This article is very interesting, it is worth taking a look at.
This table is especially interesting. Many people in the United States are freaking out about how expensive gas costs. The fact that we are in 111th place and we think $3.45 is a big deal just shows our luxurious standard of living. We are used to buying things so cheap that we aren't really aware of how much the things we buy are actually worth. I heard that McCain and Hillary are thinking of having a"gas tax holiday" from Memorial day to Labor day where they won't tax gas for a short term relief
(http://www.upi.com/International_Security/Energy/Analysis/2008/05/02/analysis_gasoline_policy_blues/1776/).
I am very opposed to this idea. How can Hillary speak to the citizens of the United States and say that we need to become less dependent on oil by moving towards cleaner, renewable sources, and then make it easier for people to use oil? Rising gas prices is a chance to step in and say, this isn't going to stop, so lets put more money towards other resources. This Summer plan was described to be a short term relief. This is exactly our problem, this whole short term thing. Sometimes it is more beneficial to do what's better for you in the long run than to do what is better for you in the short run.
Table:
| Bogged Down | ||
| Most expensive places to buy gas | ||
| Rank | Country | Price/gal |
| 1. | Bosnia-Herzegovina | $10.86 |
| 2. | Eritrea | $9.58 |
| 3. | Norway | $8.73 |
| 4. | United Kingdom | $8.38 |
| 5. | Netherlands | $8.37 |
| 6. | Monaco | $8.31 |
| 7. | Iceland | $8.28 |
| 8. | Belgium | $8.22 |
| 9. | France | $8.07 |
| 10. | Germany | $7.86 |
| 111. | United States | $3.45 |
| Source: AIRINC | ||
2 comments:
Well this article just proves that Europe is amazing and wonderful…but I think we forgot something about little old Europe (and they briefly mention it), its small….REALLY small; and American is big, Really Big. We have to take into consideration that visiting my aunt on the other side of France isn’t the same than visiting my aunt on the other side of the US. A size comparisons: Texas is Bigger than France. Queens is bigger than Paris’ State (that means Paris plus suburbs). I think taking daily commutes is very important in determining how cheap gas is. I’m not complaining that it is expensive in the US (because my dad in France complains that the Americans complain) but of all countries I know the US is the biggest Car-Happy. It must have been a malfunction in the creation of this nation that we did not follow Europe in the super cool, super slick train services road because they seem to be working out a lot better than cars over here… and did I mention they are more eco-friendly?
I think it is really interesting to look at how our gas prices compare to those of other nations around the world. I think Europe has made some very intelligent decisions in making gas so expensive; it provides an easy way to cut down usage and demand. Although it is also elitist to do this, as it makes gas only affordable for the very wealthy, it accomplishes what the government is essentially trying to do, which is just limit consumption. I think this tactic is very effective right now, and really helps with the damage control we need to be working on right now with the current crisis.
I understand and agree with Matt that the two regions of the world are essentially incomparable, but I think the point still gets across. Gas is simply cheaper here than it is in Europe. Even if the numbers average out to be nearly the same, the connotation of gas in America is that it is a cheap commodity that is / has been widely taken for granted. In Europe, however, people are very aware that this is not the case. They respect the preciousness of gas and are more frugal with consumption. Because it is more expensive, they have learned to manage it better than we have, and for that reason, they are farther along on the road to sustainability than we are. Americans have not yet accepted that gas is no longer a cheap commodity to be wasted, and if we don't realize this before peak oil really starts to take effect, the consequences could be really catastrophic.
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