>Maher, Steve writes:
>>
>> I think that's good old market forces making it that high-- every country
>> in Europe has similar prices, and has had forever.
>>
>> But I do wonder why they can't buy it as cheaply from the Middle East
>> as the U.S. obviously does.
>
>They can.  I am pretty sure the Europeans get their gas for about the
>same price we do.  When I lived there, Americans in the military were
>entitled to tax-free gasoline, which usually worked out to 25 cents a
>liter.  That would indicate that the rest is all tax.

Wow-- that's pretty telling.

Here in California, we pay around 40 cents/gal  taxes, added at the pump.
So six months ago it would have been around $.80/gal for regular, $1.05/gal
for premium unleaded. Today it would be around $1.10/gal regular, $1.30/Gal
premium... plus tax.

How many liters in a gallon?
    _______
   /\ o o o\         Steve Maher   smaher@gi.com   75461,1717
  /o \ o o o\_______   San Diego, California
 <    >------>   o /|
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         |   o   |o/       '89 Son Sherwin
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 "Tax the rich, subsidize the poor."
 "From each according to his means, to each according to his needs."
 Any Questions?