Pennsylvania already has the highest gas tax in the nation. This is regressive as it hits those with low incomes much harder than the more affluent. As bad as that has been, prices at the pump have skyrocketed since Biden assumed office. The Ukraine war has made things worse. Republican pundits finger Biden. Democratic pundits blame Putin. I blame us. We're the ones who insist on driving everywhere, even if it's three feet away. I am amazed by the daily line of cars waiting on Rte 191 every morning, guzzling gas and spewing carbon while waiting for an injection of caffeine and fat. I listened politely a few months ago when one of these patrons, who works at the courthouse, complained. I think he blamed that on Biden, too. Wonder how he'd feel if he was spending his nights underground, like many Ukranians.
Face it, we're a nation full of entitled, selfish people. Our so-called leaders, whom we incidentally elect, are clowns. I voted yesterday, but it was pretty much a blank ballot. Ironically, in Ukraine, the clown (a former comedian) has turned out to be a leader who shames everyone.
Here's what I'd suggest. Americans should be asked to forego driving, except for essential business, one day a week. If you have to commute to get to work, fine. If you need to see a doctor, fine. If you want to attend church, fine. This would be strictly voluntary. We could easily reduce our reliance on foreign and even domestic oil by periodically walking, taking a bus, riding an ebike.
Suggestions?
If we reduce demand, prices will drop.
46 comments:
Maybe forgo the more expensive summer blend this year.
PA should finally impose a State Police impact fee on municipalities that rely exclusively their services. Under Corbett, the gas tax was raised to help fund state police services to these free loading communities. The gas tax should be used to fund transportation projects, not community policing. Add police impact fees and lower the gas tax by the same. Time to carry your own water.
Lower gas taxes at least in the short term. Please learn to think. Gas products are not determined in one country alone. America can produce all the oil it wants, and the companies still price it on the world market. Some people think if only America was energy independent. The problem is that is not how the petroleum market operates.
No one politician or one party can change that if you believe that, YOU ARE STUPID.
We also are a nation of SUV and truck owners... gas guzzlers, more than ever. If you need a truck for work, I get it, but many people don't. Don't bitch about high gas prices when you've knowingly bought a gas pig that you didn't actually need.
Eventually that will happen. In 2008 4.00 a gallon seemed to be the magic number that brought the price of everything down. Due to the never ending inflation, that may have to be $6. today. As prices rise and disposable income gets squeezed the adjustment will happen. It is the magic of the market, It is one of those eternal truths.
I have to admit that your proposal makes a lot of sense. A self imposed driving holiday. It would instantly increase gas inventories. I think that too many people got this oil thing wrong. Too much clean energy is not cost efficient. It costs more energy to make a gigantic wind mill than what the wind mill will produce. Ethanol requires more energy to produce than what is yielded in product. The real cause of global warming, population growth, but no one ever lists it. The preference is to hit fossil fuels while cow farts are filling the atmosphere with an over abundance of methane. More people equals more cows equal more methane. If we are real serious about limiting vehicles then prohibit any more farmland being used for residential development. Force new development in already built areas. Stop building suburban stores with gigantic parking lots. It is estimated that there are five parking spaces constructed for every car in the US. And, yeah soften up restrictions on domestic oil production. The existing policies are killing low and middle income people. Electric cars need an infrastructure for support. Just think of all those cars parked on Allentown and Bethlehem streets- where are they going to plug in. Will cost me a thousand to run an outside power line to charge a car. If I can find a used electric auto. Guess it will come with a dead battery.
Um? Drill oil. Open Keystone pipeline, reduce fees for drilling instead of raising and then touting how no permits are issued. And Bernie, maybe read real news for more info.
Ration coupons and sweaters. Rag drives too.
"Americans should be asked ..."
This is the key phrase, especially coming from one who desires to be governed harder by the same government you lament in the same post. Go figure. Generalizations are tricky. I like my pickup truck. I don't need it for work, but it gets regular weekend work helping family and friends. I'll eat a donut once or twice a year. I mainline black coffee, but think Dunkin is piss. I regularly exercise and have a 19.5 BMI.
