Why do you Americans complain about Fuel (petrol) prices?

Question

In the UK we are up to the equivalent of $7.50 per gallon.
How do you think that would go down in the states?
What effect would that have on you?

Answer 1

You gotta understand the comparison! Your economy, taxes, penalties, etc are different than what we have in the states. A good way to help you understand: Imagine if you've been used to paying that $7.50 per gallon in the UK, but suddenly you were forced to pay double that amount. That's what happened in the U.S. Now throw in a widespread economic affect because of this sudden increase. Consumer costs across the board are higher now because it's more expensive to deliver goods and services around the country. Now look at the average employee who is still making roughly the same salary as he/she did last year and you begin to understand why the American public is crying for mercy.

Answer 2

Here is the deal with the UK you have an awesome alternative transportation system. You have great buses and euro rail (not sure of spelling) which is affordable. Here in the states to take a train ride its something for the most part you only do if its for a vacation trip as it is too expensive. I think that if you had the transportation systems that Europe has then it would be no big deal if the gas prices went up but we are supper dependent on our vehicles and many people commute over an hour one direction just to get to work. So as the gas prices go up in a way your hourly wage or salary goes down. So for example currently $1.25 of my hourly wage goes towards fuel. Keep in mind that I only drive 10 min to work. Now if I got a raise every time the fuel costs went up it would be no big deal but when I fill up my car it costs me a whole days worth of pay and I make pretty descent money for where I live.

Answer 3

As an American, I myself don't understand the big commotion. What did we think prices were going to do, stay the same? What in this country hasn't risen in price? Nothing except the air we breathe and hopefully that won't change! I couldn't imagine paying $7.50 per gallon for fuel, carpooling would be a must which would help out the environment and smog issues, but I personally would have to keep a separate budget just for gas! Maybe the country wouldn't have as many overweight people because more folks would have to walk to where they need to go.

Answer 4

I can only answer for myself. The fuel prices here in America are way to high. Mr. Bush with all his oil buddies are hurting, their pockets are only growing deeper. It takes weeks for the oil that is being bought today to get here to the Good ol' United States and yet we are paying for the increase per barrel long before the barrels ever get here!!
Yes, gas, fuel, petrol is more expensive where you live, but I am under the impression that you have a better transportation system set up over seas.
Face it no matter how you look at it, the government is precondition us to think 2.50 a gallon is a deal... what a crock!

Answer 5

When I went to the U.S. I was surprised. The fuel was much cheaper than in Britian. The food was cheaper than in Britain. The organisation and work ethics were efficient. The only negative that I could find when you compare the U.S. to the U.K. is that salaries for equivalent jobs are less.
I know about health insurance etc. If you do your calculations you may find that you pay less to the government than we do.
We have a little over 60 million people in the U.K.
The U.S. has just recently passed the 300 million mark.
We've been complaining in the U.K. for much longer about taxes and charges, and all they do is keep putting them up, or re-organising them in a complicated way so that it appears that we are paying less.
They never listen.

Answer 6

It's not the fact the the price of fuel has increased it's that the cost per barrel is less today than it was in the 70's and yet in the 70's it was about 34cents per gallon. That's the complaint but I think it is world wide.

Answer 7

The people who hate Bush complain. They try to blame every problem in the world on Bush.

I say that and then read the other answers. Everything is Bush.

Bush wanted to drill for oil in Alaska and we would have never seen high gas prices in this country. Democrats have done everything they can to stop big oil for 40 years. Now we are paying the price. No new refineries, no new drilling.

Answer 8

There's more than a little of the feeling sorry for yourself here. Why you so fussed what the Americans are saying? I'm in Australia and they are complaining about the price too. I'm sure they are in most countries. It's not about simply converting $ to £, you have to consider purchasing powers etc.

Answer 9

Everyone is so eager to blame BUSH. Did you ever think why the gas prices are so high? We are to dependent on gas. Did you ever think that maybe the goverment is trying to raise the price of gas so we americans will find other ways to travel.... they put in Car pooling lanes and no one uses them. If we were less depenent on oil, then we wouldnt be depending on other countries to support us. Try doing your part and saving where you can. Car pool, walk when you can. What ever happened to the electric car???? Do you know WHO bought the rights to the product and killed the making of them??? You'd be surprised to that answer. Before you go pointing the finger at BUSH, look at the WHOLE picture and what is really going on. I hope oil prices go sky high so we wont depend on it. Then other countries can blow it out there A_ses

Answer 10

Motor use in America can't be compared with Europe for a couple of reasons. Europe has a compact population. The countries were laid out years before automobiles were invented. Here in America, we were encouraged to spread out. Distances between cities are much greater.
If you want to compare American car use with another country ,that country should be Canada - - - another very large country that developed mostly after motor traffic became common.