One of the dumbest comments I have ever seen

MillerClemsonHD · May 18, 2005

There was an article talking about the proposed $.02 tax on fast food in detroit. While reading some reader responses I came across one where I read that "the gov should forget about that and put a tax on gas guzzling vehicles that are forcing the price of gas up". Obviously this guy/gal didnt think through this comment. We pay about $.18 in federal tax on a gallon of gas, and about $.16 in state tax give or take a few. So everyone is being taxed based on their gas usage. If it takes me 2 gallons to take what it takes you 1 gallon I paid 2 times as much in tax. I guess it doesnt take much sense to flip burgers.

Wingnut · May 18, 2005

Not really. It's because of high demand (see: gas guzzlers) that OPEC can raise the prices on gas. The tax is a seperate issue.

It IS our fault for not having fuel efficient vehicles and driving too much that causes the dependence on foreign oil.

rascal · May 18, 2005

yeap think i'll sell the truck for scrape and buy a mule!

Edit you'll got the humor in that right?

Haulin' 8.1 · May 18, 2005

Well there already are several tax breaks, Federal and States, for buying Hybrids so maybe that person is a little oblivious to what's already in place. Never mind years of red tape prevent us from using our own oil abundance.

Vernon

Dabear95 · May 18, 2005

Never mind years of red tape prevent us from using our own oil abundance.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Care to quantify your comment? We do not have enough oil to supply our needs (cheaply). The tar sands in Canada have more potential oil than Saudi Arabi but you don't see $1.00 gas at the pumps do you? I just ask that you think about that.

We are not running out of oil, just running out of cheap easy to find and extract oil.

Hubbert Peak

Linky

carbuster · May 18, 2005

And don't expect oil reserves to be tapped into anytime soon while this war is going on. Granted it would be nice to the wallet, but it's just not feasible at this time.

Polak · May 18, 2005

Never mind years of red tape prevent us from using our own oil abundance.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Care to quantify your comment? We do not have enough oil to supply our needs (cheaply). The tar sands in Canada have more potential oil than Saudi Arabi but you don't see $1.00 gas at the pumps do you? I just ask that you think about that.

We are not running out of oil, just running out of cheap easy to find and extract oil.

Hubbert Peak

Linky

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Agreed, the age of peak oil is upon us. Even with the majors reporting lower than actual reserves to avoid tax on the spot, the worlds reserves have IMO reached peak. And the downside of that bell curve is going to be a heck of a lot bumpier than it looks.

Even if we get around the tree huggers and tap the northern reserves, the $ needed for infrastructure and extraction will (by then) have little effect on the $ at the pump.

IMO we all need deisels converted for bio-deisel, cause I don't see the hybrids getting the power we need for towing anytime soon. Plus, I would hope that this could put a few farmers back in business. I'd love to thank an American farmer for my feul and flip the biggun to Venezuela, Saudi, etc.

My $0.02

Daubs · May 18, 2005

Agreed, the age of peak oil is upon us. Even with the majors reporting lower than actual reserves to avoid tax on the spot, the worlds reserves have IMO reached peak. And the downside of that bell curve is going to be a heck of a lot bumpier than it looks.

Even if we get around the tree huggers and tap the northern reserves, the $ needed for infrastructure and extraction will (by then) have little effect on the $ at the pump.

IMO we all need deisels converted for bio-deisel, cause I don't see the hybrids getting the power we need for towing anytime soon. Plus, I would hope that this could put a few farmers back in business. I'd love to thank an American farmer for my feul and flip the biggun to Venezuela, Saudi, etc.

My $0.02

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Amen brother! I'd love to see Bio-diesel take off. Let's make the breadbasket of the world the new fuel producer of the world!

MillerClemsonHD · May 18, 2005

Not really. It's because of high demand (see: gas guzzlers) that OPEC can raise the prices on gas. The tax is a seperate issue.

It IS our fault for not having fuel efficient vehicles and driving too much that causes the dependence on foreign oil.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My point is that someone who drives a "gas guzzler" is paying more in taxes by burning more gas. If you dont want to have to pay lots for gas get a very efficient vehicle and you really arent paying that much. There is no reason someone should have to pay more taxes just bc their car only gets so many mpg. Actual consumer use for vehicles is not the biggest source of fuel use. If we really wanted to make a dent we need to improve our ability to ship freight by rail and not semi trucks. We arent to "blame".

The fact that we do not have refining capabilities is the problem not the oil supplies. There are still over 80% of the worlds known oil in the ground. The supply of oil can easily increase, saudi said they would increase but since we havent built a refinery since 1976 and the oil does not good if you cant make gas. What incentive do the gas companies have to build a refinery etc, that would cut into the unbelievable profits they are making right now. The gov has basically allowed price fixing among the big oil companies to occur and the big oil companies are helping to make sure it stays that way. They are taxing the american public and american businesses and collecting the profits for their shareholders.

Polak · May 19, 2005

Not really. It's because of high demand (see: gas guzzlers) that OPEC can raise the prices on gas. The tax is a seperate issue.

It IS our fault for not having fuel efficient vehicles and driving too much that causes the dependence on foreign oil.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My point is that someone who drives a "gas guzzler" is paying more in taxes by burning more gas. If you dont want to have to pay lots for gas get a very efficient vehicle and you really arent paying that much. There is no reason someone should have to pay more taxes just bc their car only gets so many mpg. Actual consumer use for vehicles is not the biggest source of fuel use. If we really wanted to make a dent we need to improve our ability to ship freight by rail and not semi trucks. We arent to "blame".

