Petrol prices

Jeffrey Todd wrote:

And that's not exactly fair Mr. Scully. For a total of 4 people left in my family (in 3 different houses) we have 2 cars total.

BUT...


Are they fat? ;)

2 of us are. LOL!

The Mir@cle wrote:

Okay, let's do it. The Dutch petrol prices:

The price here is 1,47 euro á litre... 1 (American) gallon is 3,8 litre. 1,47 * 3,8 = 5,59 euro á gallon.

1 euro = $1,22.. So one gallon regular costs here $6,81!!!

So please don't complain ;)

Another price raise here today!!

The price is now 1,51 euro ($1,84) à litre :S

Jeffrey - don't take me seriously, I'm probably the one who should be quiet - we have 2 cars for 4 people too :-) But at least the cars are quite small, new and don't "eat" much ;-)

I drive a big honking Chevy pickup... 1986, redneck deluxe LOL! I can see the gas guage go down, literally. So, I haven't been anywhere except to the store lately.

It's time that Americans finally pay as much for fuel as citizens in other industrial countries. Maybe they put some pressure on their government to finally start some energy saving programmes. The world is waiting for the cooperation of the superpower when it comes to reducing oil consumption and CO2 emission.

Okay, no argument with that Barb, but I think what is shocking Americans so much is the fast increase. We've been gradually inching up more and more, but at a pace that people could adjust to.

This was a swift increase which occured within a few days, of the price almost doubling.. heck, more than doubling in some areas. If it can double that fast, it makes us worry that it can go completely out of control rather quickly and reach a point where people simply can't afford to drive.

And it not only affects common citizens in their cars, but things like air travel, freight transport. Nearly everything here relies on oil.

So while we perhaps should be paying an equal amount as everyone else in the world, a sudden change like this can ruin our whole economy.

It's exactly such a shock that will wake up people who were never ready to even rethink the incredible energy waste of their country. In Europe, people learnt their lesson from the oil crisis in the 70s when the economy dropped to an unprecedented low, unemployment became a reality and there was a restriction on private car use.

Since then the nations have pleaded and begged the USA to sign international agreements that help reducing oil consumption and help save resources for the future of this planet - to no avail. The USA has continued to waste away the energy resources of this planet in the same old selfish way. Now, 5 days after some refineries broke down that provide for 15% of the nation's fuel, they already ask for the strategic oil reserves of the IEA. Instead of saving some fuel to outsit the crisis together, Americans run to the petrol stations and buy more than they need and help increasing the crisis with a fake demand that does not really exist.

Please do not think that the world has no sympathy. All European nations support the USA in their demand for the oil reserves. It's obvious that such a sudden shortage needs some compensation. But in the long run there has to be a change in the attitude of the USA. It's the future of the whole planet at stake.

I agree the USA should be paying as much as other countries but I also agree with Jeff about the dramatic increase all at once. It's ruining my budget. I've had to take away from other necessities in my budget to put more in my gas budget. This means less groceries at home, less entertainment activities for the kids that cost money, etc. I have a 4 cyl car, so I have no gas guzzler. However my parents own 4 cars between the two of them. My dad is in to collecting classic muscle cars, yes with huge engines. But, they have the money to fill up the tanks and buy what they want. They can afford many luxuries and they should be able to have those luxuries since they both work very hard, all their lives and continue to do so. You won't hear them complaining bc they know they have 4 cars to fill and they accept that responsibility.

The USA shouldn't get special low prices but I do have to complain about the amount the price is being raised in such a short period of time. This time last year I was paying $1.20 per gallon, now I'm paying $3.20/gallon. We are all aware that prices of things go up, not down. I just wish that my purse could accommodate the increase. I like to be able to purchase something I want and with this gas increase, I have to be very careful.

'The USA shouldn't get special low prices...'

They don't. We in Europe pay more because our Governments have realised its an easy way to get tax from people. Nearly 80% of what I pay for a litre of fuel goes to the Government.

Well,actually,here in Greece petrol prices trully hurt!!!About 1,2euro for cars and day after day the prices are rising!!!!!God help us......

I paid 91.9p a litre today :( and that was at Tesco which, like most supermarkets, is among the cheapest at the moment. To fill my ickle car up from half cost me £18.39!

Found this on another website :-

www.office-humour.co.uk/item.cfm?item=3332

It's around $3.30 per for the cheapest gas around here. But, it is constantly changing..a few days ago it rose $0.60 in two days.

It's not about "special prices" - as Bob said, the prices are roughly the same almost everywhere with the exception that taxes in European countries are extremely high.

YourValentine hit the nail on head - the prices MUST cause a shock because otherwise Americans won't understand how they waste the world resources.

Mr. Scully wrote:

It's not about "special prices" - as Bob said, the prices are roughly the same almost everywhere with the exception that taxes in European countries are extremely high.

YourValentine hit the nail on head - the prices MUST cause a shock because otherwise Americans won't understand how they waste the world resources.

Shocking people is not the way to handle things. We do not have the same public transportation resources that other countries do. If I wanted to take a bus somewhere, I would have to walk at least 2 miles from my home to a bus stop. With two small children, one of whom is still in a car seat, that isn't feasible, or safe might I add. I'd be a walking target to someone who wanted to rob me or hurt me or my children.

If we had more access to public transportation, then I'd definitely use it. It would save me tons on car insurance, car payment, gas, taxes, tags, etc. People in America buy cars bc we don't have any other way to get to where we need to go unless you live in the inner city. I would love to be chauffered around by public transportation. I do not live in the inner city, as most Americans don't.