Gas Prices?

Question

Why are the gas prices going up, and why is congress sitting on its ***, not investigating this?

it is now $ 3.40 for regular unleaded. here in mission hills Cal, near Los Angeles..

Answer 1

Hi JAC, I love LA, I can't live anywhere else.
Good ? well the reason is that we R being robed. Not by OPEC or Muslims or Middle East not at all. We R being robed by some filthy rich power hungry bastards, who can not produce any thing, and have not earned even a penny by honest labor. All they know is to manipulate, make wars, kill and steal. Unfortunately most people are pleased with a little bit that is thrown at them by these pigs, and don't want to face the reality. It is very sad.

Equality, peace and Justice for All.

Answer 2

Congress is not investigating because they already know the answer. In the United States an average of .15 cents to .45 cents per gallon goes to taxes. The disparity is due to different state taxes. This is only the tax that we see. Much of the taxes that refineries pay is transferred directly to the consumer.

The consumer is essentially charged with all fees, taxes, levies, and import costs. If our government did not charge a sin tax on gasoline it would be somewhat cheaper, or they could make gas like electricity and make it illegal to pass certain costs to the consumer.

By the way Oil Costs in the United States have very little to do with current costs, only futures. This is because the majority of our oil comes from South America specifically Venezuela. The only reason we want control in the Middle East is that petroleum like any natural resource is finite.

Answer 3

Oh believe me, this do-nothing congress has been doing nothing BUT investigating. They have investigated the death out of oil companies in the past and have come up empty handed.

Expect gas prices to steadily rise because of demand going up domestically as well as dramatically rise in places like China that are booming economically.

We cant hope to boost production in this country while liberals constantly oppose new drilling and new refineries in the name of conserving the environment.

What good is having a slightly cleaner environment where nobody lives if it is going to cost the consumer at the lowest level the most? What industry or business does higher fuel prices NOT hurt?

We are paying the price for listening to and electing a bunch of environmental fonies that just have an anti-capitalist agenda.

Answer 4

Too funny.

Congress should investigate the price of a commodity? My last pair of sneakers cost $130, what the hell's up with that? Where is Congress on the price of sneakers??

The price of gas goes up and down with demand. Ride a bus, buy a motorcycle, walk. Everyone does THAT and the price of gas will come down.

Or, keep driving, and quit bitching.

P.S. Write your Congressman in support of drilling in ANWR, and encourage alternative fuel research, as well. That would help. Or, protect Polar bears and pay $3.40. Consider it putting your ecological money where your mouth is.

Answer 5

Because WE "regulate" gas prices -not Congress or the President. The MORE we use, the HIGHER the prices go. Good old supply & demand. And if ALL we do is whine about it- there's NOTHING to stop the big Oil Companies from jacking up the prices higher & HIGHER -to see how much we'll pay. The DAY we start driving less, will be the day prices begin to fall... It's not rocket science; just simple Economics 101. :) Happy motoring. :)

Answer 6

Because the oil companies are greedy and they know people will continue to buy gas.

When they hear word that more and more people are considering buying a Prius, they drop prices down and everyone goes back to buying Expeditions and Yukons. Then prices go up.

Rinse and repeat. Notice how the price you consider as "cheap" now was considered a rip off 5 years ago?

If you want to make yourself feel better, look at the prices in Europe.

Answer 7

Chris H hit the nail on the head just in the wrong order. #3 is the largest cause in the equation. But it is due to the changes to make the fuel cleaner for the environment. Other countries that already have the refineries changed to produce cleaner fuel charge up to $5 or $6 a gallon.

It looks to only get worse so get ready to by a 4 banger.

Answer 8

Interesting...how people blame the low Gas Prices on the Republicans preceding last election...but now that we have a Democratic Congress...price still goes up..

Could it be...that when in comes to Oil....Oil and Politics is more like oil and water?

Answer 9

Several others have given you some valid information. Basically, the supposedly omnipotent USA CANNOT control everything that we are dependent upon.

If the rest of the world continues to pollute the Air, we cant make them stop it. If the Chinese don't want to change the Yen/dollar ration, we cant make them change.

I hate to see the damage that the Fuel prices charge, but, get used to the high prices. change your life and living to use less gas, cause its only gonna get worse.

Answer 10

When is the last time government has honestly stepped up to do anything about gas? I hope this is not a surprise to you. There's so much 'bad' going in the government it makes me sick. Bush owns his fair share of oil and as long as we are importing it, it will not be regulated whole-heartedly. There is no clear cut answer for this, and there will never be. It's sad. By the way, I think we have it easy here from what I've heard, $2.99/gal, Detroit, Michigan.