It seems that all I hear today is complaining about the high price of gasoline in this country. Congress is demanding that oil executives lower the price of their product, people blame the sitting president for gas prices, and we act like we cannot afford gas at this price.
I know that in some industries, like my own, high oil is causing companies to go out of business. Truckers are especially hurting as well too. I think those industries have valid complaints. But for the average American, who happens to be the “average complainer,” please spare me your crying about high priced gas.
We drive around in our SUV’s, drinking our five dollar Starbucks or our three dollar Evian water (interestingly enough, Evian, spelled backwards, spells ‘Naive.’ Does that say something about someone who pays that kind of money for water?) We drive 80 miles per hour while talking on our $80 dollar-a-month-gee-whiz mobile phone, while shopping at Prada or Restoration Hardware, with our fancy hairdo and expensive makeup or tailored suite. We have cable, HD cable, highspeed internet, four cars (with two drivers!), huge homes, trendy this, instyle that, and bliss on tap. We in the U.S. want for nothing! Our poorest people are still the wealthiest 15% in the entire world. Go to GlobalRichList for more. Seriously, put in your salary and see where YOU rank — it takes 7 seconds.
And yet we complain about $3.50 a gallon . . .
I drive 60 mph everywhere I go, because I’m trying to save my hard earned cash. While on the interstate, I’m passed like I’m standing still! Americans can (and will) complain about anything, including high gas prices, but they don’t really mean it, at all. If they did, they’d change their driving habits. They’d buy less Starbucks and iPods. They’d put money in the bank and Roth IRA’s, where their money belongs. But we as a nation don’t. Sigh, oh well, but spare me the complaining!
I don’t mind people driving fast. I don’t mind people driving Hummers. I don’t mind people owning 8 cars and 10 iPhones. I really don’t. To do so is simply envious — and I like to think that I am above that. It only makes those who have less look terrible when they despise those who have more. Many people have lots and lots of money, and if they have 10 million in the bank, then go get five Hummers — I shouldn’t judge. Just don’t complain to me about high gas prices. I know several people who have so much money, gas could be 10 bucks a gallon and they wouldn’t care. But they also aren’t complaining like the rest of us.
Slow down, straighten out priorities on spending, watch every dollar, and don’t despise the wealthy simply because they are so. Our blood pressure will thank us for it!
Some perspective:
In the 1973 oil crisis, the Arabs decided to hold out on production. Back then, a barrel of oil was about $1.50 a barrel. During the embargo, a barrel of oil shot up to over $11 dollars a barrel. Long lines at the pump preceded. In comparison, if that size of spike happened today, the price of a barrel of oil would be over $1,100 dollars for one barrel of oil! So, things aren’t as bad as they could be.
From MJ Perry’s blog:
After crude oil costs, gasoline taxes are the second largest contributor to the price paid at the pump. Together Federal and State excise taxes on fuel account for an average cost of approximately 62 cents per gallon. That’s a combined tax of about 20% per gallon of gas.
The federal tax per gallon is 18.4 cents per gallon, see the history of federal gasoline taxes here, and the state tax per gallon varies by state, see the complete list of state gasoline taxes here.
Average profit per gallon of gas for oil companies: 10 cents according to the EIA.
Quote: The government collects far more in taxes on every gallon of gasoline than the oil companies collect in profits. If oil company profits are “obscene,” as some politicians claim, are the government’s taxes PG-13?
~Thomas Sowell
And Finally, George Will sums it up best with his article here, on our historical price of gas. Hint: We are paying less for gas today than we were in 1981 . . .
To post comments and more, visit TobyLaura.com