IAP Political Forum

In march of 2005 American used 320,500,000 gallons of gasoline per day.. Federal tax on gasoline is at $.18 cents per gallon , that is roughly $57,690,000.00 per day the feds collect in gasoline tax's.  And this figure doesn't include diesel sales tax which is $.24.4 cents per gallon.
   Because of high gas prices, in the past nine months, Americans drove 53.2 billion miles less than they did during the same period a year ago, a new report from the U.S. Department of Transportation shows.
  The DOT says with Americans traveling less, the fuel tax is proving to be an inefficient means of funding the nation's transportation infrastructure.  During the first quarter of 2008, motorists consumed nearly 400 million fewer gallons of gasoline, or about 1.3 percent less than during the same period in 2007.  So, roughly, the government is complaining and telling us that because they lost a little more then one days worth of gas tax's, that the fuel tax is proving to be an inefficient means of funding the nation's transportation infrastructure.  Over 53 million a day coming in,  I think they should be able to scrape by.

The decrease in driving is also having an effect on toll revenues and some politicians are freaking out;
  http://www.senatenj.com/index.php/ciesla/ciesla-falling-toll-revenue-highlights-need-for-special-session-on-transportation/669
 When you think about it , if people are driving less wouldn't the roadways need less maintenance and keep up with a lower budget?

This is a crude attempt to villainize people that walk to work, and I resent it.

Yes, why do you selfish "walkers" hate America so? You, by your own admission, are walking to "work". With a job you should be able to afford the gas and support this great country with the taxes and tolls  you would pay.

Ah, but do you resent it because you walk to work, because you use public transportation or because you work from home?  Or could it be you just don"t have a car and resent people that do? :'(  Or...Maybe its because you havent paid your sidewalk maintenance tax? :-\   I despise people who walk for free then complain about cracks in the sidewalk..

I'll have you know that my preferred grocery store is 67 miles from my house, my preferred liquor store is 32 miles in the other direction. I haul 50 bricks in that back of my SUV at all times just in case it snows and I need extra traction.

Either show a similar level of commitment to our fuel economy or admit your hypocrisy.

What do you think I am, some kind of chump that uses public transpo and spends his valuable time wearing out shoes?

Get serious.

Firms that want my assistance had better move within a two blocks of my my apartment.

Just imagine if everyone in America just walked or rode their bike for one week to work how screwed alot of these rich oil companies and government would be.

That's really quite impressive and my hat must go off to you illy...but I feel I must ask ...you are not inflating your tires to the recommended psi are you?
 That kind of Loony Tunes activity could easily negate your otherwise commendable economic contributions in this area.

  Well, my preferred Grocery store is 25 years in the past.  I got you beat.  Take those bricks out, instead, deflate your tires to about 25 psi and get a winch, It's the modern way. 

   NEVER! On days that I don't drive, I address an envelope to the D.O.T., put $.60 cents in it, and drop it at the Chevron station!  Every time.

AMAZING what simple conservation (ALL ON IT'S OWN) does to the price of oil and gas?

All without drilling a single acre...

AMAZING what buying a fuel efficient car will do, let alone driving it at lower RPMs or on tires that are maintained at good pressures.

All without drilling a single acre...

FANTASTIC how some people go out of there way to walk or ride a bike and what it does to gas and oil prices.

All without drilling a single acre....

Abraxas, when the price of a gallon comes back down, people will cease cutting back on driving and demand will return. We are going to need energy sources to maintain our current lifestyles.

Conservation can be forced on us with high prices...it won't happen naturally.

Comes back down?  Do you really imagine it is going to come back down?  A dime here, a nickle there, maybe a whole quarter.  More than that I think you are deluding yourself if you think it is coming back down.  What was Exxon-Mobile's profit's last quarter?

It could very well come back down to $3, which will seem like a bargain versus $4.25...and could certainly reverse driving habits.


Not exactly sure although I could probably look it up pretty easily. I hope it was a ton as my mutual funds are getting hit hard by the housing crisis. I need something to offset those loses.

