Greed-The real reason gas prices are so high

[the_sandman_454]

The thing that really torques me off is (at least in the US), the US and state gov't combined make more in taxes off the sale of a gallon of gas/diesel than the oil companies make. I assume this is the case in many other places also.

It just bugs me that people complain about the companies making the stuff, but don't say a word about the government stealing a bunch of money from those of us who are buying the product. The company has a bunch of risks to deal with, while the government incurs no risk what so ever, but still makes more of a profit than the company making the product.

Note, that isn't directed at anybody in particular, just a general thought.

[jonnythan]

The thing that really torques me off is (at least in the US), the US and state gov't combined make more in taxes off the sale of a gallon of gas/diesel than the oil companies make. I assume this is the case in many other places also.

It just bugs me that people complain about the companies making the stuff, but don't say a word about the government stealing a bunch of money from those of us who are buying the product. The company has a bunch of risks to deal with, while the government incurs no risk what so ever, but still makes more of a profit than the company making the product.

Note, that isn't directed at anybody in particular, just a general thought.

This is, I believe, incorrect.

It's true in the UK, it's not in the US.

At the pump I'm paying around 60 - 70 cents per gallon in tax. This includes 18.4 cents per gallon of federal excise tax.

[the_sandman_454]

Yes, however, keep in mind that just because only $0.60/gallon is tax, not all the rest is profit. Quite a bit of the price of gas/diesel goes to buying $125/barrel crude, refining and transportation, then the gas stations might try to get a little cut, etc.

I think you'd be surprised at just how big a cut the Government (state and fed) really gets out of the deal versus everybody else in the process. As I also mentioned, they do nothing what so ever to deserve it, either, unlike the companies bearing risk, and actually producing something.

On top of all that, the roads are absolute crap here in Michigan. I'm not sure where all the tax money they collect goes, but it sure doesn't seem to be on many of the roads I travel on.

I'll see if I can dig up some better numbers to help illustrate this.

[Shorts]

Aww come on sandman - you KNOW the roads are in tip top shape

[the_sandman_454]

Sorry Shorts, you're right, the roads are all super smooth with no giant vehicle swallowing potholes or anything. On top of that, the government surely deserves every last dime it gets, as they're surely not know for squandering money on stupid projects. How could I have been so wrong on that?

[Shorts]

It's ok man, we all make mistakes. I mean, stress from work, demon cats, confused woodpeckers making a hole in the siding - it's pretty easy to become overwhelmed



Gas here is 3.59, diesel at 3.95.

[blues2cruise]

Canada is the same. Most of the money goes to taxes.

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=h ... n%26sa%3DG

Sorry.....I couldn't remember how to make the link just a title such as Canadian Gas Info.