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bedrock_barney
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
871 Posts |
 Posted - 02/11/2004 : 05:02:55
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I'm not one of the crazy gang who think that prices are way too high and prices should be slashed just so that we can all drive around with impunity, clogging up the roads and filling the air with fumes.
Simple economics really. If the Government generates less income from fuel tax then they will have to make up the shortfall elsewhere. However people do seem to get incensed by the issue. At the moment, I reserve my rage for ticket sellers and touts.
I think petrol is about 76p a litre at the moment i.e. £3.50/gallon. With the dollar weak at the moment that works out to approx. $6.50. (accepted that the US gallon is a little less than the UK gallon)
What would happen in North America with prices at that level. Anarchy?? Americans I know and have met in this country go weak at the knees when they have to fill up at a petrol station. It costs me £50 to fill up the tank but I seem to accept this quite meekly.
Thoughts?
 "The Cult of TicketWeb!! / They can make your little pixie dreams turn into nightmares." |
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model consumer
- FB Fan -
USA
128 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2004 : 06:10:22
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That's one hell of a good question...
One problem here is that very few cities have proper public transportation in place. Even many cities that DO have public transportation set up, don't actually operate it such that it works for the majority of people.
Socially people here in the US on the whole just take it for granted that the car is their right, and that's that. Where I live, a medium sized city, there is public transportation in the form of buses, but they suck. They don't circulate frequently enough, they don't run as late into the night as they should and they don't go everywhere they need to go. Without a car I'd be screwed.
There was an interesting article recently about an alternative fuel that is being called biodiesel. Essentially cars with diesel engines can be relatively easily modified to run on a fuel that is relatively easily made from organic oils such as vegetable oil normally used in cooking or even used frying oil from restaurants. Here is a link to the article: http://www.atlanta.creativeloafing.com/2003-10-02/cover_news.html
I live in North Georgia. Georgia has fewer taxes and environmental restrictions than most other states so gas here is among the cheapest in the US. Right now it's around $1.50 US a gallon I believe. When prices here dropped very very very low in the fall of 2001 they got as low as $0.85 US per gallon.
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"What's all I listen to? It's all freedom rock!" |
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realmeanmotorscutor
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1764 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2004 : 07:37:05
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It's called gas, not petrol!!!! jk:) 6.50!!!! that's nuts. Good God, I would give up my car.
 "I joined the Cult of Popeye / The CoF required my good eye" |
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mun chien andalusia
= Quote Accumulator =
Italy
2139 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2004 : 08:08:41
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gallons?why he hell don't you use litres like all the rest of the world?
 join the cult of errol\and you can have a beer\without having to quit smoking
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Owen
- FB Fan -
USA
165 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2004 : 08:20:07
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How much of that 3.5/gallon is going to taxes?
Cars and transportation in general is one of those things that, if left entirely to the individual in a libertarian sort of philosophy, we would all be screwed. I think there're a lot of areas where government's influence should be reduced, but this is not one of them. We need an authority to help work for the greater public good. |
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bedrock_barney
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
871 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2004 : 09:02:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Owen
How much of that 3.5/gallon is going to taxes?
A very large %. Someone might know but I suspect it's about 75%.
"The Cult of TicketWeb!! / They can make your little pixie dreams turn into nightmares." |
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Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2004 : 11:01:22
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Keep taxing gas, and pour the revenue into alternative fuel technologies.
Create subsidies for people who buy alternative fuel vehicles.
Shift happens. (Tax shifting that is.)
 Join the Cult of the Flying Pigxies - I'm A Believer! |
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Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2004 : 11:20:35
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Fill her up with petroleum distillate! And revulcanise the tyres, post haste!
I don't know if I've just been indoctrinated by the government, but my little motor costs £25 to fill up, and that seems fine by me. Of course, I wouldn't argue if the government wanted to price fuel at a pound a gallon or something, but it's not one of lifes big anxieties for me. You can certainly see why America is the most pollutant of all countries, and I think its a mindset now.
PLus, when you can rely on the Lincoln monorail, who needs a car?
 "I joined the Cult Of Strachan/Cos Hoddle just ain't right!" |
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GoddessTheory
= Cult of Ray =
USA
675 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2004 : 11:22:40
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| I rely on my legs. They are totally organically fueled. They've taken me a lot of places. |
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ObfuscateByWill
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1887 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2004 : 11:39:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Dave Noisy
Create subsidies for people who buy alternative fuel vehicles.
Man, I wish I could.
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http://www.fueleconomy.gov/index.htm
*Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. |
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mcmikey
= Cult of Ray =
799 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2004 : 11:50:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Dave Noisy
Keep taxing gas, and pour the revenue into alternative fuel technologies.
Create subsidies for people who buy alternative fuel vehicles.
Shift happens. (Tax shifting that is.)
Join the Cult of the Flying Pigxies - I'm A Believer!
this won't happen, at least not any time soon because the big oil companies are too powerful. Governments don't want to piss them off (hell the US is practically run by Halliburton right now!)
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a Spike Lee Joint |
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Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2004 : 15:30:54
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This might not happen in the US, but it is starting to happen in other places.
Join the Cult of the Flying Pigxies - I'm A Believer! |
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ProverbialCereal
- FB TabMaster -
USA
2953 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2004 : 17:32:07
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Why not use plutonium?
-Derek (not in a cult right now) |
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IceCream
= Quote Accumulator =
USA
1850 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2004 : 17:34:20
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Is plutonium radioactive? Would that matter?
Tim, the only one who laughs |
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ProverbialCereal
- FB TabMaster -
USA
2953 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2004 : 17:46:15
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That didn't stop Doc Brown
 Join the Cult of Jim / And receive a set of Teletubby reunion tix |
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mereubu
= FB QuizMistress =
USA
2677 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2004 : 18:46:14
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lol
I love you, Derek.
"Join the Cult of Derek/Lest you incur his Tubbycizing wrath" |
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