That's true... but the decrease in the number of SUVs on the road and the increase in the number of Hybrids and fuel efficient cars will have a lasting effect on demand and consumption. People aren't going to trade in their new 30mpg Toyota Carola for a 14mpg F-350.

Also, while $3 looks like a great deal compared to what we've dealt with recently, inflation is still going up, which means $3 is STILL a lot of money... and is actually more then it used to be...


This frightens me, actually.

When a barrel of oil went up, gas kept a quick pace, rising each day.

But now oil is down to almost $120 a barrel (correct me if I'm wrong) but gas is still well over $3.50. Oil's gone down close 40% while gas has gone down 25%? WTF?!?!

 
 Its called "lets screw the American consumer" a wonderful little game played by the Big Oil and Bush administration Cabal. If you were to ask them directly they would be grinning from ear to ear as they give some hogwash answer about world market and economic inertia.

How does Bush influence the price at the pump? Why does he set the price 20 cents cheaper 15 miles up the road?

 Nicer neighborhood?  But seriously, I've noticed that not only are prices higher in low income neighborhoods, but the quality and selections are lower.

Sounds like the conspiracy keeps growing. They always tend to...

  Neue, So you think that the "Ghetto retailers association" is conspiring to up the prices in urban areas?
Call Guinness, you've just won the stupidest conspiracy theory award... your prize is an aluminum "dunce cap".

I noticed that gas prices are higher in high income areas because they can afford it.

Low income areas have cheaper gas because if they didn't more people would walk. You can't do that in the suburbs...

No. Nor do I think Bush is sitting around the Oval Office with all the executives from the major oil companies setting prices at the pump, either, as was suggested.

The suggestion was that he lets them have a free reign to do whatever the fuck they like in the name of a free market regardless of the consequenses to the country.
 Sorry I didn't explain that better the first time around.
 Is it clear now?

Well, not 100%. He doesn't allow them to go after domestic supplies. Are you suggesting Bush set the price at the pump? Tax the profits? Do what with the taxes? What about people whose retirement accounts are directly effected by reduced profits?


I'm glad you did. For a moment, it sounded like you thought Bush (and his administration) were conspiring somehow and profiting from it. Of course we've heard that before from the left fringe elements so you can understand my confusion.

Granted, gas prices in, say, West Los Angeles and Beverly hills can get really bad, but, most of the high end stations in those areas also offer "full service".  For those of you to young to remember what that was, it's when you pull up to the station, remain seated in your car, an attendant comes and cleans your windows and checks your oil while he's pumping your gas.  In the middle class suburbs I find the cheapest gas and the best selection at markets.  If I go down to say, the Adams district, gas prices are higher and the markets are crap with no a/c or selection.  Even the .99 cent stores suck bad, but in the suburbs there cleaner nicer better stocked.  I know its not a conspiracy.  But it is a trend.

Jersey still does that... AND they have the cheapest gas in the country.

I honestly don't know how they do it...


I live in the middle class suburbs and it's been lingering around $3.55 for about a week (Shell has 5 cents off on thursdays, but I only fill up once every 2 weeks - I LOVE MY CAR!) while just north of us in southern PA and the like, it's about $0.15 higher.

They're the "Soccer Mom" kinda neighborhoods.

Neue,did you miss a couple of news cycles or what? Its been over a month since Junior lifted the executive ban on offshore drilling his daddy put into effect all those years ago. The only thing keeping the ban in effect is enough sane members of congress to keep the law.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-07-14-voa72.cfm

Could he give an executive order lifting the ban?

If he could have he would done that already. He still isn't dictator. The ban was an unanomous joint agreement between congress and the white house.
 Let this refresh your memory as to why;
 http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/oil/default.htm

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13573049/

May not take an executive order. With such overwhelming support from the American people, not even the Democrats can risk standing in the way for long...

approx. 11billionUSD

We should send them some warm clothes and canned goods, the poor dears.