Interesting comment because in the “Good Old Days” most City fire services were on a subscription basis until people realized that in closely packed cities fires spread affecting everyone. So recognizing a “Common Good” cities created Public Fire Departments financed by City taxes on everyone.
Likewise, “back then” most long distance transportation was a Private affair comprised of private Turnpikes (Toll Roads), ferries, canals, wharfs until the States realized that poor transportation also affected everyone and again recognized a “Common Good” replaced them with Public roads and Bridges again financed by State taxes on everyone.
Then in the 1950’s again recognizing a “Common Good” the Interstate Highway System and Federal airports were built financed by Federal taxes on everyone but in a moment of political cowardice left maintenance up to the States.
My point is Transportation, especially long distance Transportation, is an essential part of our everyday lives, serves a Common Good and should therefore be supported by a Federal tax instead of this crazy system of Gas Taxes, Road Taxes and User Fees that was obsolete 200 years ago.
I’m in California. At the Shell station closest to my house, the prices for regular, extra and premium are $6.29, $6.39 and $6.49, respectively. But that was 3 days ago when I last filled up; could be more now.
3 Days ago costco was the same as some top rier gas stations around. I did not mind waiting in line asit gave me time to finish my on the road lunch. I am not committed to Costco only, Around us usually a dime a gallon cheaper so not too concerned about saving a buck every 3 weeks. Guess I could be richer if I did ;(
Today, my local Costco was charging $4.19 per gallon, while the prevailing price at other stations in the same zip code was $4.49, and many of them don’t sell Top Tier gas. The trick to avoid long lines–at least in my area–is to avoid the Costco station on Friday afternoons, all day Saturday, and all day Sunday.
When I go there in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week, there are rarely more than 2 cars ahead of me in line.
Although as unhappy about current gas prices as most folks, I’m not surprised that such has occurred. Had covid not dramatically reduced demand for awhile these prices would have arrived sooner than now.
Quite a few friends, relatives, and even some folks here on the forum thought I was being too focused on future operating costs when I bought my current car, a 2014 Camry, eight years ago. But I knew that my future budget was likely to remain restricted so I factored in ongoing costs such as gas, tire replacement, other maintenance costs, insurance and taxes, etc. when choosing which vehicle in which trim level to buy.
On the other hand, despite the high price of gas, I drive extra time/distance to and/or from work because I currently live only a half mile from work. So I make sure I drive a bare minimum of about seven miles and/or fifteen minutes each day and a longer run once a week. I figure that even high priced gas is less expensive than replacing the battery too often, rusting out the exhaust system, and sludging the engine. And, of course, I change the oil on the “severe use” schedule. Gas and oil changes are relatively cheap, even at inflated prices, compared to the cost of ruining a good car.
@VDCdriver Thank you for the compliment. But I give credit to the informed counsel I’ve received here on the forum from many of you over the years. I knew nothing about such preventive measures prior to learning here.
Prime example, I need to get an oil change and tire rotation soon. As always I will request knowing how much wear there is on the brakes on all four wheels, not just one. And since the battery and tires are five years old as of a few days ago, I want to know how the tires are on both tread and age condition, and want a check on the battery’s condition especially given my typical short trips low mileage driving with higher than average start cycles.
The transmission is nearly due for its second service as I’m nearing sixty-thousand miles on the car. Depending on current cost I may do that this oil change or may need to wait a few months for more paychecks.
Fortunately this 2014 Camry has proven the most reliable car I’ve ever had and has long since “paid for itself” with no needed repair bills yet beyond normal maintenance costs. The initial transmission issue was a hassle but that was a warranty issue over the simple computer update the dealer didn’t want to do until I got Toyota corporate involved. And the relatively minor head on accident hit was covered by my insurance with no lasting problems once repaired.
Even if I had money to replace this car I wouldn’t do so. It should have many years and miles of good use more to go.
With so much “Sturm und Drang” in the world and in the media, your post is refreshing and restores my faith in the common sense.
Doing the math, in a typical 30 MPG I get in my V6 sedan, an increase of gasoline from $3 gallon to $4 costs us 3 cents per mile and driving the typical 15,000 miles per year that costs us $450 additional a year or a “whopping” $8.65 a week. Less than a pack of cigarettes, not a whole lot more than a 6 pack of beer and less than a bottle of decent wine.
Of course the current price is going to be an unpleasant shocker at the pump, especially for those who insist on driving a 40 gallon Hummer or Lead Sled to commute, but for most of us this is going to be less than we weekly “put in the plate”.
And when you also consider that this price increase will also increase domestic oil production in the short term and in the long term increase increase domestic jobs, fuel efficiency, alternative energy sources and an opportunity to “stick it in the eye” of a crazy SOB, what’s the down side?
I’m just happy I don’t have to drive 100 miles a day anymore and that the station remain open. For me it is a simple debit card transaction but for some it is a credit card transaction at 23% interest. Those are the ones I’m worried about.
I really don’t buy the lowered demand during the pandemic explanation. Like, quick, look at the squirrel. I read one report that it has more to do with policy and knowing what it is or no policy before huge investments are made. I’m not an oil expert but pretty good at smelling skunks.
It seems like that could be part of the explanation for the high gasoline prices. Less opportunity for oil companies to take advantage of the principles of economy of scale, so they have to charge higher per gallon rates for it to make business sense for them to produce and deliver gasoline. It’s made worse by gov’t policies which also fail to consider the economy of scale issues the oil companies face. It’s hard to imagine that transferring US manufactured petroleum products across the USA border to other counties could help either.
+1
I guess it might be possible for a modern exhaust system to rust-out, but the last car on which I ever had to have exhaust repair done was my '74 Volvo.
Have to admit that I smile when I get change back from a $5 bill when filling up my 95 mpg scooter. Regular gas at the local discount station has reached a record high of $4.75. I’m old enough to remember filling my Honda Cub for 17¢ in the 1960s.
Better hope the “green” forces don’t say that your scooter lacks emissions controls and pollutes more than a car. Then they’ll ban it and force you to buy an electric scooter with 50 mile range!
That’ll probably be a few years in the future. The scooter has EFI, catalytic converter, etc., and even meets all CARB requirements although I don’t live in California.
