Gas is cheap all around the globe. We have built our society on a fuel price that is too low. The market only looks at the current supply and demand and not at the long term. This is a major problem because the long term price of gasoline could be above $100/gallon. If we had built society on that price level we would have been much better off than we are today.

Originally posted by zookey
American's just like to whine loud how hard done by they are.

They have no real clue how the rest of the world live.

They think they have a right to easy living, cheap oil, big wages blah blah.

They couldn't handle it in other parts of the world. they always run to get home because they would have to contribute and pay their taxes here.

edit on 11-5-2011 by zookey because: (no reason given)

It's ironic to listen to someone whine about whiners...

They (TPTB) are just manipulating the fuel prices. I know that around the world prices are higher than here in the US. But if you look at WHY the prices are high here, you will see it is all manipulation.

When prices first went through the roof, it was said it was because of Hurricane Katrina. It wiped out refineries. So prices went up. Eventually markets crashed and prices dropped back to around $1.75ish. Then they shot up again over $4. It was said it was because of the problems in the middle east. Then they went back down again, but to the high $2's. Then AGAIN they went up because of Libya. Shot over $4, close to $5 a gallon. Now they have backed down to the high $3's.

This conditioning. People were furious when prices were close to $5 a gallon. Now that they are an average of $3.80 a gallon people are relieved. But we forget that before they were around $2.80. Errr... its very frustrating.

Look back at the history of oil prices vs gas prices. The prices right now are the same as they were 2 years ago (per barrel of oil) yet gas prices are almost $2 a gallon higher. Why? Speculation. Stupid ass Wall Street ruining peoples lives to make a fast buck.

Originally posted by OrganicAnagram33
I live 20 minutes outside of the city and thank Jebus I'm moving there soon because these prices are becoming unmanageable for my budget. I just bought a bike as well.

I understand that the government requires money to function... but so do the citizens of the country. A more progressive tax scheme (in my opinion) should fluctuate with the market. Therefore, when fuel prices get too high, reduce the tax. It makes sense, because if people are spending too much on fuel, they don't have money to spend on other things that makes the economy work... let alone the necessities (food, shelter, energy). If they don't reduce fuel tax as a relief, and prices continue to surge, they'll be kicking themselves in the behind.

This system is all about scarsity, not abundance except for the top 10%. I'm surprised everyone hasn't noticed this yet.

The gas was 1 21 a liter at our pumps, and I spend about 45 a month on gas, but only drive locally, nearly everyday a bit. Trips are not very affordable.

that is insanely priced per gallon. im glad i dont live there

Gas is under priced all over the world. The market doesn't take finity nor unique properties of oil into account in the market price. Only the short term supply and the short term demand is used to set the price.

The real price of gas should be about $1,000 - 10,000 per gallon in order to have a sustainable oil dependency. This is the price we need in order to avoid gas scarcity. All activites that can't manage such high price are unsustainable. Private cars are unsustainable since very few people could afford $1,000 - $10,000 per gallon, in the case of ambulanses it might be worth it, in farm vehicles it will be worth it, etc.

We have built a society and economy on a finite resource. Wasting oil in private cars is madness.

well here in calgary they have gone down a bit, last time i filled up they where at 111.9 i think. lol my dad has just started riding his bicycle everywhere again.