand ones can't be more than $100.  Probably not that much.  Anyways, we need the gas so we pay high prices for it.  Sort of like food.  We need it, so we pay whatever the supplier says the price should be.  Here's a thought,  how about all of us who b*tch about the price of gas, go get on welfare so we can afford to buy the gas. Hey it might happen.   Just insist that you are mentally unstable.  Which of course, has to be true because society totally sucks.
1034426
Well Government,,, this too heavy word when discussed.... since it cannot be in 1 line or 100 page or book ,, need to understand lot to discuss government...\n\nwell first of Government is running the country and that government is suppported by the ppl... Its public voice to raise or lower gas price, raise or lower taxes, raise or lower mortgage, raise or lower salary rates, raise or lower immigrants....  the difference is which ppl support raise or lower thats what the conceern suppose to be rich or poor ppl goes for what you should know by now...\n\nIn Short....\n\nGovernment for the People\nGovernment by the People\nGovernment to the People
550693
Because when it comes to energy, you get it from where ever you can as cheaply as you can.  This is why Bush invaded Iraq after all.  So he can have cheap oil for his Families Oil Companies, so they can sell the oil products to Americans at high prices and become even richer and more powerful than they already are!
1119538
The government doesn't have to validate gas prices.\n\nThe american people (i'm one!) just accept what those in power do to them while watching American Idol and Survivor.\n\nSuch is the circus...
1105577
because we the americans have an attention span this --------- long. as long as we vote like we do....we need to throw out all the lifetime goverment babies and start new. As long as we continue to drive like we do and pay ....its not going to change... we need to stick together as one {which will never happen, and they know it} we cant even stick together, with out the communist ACLU breaking us apart...as for the price gouging that is supposedly going on every week......how does the price of gas jump up 10-15 cents on the weekends. To say its the right of the company is b__sh__. its price gouging when you buy a piece of lumber in the northern state and sell it after hurricane down south for a profit. WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?
1126086
Thoughtful questions. I don't argue the idea that increased taxes on gasoline could be used to subsidize public transportation and infrastructure. The problem with taxes and their respective burden to buyer and seller is that there are federal, state and local taxing bodies, each levying taxes on gasoline. Each of those bodies earmarks gasoline taxes for something different...not always transportation related. So, unless those taxing bodies agree (that'll be the day!) on how much, when and for what, you won't have an effective proposal.\n\nThat said, the price of gasoline in the US has been held artificially low for decades to encourage Americans to buy cars and use them for more than basic transportation. There are all kinds of political reasons for this, and probably billions in political contributions involved. The upshot is that most of us feel entitled to low gasoline prices and get honked off when supply and demand don't work our way. We're mad when we have to pay $3 per gallon. In Europe they were paying the equivalent of $3 per LITER, 10 years ago!
486093
What are you talking about?\n\nGas prices are high because the world (specificly the USA) haven't been researching or building an alternative fuel source infrastructure. Our politicians, both Rep & Dems are bought and paid for by the oil companies, the wealthiest lobby there is.\n\nWhat has that got to do with partisan politics? Have you been asleep?
899561
american people are cheap and evil
787572
Dont kid yourself --there is no decline ----the government is just spending more of your money--and taking more off you ---100bn to go to war with Iraq----rip off fuel prices ??The rich get richer and the poor get poorer
577939
To tell the truth, we americans are all , what you might say, "Spoiled". We have had plenty of everything, including Gasoline, for so long we just can't see ourselves doing with less than usuall. True if we would realize our consumption and deal with it before it is a have-to case, we would be better prepsred for the future. But America is not like that, we have plenty so we use it and when we don't get enought, we look for somebody to be in fault.
368718
Some of the prices are artificially inflated. \n\nHowever, gas prices in the US are still lower than in most countries. Go to Germany or England and pay the equivilant we pay per gallon for a liter. \n\nI do think that many of the companies are taking advantage of teh recoupment of defense oil reserves and the war against terror in order to boost their profits.\n\nOn a final note, though, the war in Iraq was not about oil. If it were, we would be getting oil from Iraq. We are not, yet at least. Much of what excess Iraq is producing is going towards paying their reparations to many countries.
277874
It's what they use as read between the lines. Not all policies are good for the American People. Alot tend to go towards the Capitalists and Imperialists, for profits only, at the expense of the American People. You can surely understand that! They have hidden agendas in Legislature such as the Patriot Act. Raising fuel cost's, with record profits after Hurricane Katrina, and so on, and so on.
322862
Gas taxes provide the majority of the road upkeep in the country, which is underfunded as it is. How exactly would that help? Also, $.30 per gallon is not going to affect gas prices all that much. They will continue to go up, no matter what.