But thanks for asking. This American's reply is, "No, thank you." This pain is by design of the environmentalists who need crisis to forward their religious beliefs and get dupes like you to make ridiculous posts like this. Prices were skyrocketing before any war. Biden's first act was to shut a pipeline and declare war on traditional energy. He planned this. And yes, the poor and middle class who can't afford Dunkin are getting hammered. It's why there is going to be a blue bloodbath in November. Democrats richly deserve what's coming. They pushed the environmental religious stuff too far. It only took them two short years. It's our own Venezuela. The good news there is that socialism/communism has starved Venezuelans into an average weight loss of 17 lbs according to WHO. I imagine in-shape Bernie is cool with this.
Governor Wolf should temporarily suspend the gas tax for the summer when people do the most driving, or until gas prices come back down.
7:00, I believe my argument is about as capitalistic as it gets. Supply and demand. I am arguing we reduce demand by driving less. This has nothing to do with environmentalism and everything to do with prices at the pump. If your BMI is only 19.5, then a walk to the grocer is no biggie. But you resent this suggestion bc it might interfere with your pickup joyrides.
War on traditional energy? Ha! We’re heading into an irreversible climate crisis and all you can do is swallow up the “coal is king” propaganda sold to you by billionaire oil companies. And can I ask you which pipeline did Biden shut down? Because if you’re talking about the Keystone XL pipeline, you’ll be happy to know that it was a proposed extension of the ORIGINAL pipeline that would have been used to move tar sands, NOT refined petroleum, so it wouldn’t have made a price difference on gas prices. But thanks for playing.
You and your democratic friends are afraid of the truth it is Biden's fault period. He stared this on his first day in office. We need Trump back. Not your politicians they will only screw things up more.
Per the original post: "Americans should be asked to forego driving...This would be strictly voluntary."
You mean like we were "asked" by democrat politicians to inject a vaccine into our arms? That was "voluntary" also, unless you wanted to remain unvaccinated and keep your job or freely gather with friends and family.
Beyond that flaw in your plan, you're offering a false choice. We don't have to stop driving one day a YEAR.
Democrat politicians are the ones who are artificially reducing supply and causing prices to rise. They are captive to the extreme environmental movement that funds their party and provides votes at the polls. They are the problem, not us.
We need to get rid of democrat politicians, and I look forward to starting THAT process come November.
On that same drive-free day, don’t eat meat. That helps too.
On that same drive-free day, skip eating meat. That helps too.
It's complicated. For one, no one ever mentions refining capacity and the fact that we have not built a new refinery in decades. Let's not forget about all the climate change lawsuits filed against big oil. Our attitude towards gasoline reminds me of the Ike Turner bit from SNL. Right now we want to make up with the oil companies, but when prices come down we will beat them up again. . .
B.O. 8:43 said: "I believe my argument is about as capitalistic as it gets."
Your argument is what those living in communist/socialist countries get. First they get the blame for the problems caused by their leaders, and then another bad solution disguised as a free-market argument is foisted upon them.
You are not advocating for capitalism/free markets, instead you are advocating for the artificial reduction of demand to solve the problem of democrat politicians artificially reducing supply.
That's not a solution! It's another step towards even greater failure.
And when it doesn't work, it will be blamed on not enough people voluntarily doing it, so they will need to be forced. And after that fails, then two days of not driving will be what's needed.
What we really need are leaders who are willing to stand up to the radical environmentalists, and those leaders don't exist in the democrat party.
Democrat "pundits" can blame Putin all they want, but a large majority of Americans know the problem is democrat politicians. That will be made clear in November.
@7:00 AM - aka Over Compensating Probably Questioning Male
You are self absorbed and as usual delusional. LOL - Venezuela! LOLX2 " I like my pickup truck... I mainline black coffee... and have a 19.5 BMI."
*IF* America were to stop driving for ONE SINGLE day, there would suddenly be a glut of 370 MILLION gallons of gas in the US. Creating excess supply. That obviously won't happen, but would cause prices to plummet.
