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Old May 10th 05, 05:10 AM
Dirty Sanchez
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Christian McArdle wrote:
>>Since you folks in Europe have had $5/gallon gas for years
>>(thanks to high taxes), what's happening to gas prices over
>>there in Europe? Are they going to hit $10/gallon soon?

>
>
> Because the prices are mostly tax, and this is largely set in absolute
> terms, rather than a percentage, we are insulated from much of the
> fluctuation in the price of the base product.
>
> People grumble about the price, but deep down know that petroleum use is bad
> due to climate change, so the grumbling is not as loud as it might be.
>
> Christian.


97% of "green house gases" have natural causes, only 3% are man made.
Of those 3%, over one third are caused by the production of electricity.
20% are caused by petrol and diesel transport.

Why don't governments worldwide tax electricity at at least the same
rate they tax petrol and diesel? Because that would be political suicide.

It's much easier to convince Joe Everybody that the gases coming out the
back of his car are destroying the planet. Yet, when the average person
switches on a heater instead of putting a jumper on, there are no extra
smelly gases being visibly released out the back of his house, that's
happening a few hundred k's away.

I don't know of any government who spends as much money on road
infrastructure and/or alternative fuel research, as they take in from
petrol taxes. If anyone in a position of power were serious about
"saving the planet" they'd be investing billions.

With all governments, everything is all about easy revenue. Stuff the
people, if the bottom line looks better, that's all that matters.
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