| Subject: Re: Gas Prices |
Author:
Eed
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Date Posted: 06:41:16 05/04/01 Fri
In reply to:
Eed
's message, "Gas Prices" on 06:32:27 05/04/01 Fri
Well folks, I'm really disappointed in our responses to the
"great
recurring gasoline scam". Information abounds that the oil
industry is manipulating the market in order to increase
profitability in amounts disproportionate to cost and
business risk - otherwise known as gouging. The popular
press reports that all types of energy has come under this
type of manipulation and it will continue until somebody
steps in
and demands modification. Many excuses are being offered for
the current situation: a glut of cheap oil, lack of fair
compensation for exploration, unreasonable government
regulations, inefficient vehicles, minimal profitability in
developing emerging technology, the need to balance
international relations, etc., etc., etc.
Whatever the reasons for the situation the fact remains,
AND IS ACKNOWLEDGED BY MOST, that the consuming public (not
just in the U.S. but globally) is being royally screwed in
the process. Industry in the U.S. has been encouraged and
supported with government (read that as all of us) grants,
tax advantages, and low interest loans to pursue and
perpetuate what has become known as urban and rural sprawl
with its accompanying dependence on motorized vehicles and
equipment and its increasing consumption of fossil fuels.
To accommodate this "expansion of the U.S. economy" we have
paved over a substantial percentage of the landscape in
order to build "new" houses, shopping centers, schools,
infrastructure and highways to support this "modernization"
of America. And when there has been an economic slowdown
locally, we have pushed our growth agenda in other parts of
the world.
I fondly recall the recent impassioned responses about rock
"music" from just about everyone on this mailing list. But
in response to this entire energy issue I've seen one "we've
got to conserve energy" and a few other puny "me too's".
Come on folks, we can do better than that. I know you have
lots of information and many opinions to offer on the
subject.
Don't be apathetic....apathy has destroyed the germ of more
than one
good idea.
Here are some facts for you to chew on: According to one
published report the price of gasoline is generally
comprised of the following components: 33% tax (federal,
state & local), 13% refining cost, 33% crude oil cost and
21% general, overhead and profit. (Now, who is really
screwing us???)
Query - How much of this revenue is being devoted to R&D on
alternative energy
sources? How much is spent on exploration? How much on the
revitalization of impaired or abandoned communities? How
much on efficient automobile technology? How much on
reforestation? How much on other advantages for the U.S.
energy
industry? How much on maintaining "business as usual"?
Share your opinions and ideas with all of us. How do we,
the "people" of our Constitution, craft a reasonable
solution to
this problem? Sharpen your ideas, knowledge and wit and
jump into the fray! We will all be the better for it.
Roger
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