[kenth]

One bad analogy on top of another.

The oil companies manage to keep their profit margins up, as well they should, so it's silly to say that gas 'should' cost fifty bucks a gallon. The problem with the price of fuel is that it does affect people. You or I may not feel it directly. We may not care and denigrate those whom it does affect by telling them to lay off the beer, etc. That is until the fuel prices start inflating the prices of everything else. Already the fuel surcharges in transportation are starting to make up a large chunk of the transportation costs. It will be passed down to you and me.

And, of course, the real problem is the government. Through direct taxation the price of fuel is a third higher than it could be. Through regulation, we are unable to provide our own fuel and rely on nations who definitely don't have the best interests of the U.S. at heart. We have to hope they will continue to sell to us because of their need for our money. And, we shoot ourselves in the feet by mandating all sorts of formulations that put a strain on production at the few refineries that we allow to exist.

[TheRightGuy]

And, of course, the real problem is the government. Through direct taxation the price of fuel is a third higher than it could be. Through regulation, we are unable to provide our own fuel and rely on nations who definitely don't have the best interests of the U.S. at heart. We have to hope they will continue to sell to us because of their need for our money. And, we shoot ourselves in the feet by mandating all sorts of formulations that put a strain on production at the few refineries that we allow to exist.

Excellent points, all. Here in Illinois we have 4 separate EPA zones each mandated to have its own formulation in each of three grades with separate summer and winter blends for each. It's amazing they ever manage to have enough of whatever's needed coming out of the pipeline at any given time.

Of course the state adds a gasoline tax on top of the feds -- even counties and municipalities in Illinois are allowed to add their own cents per gallon taxes, and then everyone (state,county,city) chimes in for their own sales tax percentage which is charged against the already taxed gasoline.