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Thanks, Exxon: Families Spend $1,000 More on Gas Per Year

There was a mini-firestorm Monday when I reported that the average price for a gallon of gas is at its highest level ever and asked SUV owners to justify their choice of car in the comments. You can see the results here.

Today, a follow up. A study led by consumer groups shows that American households spend $1,000 more per year on gasoline than they did just five years ago.

Click the chart for a larger version.

You know how every so often there is a news story about how ExxonMobil has set a new record for quarterly profits? They did it again in the first quarter of 2007. Their earnings from January to March of 2007 exceeded their already astronomical quarterly earnings record by 10%. Total take in three months: $9.3 billion.

Thoughts?

Comments

Gasoline is too important to let it be in the hands of capitalist pigs. May be it is time to consider a Government Oil Company, like in Norway. The U.S. government would drill and bring the product to market, just like Exxon, but we would get the profit. I know that the nay sayers will point to the Mexican state oil company, but we are not Mexico yet.

Posted by: Lars on 05/16/07 at 11:58 AM Respond

The peasants I work with would sell their kids before they gave up their big cars. Big cars are as American as killing foreign peasants for oil. I like Lars idea of a government oil company too, let’s put the Pentagon or Amtrak in charge of that one!

Posted by: John on 05/16/07 at 12:07 PM Respond

A government oil company would develop oil reserves in America. Exxon/Mobil find it more profitable to develop the anti-Israeli Arab oil fields and make them rich so they can buy off the E.U. and others. A government oil company would compete with the international(Exxon/Mobil) companies for the benefit of American. We could become energy independent so then we will not have to be so involved in the Empire business in the middle east. Bring the boys home now.

Posted by: Lars on 05/16/07 at 12:14 PM Respond

Not to worry.
If we'll just vote control of the House & Senate over to the Dems, they've got a plan to bring the price of gasoline in line, so that working Americans can afford to get to work.

Ohh..., Wait...
Ummm...,

Never Mind.

Posted by: gvc on 05/16/07 at 3:00 PM Respond

[John wrote: I like Lars idea of a government oil company too, let’s put the Pentagon or Amtrak in charge of that one!]

Gasoline is too important to the average American working stiff.
I say it takes an agency with a proven track record to handle something that important.
I'm thinking it should be FEMA, FDA or the Department of Education.

Posted by: gvc on 05/16/07 at 3:05 PM Respond

[Lars wrote: The U.S. government would drill and bring the product to market, just like Exxon, but we would get the profit.]

That's what scares me Lars.
If the government runs oil production the way they run the post office, I'm not sure our economy could survive that level of "profit".

Posted by: gvc on 05/16/07 at 3:09 PM Respond

Seems to me that people are knee-jerking over the price of oil and/or gasoline. And that is basically a form of denial.

If you REALLY want to DO SOMETHING, then carpool, take the bus or train, or even hitchhike in order to eliminate the numbers of vehicles that pull into countless gas stations across the country every day.

Better yet, fill up on Sunday and then don't go to the gas station for ONE WEEK. In that ONE WEEK, the losses to the Big 5 oil cartels will exceed $500 million dollars. Ya think we might have their attention then???

Unless YOU DO SOMETHING about curbing your own use of fuel, don't make half-baked suggestions like we need to create another government agency to oversee and monitor what we're perfectly capable of doing ourselves.

Posted by: IMHO on 05/16/07 at 5:15 PM Respond

I ride my bike for the 15 mile round trip from my home in the hills to my job in the city every day. I do it because I am fortunate enough to live in a bicycle friendly community and to have enough leisure time that I can spend an extra 20 minutes on my commute. I have a wife, three children (two in car seats) and a large dog; we have an SUV that my wife uses it daily to get the kids to school and daycare before she goes to work. We have the car that our family's size and activities has necessitated.

My wife does have have the luxury to bike to work because of her additional responsibilities. I feel like it is the responsibility of those of us (like me) who can utilize alternative transportation to do so in order to lessen the impact of those who cannot (like my wife). I guess if everyone did everything they could...

Posted by: Kyle on 05/17/07 at 7:19 AM Respond

It's worth distinguishing between two completely different kinds of large vehicles: minivans and SUVs. Minivans are passenger vehicles and are subject to the same emissions, safety, and mileage standards as compact cars and sedans. SUVs are industrial vehicles. For regulatory purposes, they are subject to the much more lenient standards applied to industrial vehicles. Many families that drive SUVs could shrink their footprint just by choosing a minivan the next time.

Posted by: anon on 05/18/07 at 9:42 AM Respond

Many familes could lessen their green house gas foot print by not being so narcissistic and only having one child instead of two or more. Minivans do not get good milage. The typical SUV, minivan, and pick up truck drivers are Republicans because they do not care about the environment. Progressives care about the environment and act accordingly.

Posted by: Ashly on 05/18/07 at 12:02 PM Respond

Sniping might be emotionally satisfying, but it's extremely off-putting. There's enough pollution without spewing all this additional bile.

Posted by: anon on 05/19/07 at 8:28 PM Respond

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