Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

Raapys said:
Hah, here in Norway we've been at $4'ish/gal for years"

That's because Europe has very high taxes on gasoline making it artificially expensive. The US has similar taxes, but not to the extent most European nations do. This is largely because the US can and does produce a lot of its oil natively (more so than Europe can), so has less need to try to limit usage in an effort to reduce trade deficits a bit with OPEC nations et all.

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

Also the US cannot be compared to other countries (other than a few) due to the size and the scale of the industrialization. This isn't an excuse though, just has to be taken into consideration when comparing to other countries.

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

Here in Canada, we haven't been below $1 (CDN) per liter for a long time now (approximately equal to $4/gal). We produce a hell of a lot of oil domestically...too bad producing oil domestically has nothing to do with price, since NAFTA screws us over, as usual.

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

In my state we have the 6th highest gas tax and currently are paying $3.50 a gal for regular. We have three refineries and get our oil directly from Alaska. So I ask you, why the hell is the cost of gas so bloody damned expensive here? Simple, price gouging. The State AGO and many legislators are looking into it. Of course the oil company's, much like the tobacco companies and the energy companies, deny any wrong doing, but we all know better.

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

It is not as simple as gouging.

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2006/05/katrinagasprices.shtm
http://www.illinois.gov/gasprices/pgVspv.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...042701693.html

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

*waits for GuyOfDoom's snarky response to aegisx' links, which largely factor in that whole supply and demand thing*

"...the post-hurricane gasoline price increases at the national and regional levels were approximately what would be predicted by the standard supply-and-demand model of a market performing competitively. The conduct of firms in response to the supply shocks from the hurricanes was consistent with competition. In particular, firms diverted supply from lower-priced areas to higher priced areas, firms drew down their inventories, refineries not affected by the hurricanes increased output, and gasoline imports increased."

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

More data:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/perfpro/major_findings.htm

The pdf linked there tells you the how much and why.

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

Until there is a cheap, reliable, and scalable method to convert cellulose crop waste into ethanol and misc other chemicals (one would hope fertilizers for the next generation of crops...), ethanol is not the way out. Hopefully some of the research dollars going into biotech can finance a marketable solution. I'm not holding my breath yet.

I suppose American taste in cars doesn't help either. Or the fact that many Americans are so gullible when it comes to marketing claims. For example, I saw an ad for a new Lexus car, a "green, SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle)"... that gets 23mpg. That does not strike me as Super Ultra Low Emissions...

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

It might not be ALL about price gouging but come on, you think those companies aren't watching people getting pissed off about the cost and screaming for new fuel sources? Once those sources are found and established it's going to be bye bye for the oil companies, at least the ones that dont have their hands in the cookie jar and are pulling the strings behind the companies that establish those new sources. It might not even be bye bye, but it more than likely will be bye bye to $36 billion in profits. Which means no more $400 million retirement packages. Which means, "Lets gouge now, just in case, call it a parachute".

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

May 15th is national "Don't Buy Gas" day, to protest.

"Rumor has it a gas boycott will be in effect on May 15, 2007. Have you heard of this? ... The e-mail stated, "Do not buy gas on May 15. In April 1997, there was a 'gas out' conducted nationwide in protest of gas prices. Gasoline dropped 30 cents a gallon overnight. There are 73,000,000-plus Americans currently on the Internet network, and the average car takes about $30 to $50 to fill up. If all users did not go to the pump on the 15th, it would take $2,292,000,000 out of the rich oil company's pockets for just one day. So please do not go to the gas station on May 15, and let's try to put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil industry for at least one day."
Greg M., Lake Charles, La.