Jesus Christ

[Nick]

Originally Posted by xian

When I left for California in 1999 it was less than $1. When I left a years later it was well over $2.00. California stopped collecting state fuel taxes because they'd filled their tax revenue quotas so fast.

Anyway, clearly the problem is George Bush and the neo-cons.

[PETA]

what's the profit margin per gallon today vs last year vs 5 vs 10 etc...

record profits may be from a variety of sources.... simply selling more gas at the same profit margin is just as likely as the same amount for more (and quite probably in between those poles)

[Dionysos]

Originally Posted by e-brake

Even if you drop the .18 a gallon Federal tax we will still be paying record prices over $3 a gallon, and the federal highway system thats already in disrepair will be that much worse off without those funds. Doesnt anyone remember the bridge that collapsed on I-35 last year because they didnt have enough money to repair it in time.......sounds like a great plan to cut off the primary source of revenue to keep our roads safe.

Not to mention if we're talking basic supply/demand: dropping the price will change the equilibrium point of demand, i.e. demand will rise to compensate for the lower price....which will then push the price back up. We won't save a dime, but the federal government will go further into the red from lack of tax revenue and the oil companies will add a 12th pool to their CEOs' summer homes.

People in America need to wake the fuck up and realize that they're the problem. The US still accounts for roughly 25% of world oil consumption even with China & India's rising demand. You want cheap gas? Buy a smaller car, stop using plastic bags for everything, stop leaving all the lights on in your home, and use mass transit/alternative transit more often. The decrease in demand will punch OPEC in the shorts. But no, they'd rather buy an Expedition and bitch about Congress not doing enough.

[PETA]

Originally Posted by Dionysos

Not to mention if we're talking basic supply/demand: dropping the price will change the equilibrium point of demand, i.e. demand will rise to compensate for the lower price....which will then push the price back up. We won't save a dime, but the federal government will go further into the red from lack of tax revenue and the oil companies will add a 12th pool to their CEOs' summer homes..

You don't mean to suggest that the market will naturally adapt to changes in the factors that establish prices are you?

Apparently you didn't get the memo - its GW's fault.

Oh, and when I was in California and they dropped the state pump taxes it did have the net effect of lowering the price per gallon... not sure if it was pro rata but it dropped

[Dionysos]

Originally Posted by xian

You don't mean to suggest that the market will naturally adapt to changes in the factors that establish prices are you?

Apparently you didn't get the memo - its GW's fault.

He ain't helping with some of the protectionist policies, like the sugar tariff that makes cane ethanol too expensive to import.

[PETA]

dude... McCain was my third choice, at best. You know I'm anything but a trade protectionist.

[david austin]

Originally Posted by xian

You don't mean to suggest that the market will naturally adapt to changes in the factors that establish prices are you?

absolutely not... dont you know anything about economics?

[zcwilly]

Originally Posted by e-brake

Even if you drop the .18 a gallon Federal tax we will still be paying record prices over $3 a gallon, and the federal highway system thats already in disrepair will be that much worse off without those funds. Doesnt anyone remember the bridge that collapsed on I-35 last year because they didnt have enough money to repair it in time.......sounds like a great plan to cut off the primary source of revenue to keep our roads safe.

Prices spike in the summer driving season. It won't have a large impact for consumers to save .18 per gallon for gas because the savings will be minute. What matters is the price of diesel. Lowering the gas tax .24 for diesel will lower transportation costs for food and everything else you can think of. For example, back in '02, I paid trucks $2400 to pick up a load of lettuce out of Salinas, CA and deliver it do Dallas. That was the going rate. Now it's about $1000 more.

This isn't a permanent solution to the problem but it will ease the pain while we work on a permanent solution.

And the bridge collapsed because of a design error and poor oversight.

[HomoSexualPredator]

I'm sad. I thought this thread was actually about our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Instead it's about our new pagan god, Oil.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by zcwilly

Prices spike in the summer driving season. It won't have a large impact for consumers to save .18 per gallon for gas because the savings will be minute. What matters is the price of diesel. Lowering the gas tax .24 for diesel will lower transportation costs for food and everything else you can think of. For example, back in '02, I paid trucks $2400 to pick up a load of lettuce out of Salinas, CA and deliver it do Dallas. That was the going rate. Now it's about $1000 more.

This isn't a permanent solution to the problem but it will ease the pain while we work on a permanent solution.

And the bridge collapsed because of a design error and poor oversight.

i heard someone say, "it's like grandpa giving you five dollars"