Price of gas no longer a political issue in US?

[Gangerolf]

1.40 USD per litre, which is 40% higher than 2 years ago IIRC.

[VetLegion]

Originally posted by DanS
Likely there's a difference between Croatia and the US. In the US, most poor people drive cars, while in Croatia most poor people probably take public transportation.

There are 3,4 people per one car here. Even poor people drive cars, ****ty though they might be (Yugo and such)

Because of this, Croatian politicians might feel that it is OK to tax those who can afford cars in the first place, while in the US such taxes would be a real hardship.

I don't think it would be such hardship in US given your comparatively larger incomes. But I can't tell.

The reason why we have these prices is:

- most of Europe has similarily high prices, so we can't really complain that we are the only ones being ripped off

- it has always been like that. Whenever a government needs money, there are only two things that always work: increase taxes on cigarettes, and cars/gas.

[VetLegion]

Originally posted by Gangerolf
1.40 USD per litre, which is 40% higher than 2 years ago IIRC.

Prices are traditionaly high in northern countries, but how do they explain that price in Norway?? I mean you don't even have to import the stuff for God's sake!

[Gangerolf]

Taxes and taxes on top of taxes. Not just on fuel but on cars too. All for the sake of the environment, of course.
But how good is it for mother nature that people can't afford to buy new and environmentally friendly cars?

[asleepathewheel]

1.99 in Indy, briefly was up to 2.07 a few days ago...

[:) Smiley]

There are 3,4 people per one car here

The US has more cars than drivers.

[Odin]

$1.95 here.

[AnnC]

Oil companies reap windfall profits when oil prices are high. So Bush's cronies and contributors are very happy with the present situation. Interesting, isn't it?

[DanS]

Believe it or not, Germans own more cars per capita than do Americans. I'm sure we drive ours a whole lot more, though.

[DanS]

Oil companies reap windfall profits when oil prices are high. So Bush's cronies and contributors are very happy with the present situation. Interesting, isn't it?

Yeh, but Kerry hasn't even really raised the issue. Why not? Do you think he knows that this is not a big issue for many people and that political posturing like you are doing would be ineffective?

[Dis]

Kerry can't do anything about it if he's elected, so maybe that's why he isn't bringing it up.

Although not being able to do anything about problems hasn't stopped politicians in the past from critisizing them

[JohnT]

Originally posted by Dissident
Kerry can't do anything about it if he's elected, so maybe that's why he isn't bringing it up.

Very likely true, that.

Although not being able to do anything about problems hasn't stopped politicians in the past from critisizing them

But people will remember this one - that's the difference. If Kerry were to say "If I become President, I will decrease the price of a gallon of gasoline by $1.00", it would be as famous as "Read my lips: No. New. Taxes."

[Kuciwalker]

Much more famous.

[JohnT]

Also, I think that there is a "silent majority" of Americans who, deep down, think that it would likely be good for the country if the price of gas went up, as to stimulate conservation and efficiency movements. That's really my rationale for not thinking the recent hike as no big thing.

[Dis]

Originally posted by JohnT
Also, I think that there is a "silent majority" of Americans who, deep down, think that it would likely be good for the country if the price of gas went up, as to stimulate conservation and efficiency movements. That's really my rationale for not thinking the recent hike as no big thing.

I'm sorta one of those people

But I'm a realist. I see that no matter how high gas prices seem to be going, no one conserves any more now than they did before. All it really is, is money down the tube. Money I'll never see again. I'm thinking about riding a bicycle to work.