Another Gas Rant

[CanadianScroller]

Well our provincial government sent out $100 per person as a green incentive to help reduce our carbon footprint. The new buzzword of the decade!
Tomorrow they introduce a carbon tax to gasoline. This is supposed to help reduce emissions by curtailing the excessive use of fuel.

So tomorrow gas will be selling for around $5.31 per gallon.
That isn't the highest it has been in this area but there is no doubt that it is not going to come down.

Personally I think if the government was serious about reducing emissions throughout the province they would take the AirCare program, car emission testing, and test ALL vehicles on the roads, not just domestic vehicles in a limited area.

I am all for reducing pollution and making people accountable but I have a hard time supporting a tax that will generate revenue and not reduce pollution.

[Jediscroller]

OK, call me cynical, but you're surprised why Carl? Hehehehe. We may live in different countries, but one thing seems to be consistent everywhere, politicians can be counted on to act like idiots (of course, I'm giving credit to them by saying they're "acting").

Here the idiots praised themselves on how they were saving us money at the pump by repealing a proposed increase in the gas tax set to go into effect July 1. Connecticut had the highest cost in the US as of last week (we keep battling with California and Alaska for the #1 spot). The average here is around $4.40 a gallon which is still a heck of a lot cheaper than most industrialized countries. Gee, with my 3 mile commute, it's costing me close to $15 a week in gas, hehehehehe.

[CanadianScroller]

I am lucky, my wife and I share the car. I do get to work 2 hours before I start somedays but we do save money
The fuel prices in the city are quite a lot higher than here.
A quick calculation puts them at 6.13 a gallon for regular gas.
If I had to commute I would change jobs

[tookiedoo78]

Boy I love my job! It's a 35 mile one way commute, but I have a company van to drive. It's getting to be a better perk week by week these days. And it really help a couple days a week when I can take my wife to and from work as well!

[jigsue]

Cannot feel too sorry for you. I filled my car yesterday and it cost me £60.00 (around $119)

It worked out at about £5.50 per gallon (we buy in litres). That is around $11 per gallon.

Like Kevin, I have a very short commute to my base (1.75 miles), but I do drive around the country during most weeks and although I am paid an allowance, I have to pay it out in the first instance before I claim it back and this is really showing, now. We have to have two cars because we live in a rural area and work in opposite directions to home and work different hours.

I can remember I could fill up my first car for £5 total. Those were the days!!!

The biggest impact it has had on us is the kids come to visit slightly less often because they cannot afford it (we have even given them money to pay on occasions) and we have to think twice about visiting friends on a whim.

Thank heavens for technology such as mobile phones, interactive websites and webcams - we can still all keep in touch.

Sue

[Pajaro]

Good old Harry

One of my favorite politicians, and a Democrat - Harry Truman
With an almost predominately democratic congress since then, how
could we have gone so so wrong?

When President Truman retired from office in 1952, his income was
substantially a U...S. Army pension reported to have been
$13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his
stamps and personally licking them, granted him an 'allowance'
and, later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year.

When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined,
stating, 'You don't want me. You want the office of the president,
and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people
and it's not for sale.

'Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award
him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept
it, writing, 'I don't consider that I have done anything which
should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise.'

We now see that the Clinton's have found a new level of success
in cashing in on the presidency, resulting in untold wealth.
Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become quite
wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Political
offices are now for sale.

Was good old Harry Truman correct when he observed, 'My choice
early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a
politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any
difference. I, for one, believe the piano player job to be much
more honorable than current politicians

[knothead]

Fortunately, the only gas I have to worry about is if I am having any on my way to the shop. Hope that isn't causing global warming.

Until we become energy independent (which we can) we will have to live with it.

Tom

PS I drive a diesel truck. Last fill up $4.96 a gal.

[f250]

Pretty much, politicians are a bad lot altogether. Their awesome solution to burning less gas is to make it cost more. So why don't they spend some money to help find another way for us to get around?

Here in Albuquerque public transportation is bad and not even close to helpful. Course it depends where in the city you live. Or we could go with the cool electric cars, except the batteries burn out in a few years, cost thousands to replace and are worse for the environment after disposal than the gasses out of current cars.

I guess I'm just saying if this problem is bad enough for them to stick their nose it, why don't they do something helpful instead of just making it harder on all of us?

Tom

[greatdane2]

What fries my bacon is that we have more oil than the Saudi's. We also supply the US with 33% of your energy.All other oil producering countries sell their gas for as little as 10cents.Last I heard even the war torn countries we are helping are selling gas for a few cents per gallon.
As usual big companies and the government get us again. Just bend over.
Alan.

[Toolman56]

The way i see it, hum, i guess i feel sorry in a way for those who drive and have very little choice , but what get's me they complain how high gas is , then turn right around and spend a grand on firework's, with no complaing at all, dont make much sence to me, so easy out if your is if your gonna complain , take the transit , then you wish you had a car with a radio you can listen too of your choice of music,or smeeling other people ,