Ripped off at the pump ?

[cali yaris]

In the US, the percentage of the cost of a gallon of gas that goes to taxes (I'm pretty sure in all 50 states) is a higher percentage than oil company profit percentage.

I have an unpopular view (I think). I think it should be HIGHER. Cost is the only incentive that will get people to change their purchasing and driving behavior.

[b20vteg]

Originally Posted by cali yaris

I have an unpopular view (I think). I think it should be HIGHER. Cost is the only incentive that will get people to change their purchasing and driving behavior.

makes sense.

[goliath1812]

Originally Posted by cali yaris

I have an unpopular view (I think). I think it should be HIGHER. Cost is the only incentive that will get people to change their purchasing and driving behavior.

it may change driving habits and purchases, but I still don't think it will make prices drop at all. people here talking about Europe, where most drivers have economic boxes, and look at their gas prices. substantially more than here.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by cali yaris

I have an unpopular view (I think). I think it should be HIGHER. Cost is the only incentive that will get people to change their purchasing and driving behavior.

Cost is the only thing that will get SOME people to change their purchasing and driving behavior. I want the highest possible MPG while still being comfortable and this applies whether gas is $1.80 per gallon or $5.00 per gallon.

I might feel the way you do if I lived in Sweden, but here in the U.S. I don't trust any level of government to use the extra revenue that would come their way with those higher prices to efficiently use those dollars toward the best interest of the general public, or, in some cases, use those extra dollars toward the best interest of the general public at all.

You do realize, as a small business owner, that some people might take a dollar they were planning on spending at Micro Image and and use it to buy that more expensive gas instead because they don't have the money for both.

[Kioshi]

Originally Posted by cali yaris

I have an unpopular view (I think). I think it should be HIGHER. Cost is the only incentive that will get people to change their purchasing and driving behavior.

For once, i agree w/ you. +1 for you

In other countries, gas prices are much higher than compared to here and Canada. Yes, i may still complain a little seeing gas prices go higher, but its the aggressive drivers who i usually see on freeway and laugh at.......poor sap in the BMW cutting people off, must be pissed he had to pay $90+ to refill

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Kioshi

For once, i agree w/ you. +1 for you

In other countries, gas prices are much higher than compared to here and Canada. Yes, i may still complain a little seeing gas prices go higher, but its the aggressive drivers who i usually see on freeway and laugh at.......poor sap in the BMW cutting people off, must be pissed he had to pay $90+ to refill

If such prices were implemented this would drive up the cost of some dietary staples, as such goods are often trucked to their destinatiosns. What would you say to the person who is struggling to afford those staples?.....Or is that what food stamps are for.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Kioshi

For once, i agree w/ you. +1 for you

In other countries, gas prices are much higher than compared to here and Canada. Yes, i may still complain a little seeing gas prices go higher, but its the aggressive drivers who i usually see on freeway and laugh at.......poor sap in the BMW cutting people off, must be pissed he had to pay $90+ to refill

I remember when you made that 'BMW cutting people off' post. I doubt that guy, nor Cali Yaris' neighbors, care too much about what they are paying for gas

[Kioshi]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

I remember when you made that 'BMW cutting people off' post. I doubt that guy, nor Cali Yaris' neighbors, care too much about what they are paying for gas

I'm sure they do, they dont live in Hollywood or anything, just in regular suburban neighborhoods. People around me are cheap, even if they have the money they will complain about it...take my word for it, seriously.

If gas prices went up, sure the prices of goods would go up naturally, but it would force people to rethink how they drive, how they spend, etc...

People want to go waste $650+ on a new iPhone when they can save that money for something more beneficial..imo, start saving/throw in CD account, etc.

Force is what people need in this country....kind of like how stores are forcing people in a way to bring their own shopping bag.....believe me, I'm no hippie haha, I'm wasteful, just giving methods that have worked well for other countries compared to the USA.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Kioshi

I'm sure they do, they dont live in Hollywood or anything, just in regular suburban neighborhoods. People around me are cheap, even if they have the money they will complain about it...take my word for it, seriously.

If gas prices went up, sure the prices of goods would go up naturally, but it would force people to rethink how they drive, how they spend, etc...

People want to go waste $650+ on a new iPhone when they can save that money for something more beneficial..imo, start saving/throw in CD account, etc.

Force is what people need in this country....kind of like how stores are forcing people in a way to bring their own shopping bag.....believe me, I'm no hippie haha, I'm wasteful, just giving methods that have worked well for other countries compared to the USA.

I added the 'too much' because I don't think they'd care enough to change their behavior.

I've spent quite a bit of time in Fremont, and I agree with you that there are quite a few people there who spend money on silly things. I also agree with you that there are a lot of people there who have money, but are cheap, and like to complain. The impression I get from patronizing businesses there is that many of these owners and clerks are tired of dealing with such people. Your description of these people made me LOL.

If you rent, there are few places (in the U.S.) where a place to stay can be cheaper relative to how high the incomes are than Fremont. People there can "rethink how they drive, how they spend, etc." as you point out. People even in "regular suburban neighborhoods". Fremont, for a few years, was the safest city in the U.S. with a population over 200,000 people. Nearby San Jose has the highest median household income of any large city in the U.S., and the median household income in Fremont is higher than it is in San Jose........Now, get on a plane and fly to Jackson, MS and spend some time South of I-20 or fly to New Orleans and spend some time almost anywhere in the 9th Ward (New Orleans East, Lower 9th, etc) or some other similar parts of New Orleans and tell me that more than a relative handful of those citizens can "rethink how they drive, how they spend, etc.". They can't. For the ones who have cars, the extra cost of that more expensive gas could push them over the edge. People need to make their own way but, IMO, they don't need policies in place that are going to make it harder for them.

P.S. Someone distracted me yesterday while I was finishing up this reply and I neglected to make the point, specifically, that I was trying to make by bringing up people in parts of Jackson and New Orleans. I also made this point in a couple of previous posts. Namely, that so many goods (including staples like food,etc.) are trucked in this country that the cost of those staples will rise along with the intentional rise in gas prices and effect all of those vulnerable people in Jackson, New Orleans, and other places (not just the ones with cars who buy gas directly).