Who's at fault for gas prices? Partly, it's us

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Big autos, longer commutes gobbling up supplies
May 11, 2004


BY JOCELYN PARKER
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER


Sorry folks: We're at least partly to blame for the ongoing pain at the gas pump.

Like it or not, we're burning more gas than ever. Consumption has jumped nearly 24 percent since 1990. And the government says we're on track to burn another 48 percent by 2025.

Sure, there are more vehicles on the road. Between 1990 and 2001, the number of registered vehicles grew about 22 percent, according to the federal government. And the miles those vehicles traveled jumped 29 percent.

But the biggest reason consumption has risen so sharply -- after growing at a much slower pace in preceding years -- is parked in many of our driveways: The number of light trucks, especially SUVs, has spiked in the past several years, growing about 74 percent between 1990 and 2001. And since these vehicles consume more gas than passenger cars, they're likely responsible for the record level of fuel use, experts say.

The period between 1980 and 1990 showed only a 5-percent increase in fuel consumption compared with a 23.5-percent increase between 1990 and 2003

-more-

http://www.freep.com/news/driving/gas11_20040511.htm

[mark11727]

1. Incredible, that we had twenty-five years

to come up with some kind of fuel-conserving system, but NOOOOO... we're buying SUV's that cost half as much as a house.

Serves us right, and I'm only driving an ancient busted-ass minivan.

[DieboldMustDie]

2. Yet our government gives huge tax breaks to people who buy the biggest...

least efficient vehicles available. If you're self employed and in the 38% tax bracket you can buy a Hummer or Escalade, or anything else whose gross vehicle weight is more than 3 tons, and write off the entire cost. On a $50,000 vehicle that's a $19,000 discount compliments of the rest of us tax payers. :mad:

[fortyfeetunder]

3. Actually more like 31 yrs ago.

But Nixxon, Rayoilgun, and Bush Oil effectively took action to stop that type of nonsense.