Article

2005-08-12 Europe

Norwegian Gasoline Now At USD $6.68 A Gallon (70 percent tax, of course)

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Posted by Anonymoose 2005-08-12 10:53|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Maybe Norway should launch a "Blood for Oil" war!

Isn't Norway one of those "socialist" paradises where children have ice cream smiles and eyes that drip sugary bubblegum droplets... oh no ... sorry, I believe that was Sean Penn's reflection on Iraq.

http://www.teamamerica.com/ Go to Film Clips, A MESSAGE FROM SEAN PENN

Posted by The Angry Fliegerabwehrkanonen 2005-08-12 11:09|| http://www.calderonswirbelwind.blogspot.com]">[http://www.calderonswirbelwind.blogspot.com] 2005-08-12 11:09|| Front Page Top

#2 As an American who went to Oslo earlier this year for a wedding and spoke politics with a number of Norge's, I was impressed with the depth they discussed American politics. I often will humorously bait a conversation by saying "Maybe you folks just aren't paying enough taxes" when talking to people from Jersey or Europe. My host calculated that his tax bite, after property, sales and user based taxes, was probably close to 70%.
They had to have a permit to drive with studded snow tires, ferchristsakes! A fair amount of "off the books" horse trading appears to go on.
Their Viking ancesters must be rolling in their burial mounds.
Biggest concerns? How will our kids get by...

Posted by Capsu78 2005-08-12 12:22|| 2005-08-12 12:22|| Front Page Top

#3 This oil situation is going to reach its breaking point soon, and the people who have been gouging the market and running the price through the roof for their own ends deserve to burn in white man's hell. This is going to drag us to the ground if we dont get it off our back, but do you hear anyone talking about real, workable, sensible alternatives to foriegn oil?

Posted by bigjim-ky 2005-08-12 13:38|| 2005-08-12 13:38|| Front Page Top

#4 Actually, several. First of all, we are not at *peak oil*, so the #1 problem is price. US contracts are long term, so the price for gas in the US is low. It could be reduced another 50% if the federal and State governments stopped taxing it which is a *very* reasonable thing to do.

Second, the high price of crude is *only* for LS (Light, Sweet (high octane/low sulfur)) oil on the "spot market", the volatile stock market for small quantities of crude oil not purchased through long term contracts. Basically the difference between wholesale and retail. People only buy in the spot market if they have to, if their demand exceeds their expectations, and they have to have the extra oil at whatever price the market says.

Because this volatility only exists in less than 1% of the entire LS market, which is only part of the entire crude market, virtually anything that a big consumer like the US does to conserve fuel or to use alternative fuel, can radically affect the spot market, driving prices much lower.

This means, for example, that every 100,000 hybrid cars produced can slash the spot market; or if next years' models are slightly more fuel efficient; or even if it is a warm winter (fuel oil).

The people who get caught in the middle of all of this are the refineries. They get whipsawed between the LS spot market and consumption, so they are as conservative as little old ladies. First, they *all* only want to refine the best LS, not heavy/sour, which is much harder to crack and has lower profit margins. Second, they are often pressured by governments, plural, to make poor economic decisions. Third, they make the most money by producing exactly what the market wants, or just slightly less. If they produce too much, then it is sold at a discount and they lose money.

All told, it is a complex and fairly efficient system, except for the taxes part.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-08-12 16:07|| 2005-08-12 16:07|| Front Page Top

#5 It could be reduced another 50% if the federal and State governments stopped taxing it which is a *very* reasonable thing to do.

Not if they want to fund as many of their pet projects/socialist programs as possible.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-08-12 21:24|| 2005-08-12 21:24|| Front Page Top

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