The fact that we do not have refining capabilities is the problem not the oil supplies. There are still over 80% of the worlds known oil in the ground. The supply of oil can easily increase, saudi said they would increase but since we havent built a refinery since 1976 and the oil does not good if you cant make gas. What incentive do the gas companies have to build a refinery etc, that would cut into the unbelievable profits they are making right now. The gov has basically allowed price fixing among the big oil companies to occur and the big oil companies are helping to make sure it stays that way. They are taxing the american public and american businesses and collecting the profits for their shareholders.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree that 80% of the known oil is still in the ground. But the fields are shut down after the price to extract 1 barrel is greater than the market value of that same barrel. Until we are paying $5 a gallon it's not profitable to fire up an old field. God forbid OPEC sees a loss.

But lets look at all the other things that fossil fuel supply us with. If you took everything out of your house that relied on fossil fuel, you would have nothing, incuding your house. Our society is so reliant on fossil feul that the idea of its non-existance is frightening. Our vice president stated at a symposium on fossil fuels that "the American way of life can not be compromised." By the way that was pre 9/11. Our leaders have known since the Reagan years that fossil fuels would come to an end within 50-75 years. They also knew that whoever controled the last remaining oil would have ultimate control. I'm talking about the kind of control that decides who eats, who starves, who lives, and who dies.

My point is that we need to be working harder toward alternate sources for energy. This stroke job of starting up coal burning plants and natural gas is like putting a bandaid on a broken leg, ain't happenin' brother.

Am I saying that within 20 years we're going to be like Road Warrior, killing or being killed for a gallon of gas, you bet. That abrupt of a change can only lead to chaos.

doverarjim · May 19, 2005

Who will say what a gas guzzler is? Because you own a truck does that mean it is a guzzler? Or do we own guzzlers because we drive GM and not some other brand? If that is the case then a friend of mine who owns a 2004 Toy pickup 4X4 that only gets 12 to 14 should pay more than I do with my 99 Chev that gets 15 to 16 right?

The other point I like to make about crude oil and gasoline is can anyone tell me what else is made from crude oil besides gas? If you take the barrel of oil and put the percent of gas that is made from one barrel you will not get but 1 to 2 gallons per barrel!

Wingnut · May 19, 2005

Not really. It's because of high demand (see: gas guzzlers) that OPEC can raise the prices on gas. The tax is a seperate issue.

It IS our fault for not having fuel efficient vehicles and driving too much that causes the dependence on foreign oil.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My point is that someone who drives a "gas guzzler" is paying more in taxes by burning more gas. If you dont want to have to pay lots for gas get a very efficient vehicle and you really arent paying that much. There is no reason someone should have to pay more taxes just bc their car only gets so many mpg. Actual consumer use for vehicles is not the biggest source of fuel use. If we really wanted to make a dent we need to improve our ability to ship freight by rail and not semi trucks. We arent to "blame".

The fact that we do not have refining capabilities is the problem not the oil supplies. There are still over 80% of the worlds known oil in the ground. The supply of oil can easily increase, saudi said they would increase but since we havent built a refinery since 1976 and the oil does not good if you cant make gas. What incentive do the gas companies have to build a refinery etc, that would cut into the unbelievable profits they are making right now. The gov has basically allowed price fixing among the big oil companies to occur and the big oil companies are helping to make sure it stays that way. They are taxing the american public and american businesses and collecting the profits for their shareholders.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why shouldn't we have to pay more? We hurt the environment more. We cause gas prices to be higher. We should be the ones who pay for it.

Do you know why we don't have refining capabilities?

Because gas would cost $5 a gallon the day we fired them up. People expect $25 an hour to check 10 pressure gauges an hour in this country. People in Saudi Arabia expect a LOT less than that. Enough less to where it's cheaper to buy it from them, let them refine it, then pay to have it shipped over here than it is to get it out of the ground HERE, refine it HERE, and keep it HERE.

Just being the devils advocate for a bit.

99-2door · May 19, 2005

There already is a gas-guzzler tax. Whenever someone buys a vehicle such as a viper, Dodge had to pay that tax for every one it builds. That gets passed on to the buyer of course.

jasonvp · May 19, 2005

Two points re: fuel prices -

1. We don't have the refinery capacity here. It wouldn't matter if we snorfled every last bit of oil out of the ground. Our refineries can't keep up with the demand. Until we build up another one, it doesn't matter what OPEC does to the price of crude, our pump prices will remain where they are (or go up.) OPEC's pricing is not what's causing the higher pump prices.

2. Check the quarterly earnings of our friendly neighborhood fuel companies. Exxon/Mobil posted a YOOOGE profit last year. Know why? Because they're charging more for gasoline at the pump, and we're paying for it. If the higher pump prices were due to OPEC, Exxon wouldn't be rolling in the green stuff like they are. But, they are.

Simply put folks: it's a capitalistic market here in the states. The gas companies are going to charge what the market will bear. And right now, the market is safely bearing north of $2/gallon.

jas

whitesnake01 · May 19, 2005

Who will say what a gas guzzler is?

The EPA and common sense. Anything that consumes twice or more of what modern technology is able to provide at reasonable cost, for the task at hand, would qualify as a gas guzzler in my book. If the task at hand is moving a 10,000lbs trailer, then 12mpg would not be gas guzzling. If, on the other hand, the task at hand is to move you from home to your office, then 12mpg is gas guzzling. Just for the record, most of the time I consume more fuel than I need (by driving bigger vehicles than I actually need). I would not be offended if someone asked me to pay a little bit more because I consume more fuel than I actually need to, but I would not like it.

The other point I like to make about crude oil and gasoline is can anyone tell me what else is made from crude oil besides gas? If you take the barrel of oil and put the percent of gas that is made from one barrel you will not get but 1 to 2 gallons per barrel!

The big concern with gas guzzlers is excessive pollution and excessive contribution to global warming, not the actual use of oil. Oil is used for all sorts of things like plastics and pavement.