Temporarily remove the gas tax or give a tax credit to those with incomes under $40,000.
Whenever the price of gasoline rises, people always want to blame whoever is in office. But the truth is the federal government has very little power over the price of gasoline.
Did you know that the United States is the third largest exporter of gasoline in the world? Most of this goes to Mexico, Brazil and Latin America. U.S. refiners are exporting the most gasoline in three years.Shipments of the fuel in the first eight months of 2021 rose to 802,000 barrels a day, the highest for the period since 2018, before the pandemic started.
In the 1970's Jimmy Carter wanted the United States to be energy independent. Ron Reagan and big business put a stop to that. Look who's laughing now.
I always drive as little as possible and try to make trips to do several errands at once. at least you are proposing self regulation this is ok, keep the government at a distance as there is always another agenda that is not in the best interest of the people.
The best thing to do is tax us more on top of high gas prices. It will fix everything. Don't listen to me listen to the Democrat leader in the senate Chuck Schumer. His words not mine. you voted for this and would do it again.
https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1519046610591879171
Get rid of Biden solves the problem.
7:00 AM, is your last name, Lynch?
American gas & oil production is up. It’s up because the international price of oil & gas is up. Biden and one pipeline had nothing to do with either price or current production. Production declined because the the price didn’t encourage production. Reserves grew because the price of gas was low. Frankly, I’m pro-pipeline because it gets more oil and gas moving trucks off the road.
As Americans we have enjoyed relatively low gas prices for many years. As Americans we also drive too much, as you said. The pandemic has changed office culture. Even insurance companies found out they didn’t have to pay the overhead for thousands of employees anymore, since they proved to be equally as productive at home. (You didn’t see your insurance rates go down, but that’s the way it goes.) So fewer people are commuting. I’d love to have a larger suv but I’m happy with my 31mpg, regular gas. I’d have an electric if I could, or should I say, I’ll have an electric when the suvs get a bit better and more available. Even my rural power company is driving one. A century of gas was too long.
It seems as if we need to learn the same lesson. We’ve bought bigger, less efficient vehicles, as gas prices were relatively low, then something happens… remember GM’s brilliant idea- the Hummer?
As I drive around aimlessly in my pick up truck I can't help but think after being told on my favorite cable news station that everything is the Democrats fault and my world would be so much better if Trump were still President.
Democrats and Biden make me angry and I don't really know why. It makes me feel better to have signs on my lawn and to fly flags with his name on it. Sometimes when I feel a little naughty I'll put up a "Lets Go Brandon" flag or maybe wear my "Fuck Your Feelings" t-shirt.
War on traditional energy? Ha! We’re heading into an irreversible climate crisis and all you can do is swallow up the “coal is king” propaganda sold to you by billionaire oil companies. And can I ask you which pipeline did Biden shut down? Because if you’re talking about the Keystone XL pipeline, you’ll be happy to know that it was a proposed extension of the ORIGINAL pipeline that would have been used to move tar sands, NOT refined petroleum, so it wouldn’t have made a price difference on gas prices. But thanks for playing.
The stupid is strong with this one. Let me guess Michael Cohen also went to Prague
Bernie,
I love ya, man but you know as well as I do, what you're saying doesn't fit the American ethos of "I'll do what I want. It's my right. Eff you!" and woe betide the politicians who suggest otherwise. Yes, as the country diversifies and young white kids get brainwashed by college professors who came up through the 60s, we've gotten more "greater good" minded but, a funny thing is happening along the way. Hispanic voters ain't buying it. Turns out the white supremacists and the demographics are destiny leftists were both wrong. Thanks be to God. A realignment started by the man you hate most is continuing. The Republican party base is being joined by working class hispanics whose ancestors came here in search of the American dream and will be the leading crest of a red wave that sweeps the nation clean of the woke left in November 2022 and likely brings Big Donald back for a 2nd term in 2024. No matter what the Charlie Dent/Liz Cheney Bluebloods want. There's major regret out there over 2020. Hindsight and all that. Decency be damned, people are hurting. By all means, continue to embrace your inner school marm & ask Americans to sacrifice for the collective. People have sacrificed enough over the past 2 years. And they're angry and scared. That's how you're going to end up with Governor Mastriano, and Senator Barnette (or Oz. Or Blackrock McCormick. Any of them beat Shotgun Fetterman.) Heck, the erstwhile gay black man Dean Browning may even become a State Senator (though I'm personally leaning towards Maldonado in the Primary).
