So long recovering economy

[TOMS1SS]

Here is a pie chart that factors in gas prices back to the late 70s with inflation rates into today's dollars. Notice that mid 2008 has the highest prices but not significantly more than early 1980. With some small exceptions the years 1986 to 2003 gas prices generally ranged between $1.80 to $2.20 per gallon in today's dollars. So in otherwords we may be paying high gas prices right now but nowhere near a record.

Basically what is really happening is that your money isn't going as far as it used to. Consider that the a salary of $13,658 dollars in 1980 is the equivilant of $40,000 dollars today as an illustrator. The prices of everything; homes, cars, food, education and gas all go up with time. Its a fact of life that you have keep up with inflation usually through switching jobs or career advancement. Now I don't like paying more gas like anyone else but the difference of $1 dollar per gallon won't break the bank for most people if they plan a budget. Consider some stuff that you don't need that would offset the price of gas like not eatting fast food, top of the line cable or internet service, car insurance items you don't need, cell phone plans you don't need. Most people can offset the price of gas increasing or more with a little bit of planning. Unfortuatly in the US at least we have an attitude that we have to spend every single dollar we make and the price of everything will stay stable....

[Ironheadspearo]

Pie chart?

[TOMS1SS]

Originally Posted by Ironheadspearo

Pie chart?

I'm not that crafty.

[66olds442]

Originally Posted by 98nosz28

Yes they are refining oil into fuel. Where do they get the oil from. The large pipelines that run south from canada with our unrefined oil. Man are you SMRT. You guys get our natural gas, oil, and water from us and most of you do not even realize how much our countries depend on each other.

You first stated that you were upset that gas was more expensive in Canada, but if it's refined here, than it should be more expensive there. It does have to travel back somehow.

Also I have no idea how much Canada adds on to Gas in taxes, in CAlifornia they add from .75-1.00 to the price of gas in just State taxes.

[RiCorvette]

Originally Posted by 66olds442

Also I have no idea how much Canada adds on to Gas in taxes, in CAlifornia they add from .75-1.00 to the price of gas in just State taxes.

Don't forget sales taxes; the higher per gallon gas goes, the more the State collects in sales tax. Those pennies add up quick and the state is strapped for cash. I haven't any more than a gut feeling, but I'll wager there is a correlation to increasing prices and the need for quick cash. (aside from the rat-bastard commodity speculators)

I prognosticate that the price will reach an almost unbearable level, public outcry will temper the greed and the price will fall slightly....
...just like it did last year.

How's THAT for unfounded speculation??

[Synergy1911]

Originally Posted by 66olds442

You first stated that you were upset that gas was more expensive in Canada, but if it's refined here, than it should be more expensive there. It does have to travel back somehow.

Also I have no idea how much Canada adds on to Gas in taxes, in CAlifornia they add from .75-1.00 to the price of gas in just State taxes.

Enjoy! from http://www.api.org/statistics/fueltaxes/

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by 66olds442

You first stated that you were upset that gas was more expensive in Canada, but if it's refined here, than it should be more expensive there. It does have to travel back somehow.

Also I have no idea how much Canada adds on to Gas in taxes, in CAlifornia they add from .75-1.00 to the price of gas in just State taxes.

Actually, it doesn't. Its a screwy set-up. But basically, since most of the Canadian population is out east, most of the oil comes from tankers. Many of those tankers come from the middle east. There are a number of reasons (and speculated reasons) for this, but suffice it to say, most Canadian gasoline isn't made from Canadian crude.

As for tax, basically the entire difference is tax. Crude oil is crude oil, more or less. There are some differences sure, and we might have different blends and additives, but for the most part actual gasoline costs the same and the prime difference in price is tax. Also, to my knowledge most (but not all) gas taxes are flat charges of X cents per volume and not rate based. So government revenues don't go up much when gas prices go up. It might even go down if people adjust their driving habits to consume less fuel.

[TOMS1SS]

Originally Posted by Synergy1911

Enjoy! from http://www.api.org/statistics/fueltaxes/

Wow I remember when Michigan and Arizona had it the other way around, how times have changed....

[n116ebo]

Yes I think the price of gas is terrible. But when a gallon of bottled water cost as much as a gallon of milk--also terrible. My biggest gripe is the number of young people(all people) who do not or will not work a 40 hour week month after month and year after year and want the goverrment or some one else to take care of them. It is good to be getting old and one day all these problems will be someone elses. Only if no one goes to work things are going to get real nasty.

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by brandotron

Get off your high Royal Canadian Mounted Horse. We're talking about something that has been more or less "affordable" since its introduction in this country. Five bucks a gallon for gas will CHANGE the way we do things here, and you have to admit that change is not easy--especially on a national scale. I get it, gas is expensive in Canada...but it's ALWAYS been so - just like everything else up there! You have had time to adapt, but if the price of hockey pucks and maple syrup doubled over the course of five years, you'd sh*t a French-Canadian brick yourself.

If anything, I'd wager that our unwillingness to pay five dollars per gallon has helped to keep the cost of gas down in the western hemisphere. You're welcome.

Attachment 209865

one of the best posts I've ever seen on this form.

[Jay23]

Originally Posted by motorhead

one of the best posts I've ever seen on this form.

X2

[1BADLS3]

Originally Posted by Ironheadspearo

in 2008 i bought a 400cc suzuki burgman scooter to do my commute in rather than my truck. the suzuki burgman ran up to 100 mph safely on major highways and wasn't too bad to own. my daily commute went from $25 a day to $6 a day which saved me 400.00 a month and in a year nearly 5 grand. food for thought.

All I can think about is my buddy on his purple Bergman who tried to save gas and ended up crashing.


I have really mixed opinions on the volatility. They need to remain low so that people can have a little ease in recovering from our economic mess. They need to remain high to inspire change and to curb bad practices.

That kicks off a huge political debate...Do we crush the middle east and take their oil with force? Do we cut off the profits and explore, drill, and refine our own oil domestically? Or do we let the market run freely (in the hands of dictators, mostly) and we continue to bludgeon automakers to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles and also cripple the consumer with relatively high gas prices that we aren't equipped to pay right now?