"Inspired" by gas prices...

well I hate to really wreck your day then cause in Denver ( were we have some of the cheapest fuel in the nation ) its just under $4 a gallon for diesel and just over $3 for cheap petrol.

I'm still to cheap to buy it. And still see reason to be fuel independent.

I'm thinking the costs of rail, around here at least could have and should have been offset by using some of the existing lines. They didn't and put in a whole new gauge track, I guess they were greasing someones palms. Then they built all new rail stations, rather than use any of the antique ones around town. Another waste of money. All in all if they'd have even made the slightest effort. Might have been cost effective. The land the railways already own. SO lets make a deal. A lot of those lines are dead and unused, so whats wrong with recycling them. I'll never understand the fascist state. It seems like they're single goal is to waste as much money as possible

Interesting stuff about the combustion efficiency Petros explains a lot about why you feel the way you do concerning higher mileage engines

 

yes, that is because you tolerate the stupid social utopian governments of Europe and Canada that rips off its own citizens. Most fuel in those countrys are sold through state run petrol companies, a good reason not to have the state controll fuel supply. Ours would be even lower if it was not for our government incompetence.

It is totally ridiculous to have a "department of energy" or a "government energy policy" when the state does not run the companies that supply power or fuel. That implies that somehow the government is looking out for the consumer with a "policy" that drives the costs up? Fuel is a product that is sold to consumers, just like food or lumber or tooth picks, and other than safety and pollution standards and fraud (to protect the consumer), the government has no business telling the supplier or the consumer what the "policy" should be.

Mexico, south America and in the middle east gasoline is about $1/gallon. So it costs more to make here than elsewhere, should not cost more than about $2 to 2.50/gallon. That can only happen if there was real competition between suppliers, and a policy that allows more supply to be delivered. Rather than government enforced monopolies.

 

Petros,

Is that really what you wanted to say about my government and my level of acceptance of a party I didn't vote for?

-Tom

 

I couldn't make heads or tails of it either Tom, Petros can you rephrase that a little ?

cheers
B

 

I say tax fuel-why should I pay more other taxes,to subsidize fuel like so idiots can run around in a 9 mpg SUV because gas is cheap?

My boat can run a gallon every 50 seconds if I firewall it,though I rarely do- I don't complain when it does..I don't expect others to pay for my foolishness.

If you want a pig SUV..earn more money so you can afford it..don't do it off my back.

Anyways,this thread won't last and will get locked.

 

I was sending thanks to BPL as well, probably could've phrased it better...


I believe what Petros is getting at here is:

He's referring to the high fuel prices in Europe and Canada, and explaining it being due to too much meddling by the government(s) there.

Here he's saying that the US Department of Energy and all of the policies (Cap and Trade) not specifically in place to protect either consumer safety or prevent price gouging shouldn't be there at all.

This is a practical example.

Petros, I hope you don't mind my dissecting your post...

 

Fuel use is discretionary...you can choose to motor at 10 miles per gallon or 40 miles per gallon or not to motor at all. Taxing discretionary spending like booze, cigarettes, fuel and consumer goods..are classic ways to raise revenue.

 

not sure what makes it discretionary.

Beer is not an option

neither is driving

cigarettes ok optional

but I think its pretty unfair what gets labeled discretionary and what isn't

for instance

beer has food value

but does food have beer value ?????????????????????????????????

ok then so whats discretionary and what essential to basic survival.

 

Beer is an issue . I personally benifit from its vigor producing properties.

I always have a vote ready for politicians running on the free beer campaign platform

 

Solyndra, Tesla, Fiskars. Shall I go on? GE, NBC. Want more? CBS, ABC, CPB.

 

The fuel costs more in Europe because you added so many taxes to use for socialist purposes. The actual cost of the fuel pre-tax is the same.

 

At the time Obama took office the price was half that you mentioned.

 

And what, the federalized US highway system was free to build?
No taxes went into that? They were profitable? I think not.

I argue that it was those people, though their hearts were in the right place, that made the strategic mistake, not the people who set up around mass transit systems.

And what about the bailout of the auto industry? A true capitalist and capitalist society would not have government sponsored market losers hanging around and would have let those companies go under, allowing new ones to take their place.

Cars and highways are highly government sponsored welfare programs that had enormous capital costs when they built the system, yet people seem to forget that. Back then, they used to invest in the future of the country. Why is a certain generation so dead set against doing that now?

 

The Federal Highway system was very profitable for the taxpayers who paid for it because it made easier the flow of commerce and other services every taxpayer needs. There are more ways to profit from a system than by just collecting tolls from a booth.

 

"a car like the 2007 Toyota Yaris, which is rated at 40 mpg on the highway, would get 80 mpg with a Revetec "controlled combustion engine"
http://gas2.org/2008/06/26/low-cost-gas-engine-innovation-doubles-fuel-economy/