@12:02 - You're wasting time attempting to explain economic principles to most of the posters (or most likely one mega poster) around here.
Everything good about the economy is attributed to which ever President's poster hangs above their bed. If the other guy is in office, everything is his fault and all problems would be solved by their favorite guy.
Its pure partisan drivel mixed with irrational anger that rules the day here. I would imagine very much like message boards in Venezuela.
I recall thinking back when our government was spending $10B (ten billion dollars) per month on the war in Iraq that it seemed odd to me that nobody had asked me or anyone else to sacrifice anything for the effort. We have a tremendously large defense budget and politicians who often cannot resist the urge to use our military for adventures. Our soldiers sacrifice for the nation and we "thank them for their service". What we do not have is a culture of shared sacrifice--not in taxes, not in time, not in service--that you seem to be asking for. How do we get that back?
9:59 what planet do you live on?
12:02, you nailed it!
Don’t be a bitch and cop out, explain exactly what’s stupid about my comments. Please show me irrefutable evidence of anything that I said that was false. Calling me “TuPid” isn’t going to cut it. Bring it on asshole.
Although I felt better for my family under Trump, and I would vote for him again, I do agree with your comment and love the flag and t shirt comments
Here is the real sad part. We are now an importer of petroleum products because our dear President shut down the production of oil and necessary infrastructure starting his first day he was installed in office. He continued to damage our domestic production through his presidency. So now gigantic tankers or ships bring the US oil from the Middle East and from Russia. These tankers/ships consume 2,000 gallons of diesel per hour while throwing off emissions into our precious air, damaging our environment. What does this say about being GREEN? We should be producing oil and we should not even export it. The USA should be petroleum self sufficient. This would make the US and the world greener. I bet President Trump will turn the state of affairs around in months and get us moving in the right direction. Creating high paying union jobs that will feed Americans. Our gas prices will come down. High gas prices effect me a little bit and I get mad about it, I have enough money,but MOST Americans don’t have this luxury. The immense high cost of oil coupled with inflation is pushing gas to $7.00 is now an added invisible tax caused by the guy who is asleep in DC in a White House. This de facto tax hurts the poor and middle class and for them I truly feel sorry. My advice to them is to think about your past presidential vote and think even harder about your next two voting cycles and how important votes will be. I will not even mention his name, he does not deserve it.
I have a real peeve with the NIZ and how they keep all state taxes without any oversight and transparency on Topper Gas and cigarettes which both are taxed at high rates. This has to be overturned like DeSantice overturned Disney’s sweet deal. Brown must go as well.
4:52. I guess I am stupid then. But let me tell you how to go from nothing to 8 million in 8 years. Stupid is as stupid does.
Bernie Bernie Bernie. I can go 5 days a week without driving and then on that one or two day drive everywhere I need to go. But that wouldn’t solve the problem. I just rethink how to spend my days. We all need to go places just because. We have the resources, we have the capability, we just don’t have the leadership. We had the leadership but something crazy happened two years ago and now everyone has to pay. All the hard working Americans are loosing their buying power due to inflation and high taxes. Really think about it, who is winning and who lost? I lost my President while others lost their dignity and now all their disposable and now necessary income. This is a hard tax all the peeps out there now have to carry.
The election next month will have sweeping implications that hopefully will teach us in generations to come,
Keystone pipeline is in production. Keystone XL was never operational and is primarily for export. The parlor has no furniture.
