LSK
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Tue Apr-11-06 06:41 PM
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Question: why has gas in Europe always been more expensive? |
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Edited on Tue Apr-11-06 06:41 PM by LSK
My brother-in law was talking to his sister in Greece and she says gas prices havnt gone up much over there lately. Which got us to wondering, why has gas always been cheaper in the US than in Europe and other parts of the world???
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BuyingThyme
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Tue Apr-11-06 06:42 PM
Response to Original message |
1. It's not. We just pay for our gas via defense spending. |
Initech
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Tue Apr-11-06 06:44 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
4. And the obscene salaries of oil company CEOs |
LSK
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Tue Apr-11-06 06:47 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
6. i mean historically we pay less at the pump than they do |
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You are disputing that now?? :wtf:
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etherealtruth
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Tue Apr-11-06 06:55 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
10. Defense spending is the answer |
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We maintain strong ties (military support and presence) in the region. At the end of the day, we collectively spend as much as they do ... we pay for it in taxes w/out regard to person usage, they pay at the pump.
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baldguy
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Tue Apr-11-06 07:01 PM
Response to Reply #10 |
11. Right. How many Aircraft Carrier Battle Groups does Germany have? |
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We've got, what? 15? 17? I've lost count.
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LSK
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Tue Apr-11-06 07:02 PM
Response to Reply #10 |
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They dont have the military budgets that we have, so wouldnt that make their tax burden (and gas prices) cheaper???
What am I missing?
:shrug:
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etherealtruth
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Tue Apr-11-06 07:15 PM
Response to Reply #12 |
13. Try reading through this ... |
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Edited on Tue Apr-11-06 07:24 PM by etherealtruth
... it gives good historical perspective and may give better insight. http://www.google.com/search?q=US+presence+in+middle+east+and+gas+prices&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=10&sa=NHope this helps (at least explaining my perspective) Please accept my apologies, I can't copy the link correctly and (yes, I am a computer imbecile) can't copy from a PDF document (I sort of can, but it's a long cicuitous story that makes me look even stupider)
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LSK
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Tue Apr-11-06 07:27 PM
Response to Reply #13 |
20. thanks, I will look through that. |
etherealtruth
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Tue Apr-11-06 07:35 PM
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rustydog
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Tue Apr-11-06 07:48 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
24. Actually, it helps support their national health plan |
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I wouldn't mind paying 3 or more a gallon if it went to national health instead of the pockets of filthy rich investors.
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bullimiami
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Tue Apr-11-06 06:43 PM
Response to Original message |
2. taxes, which they use to help pay for infrastucture and social services. |
Deja Q
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Tue Apr-11-06 06:49 PM
Response to Reply #2 |
9. In theory. These days it's for tax cuts, most of which go to Big Energy... |
iconoclastNYC
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Tue Apr-11-06 06:44 PM
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0007
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Tue Apr-11-06 06:45 PM
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5. When I lived in Canada I was told it was because the US bought |
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in larger quantities. :shrug:
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tocqueville
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Tue Apr-11-06 06:49 PM
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tocqueville
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Tue Apr-11-06 06:48 PM
Response to Original message |
7. because it's taxed much more heavily |
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about 70% of the gas price in Europe is tax. The tax goes to the infrastructure maintenance of roads. It has inconvenients of course but some advantages :
it indirectly sponsors building of mass commutation (trains, trolleys, busses) it leads to the construction of far more energy efficient cars
in time of crises, the state can always lower the tax, letting people drive at about the same cost. The European industry can survive a $100 the barrel oil price, even if it would put a general strain.
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mr blur
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Tue Apr-11-06 07:16 PM
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napi21
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Tue Apr-11-06 07:17 PM
Response to Reply #7 |
16. That's absolutely right. They do however seem to spend their |
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tax money more wisely than the US does!
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Vetinarii
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Tue Apr-11-06 07:18 PM
Response to Reply #7 |
17. Also, this is why Europeans |
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take fuel efficiency much more seriously. Europeans are much more likely to drive cars that are small and fuel-efficient, rather than unfeasibly vast gas-guzzling SUVs.
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tammywammy
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Tue Apr-11-06 07:48 PM
Response to Reply #17 |
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Europeans love diesel, because it's cheaper than gas.
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KT2000
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Tue Apr-11-06 07:21 PM
Response to Reply #7 |
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On the news we are always told the price of European gas as if we should be grateful, but it is really apples and oranges. This is a non sequitur that placates the people here. Comparing prices in the various states is too as taxes are often added for transportation budgets, at varying rates.
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cliss
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Tue Apr-11-06 07:17 PM
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15. The US has had cheap gas for about |
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6 decades now. It's because of our cozy relationship with Saudi Arabia. They've been out puppet state for a long time.
...however, that's about to come to an end. Saudi Arabia's magnificent Ghawar oil field is starting to run out of oil.
...that's why we invaded Iraq (oil). Iran is next on our shopping list (more oil).
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raysr
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Tue Apr-11-06 07:24 PM
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19. Imperial gallon 5 quarts |
leeroysphitz
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Tue Apr-11-06 07:39 PM
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22. Answer: Because they hate our freedom. |
sweetheart
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Tue Apr-11-06 07:58 PM
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25. Why is petrol in America so cheap. |
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public subsidy, invisible military subsidies, energy subsidies, drilling subsidies, free land rents, protection subsidies, road and transport subsidies. Petrol is cheap, we're on the cow's teet.
Though there is no direct reliationsip between revenue and expenditure, the tax drawn on petrol, that makes uk "gas" over 5 dollars per gallon, pays for a giant bloated government welfare system, free colonial wars for king bush whenever he wants a tool, and fat subsidies for a national health service that needs reforms no politican has the balls to install.
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paparush
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Tue Apr-11-06 08:00 PM
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26. Um..'cause they don't subsidize the crap out of petroleum??? |
LSK
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Wed Apr-12-06 10:29 AM
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27. kick for the morning crowd |
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