You did not lose your president. The American people voted for your president. Tou talk about Trump Derangement Syndrome, but I've never seen a bigger set iof crybabies than the Trumpers and their Crybaby-in-Chief.
yes you are stupid. Here is another reason. Dems say Biden doesn't control the price of gas. Notice I used a left leaning article.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/biden-reverses-trump-rule-shuts-182209448.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALf5ufuG3pkb1WivVCMWBAJi5kthoRVMUhrFgIGOpxNQMeXhwUnrTQXJxkRTZPEmnbrSKSaizSQtVAxhbqhgtoTzenAFqTtge0mWenLthUzLCARTOpFLL40NjwqpO6BfacEUyWALaSp2UFzDSbcvvWPbmZ43pO3UVx-NhMx2tIKU
@3:47 AM. I believe that Corbett raised the gas taxes to address road conditions. Made him very unpopular, but he didn't want the can to be kicked down the road any further. Then local communities started to balance their budgets by reducing or removing their police departments, because they could rely on "FREE" State Police protection. Subesequently, the pilfering of the road repair budget began, and the monies went to the SP. Not the fault of the SP, but the fact that this money can be moved around like a shell game is bothersome. Municipalities need to be billed for SP services, and the proper amount. Not just an arbitrary number. Calculations need to be done based on area, and residents.
"HOUSTON, April 4 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) on Monday said its first-quarter results could top a seven-year quarterly record, with operating profits from pumping oil and gas alone of up to $9.3 billion."
I must be psychic.
I predicted this as soon as the press said oil flow might be disrupted because of the Ukraine invasion. I remember the same prescient thoughts after the IRAQ war (remember? the war that was going to get us all cheap gas but instead the prices rose to new heights while amazingly the oil companies somehow managed to create record profits at that time?). Yes, it was after that war that my psychic abilities really started kicking in. Oil Rig catches fire? prices will go up. Oil tanker grounds out? prices will go up. My next prediction? The oil companies will continue to dupe the public with any excuse to gouge another dollar out of them.
Not sure what your point is. Oil went to NEGATIVE 28 bucks a barrel when the pandemic hit. The oil companies lost a lot of money. They have been villified and told in no uncertain terms that they are going to be put out of business. Now they’re being told to invest capital and take on debt to build infrastructure. I don’t blame them for giving everyone the finger lol.
It's time for a policy on energy transition that is codified in law. We can't keep swinging back and forth depending on what party has the white house. It's quite clear we are no where near where we need to be to transition away from fossil fuels. Wind and solar aren't enough, and the climate activists are also against nuclear. They want everyone in an electric car, where is all this electricity going to come from? Coal fired plants LOL. Our grid won't be able to handle it. Also, where is all the nickel and lithium coming from? How do we dispose of all the batteries? The oil companies are positioning themselves to take care of their shareholders now. There will be no more boom or bust cycles for them, they are going to keep supply low if they can. the era of cheap fossil fuel is over unless we get another total economic shutdown like March 2020.
We all should try to use less, and maybe Bernie is on to something about biking given the fact half our country is obese LOL. It will save medical costs and save the planet!
All the crap in this blog is a waste of life. Oil and gas products are monopoly controlled by the few. And used to screw whoever they happen to choose. Tell me one other product that the price changes within moments of anything happening or not happening anywhere in the world. Everything else takes time for prices to change. It is a fixed game that has been allowed to go on since the 70's. Americans are just too stupid to realize the real problem that the monopolies feather the beds of the politicians at many levels and thereby are allowed to screw us each and every day at their choosing.
What a horrible suggestion stop driving lmao!! The issue is not the driving its our policy on domestic fossil fuel production!!! End of story.
Increase supply is capitalist, decrease demand is doosh-bag ist. Not surprised you chose the later...blinders fully intact. You prefer 5 years of an economy that crushes Americans as long as you can hate or blame it on Trump. You are a bigger failure than your prophet Joseph Robinette I'm actually unconscious Biden. You haven't been this committed to "your narrative" since your boy toy Justin Simmons. We'll find out eventually, but can't imagine who back filled that revenue stream LVR from Friends or Mommy of boy wonder, the 5 term do-nothing loser, Justin Simmons. One can only speculate....why were you so loyal....hahahaha. Closet open.
Post a Comment