The topic of drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge popped up again in today’s news and I thought the topic worthy of discussion here.
Alaska’s US Senators Seek ANWR Drilling is the title of the article and it starts like this:
With oil prices hitting $110 a barrel, gasoline prices reaching record highs and energy costs becoming prohibitive, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Thursday it’s time to reconsider oil exploration on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Liberals always fashion the debate around the issue of energy development and use versus the environment. I would like to take this opportunity to fashion the debate upon another very real problem in this country.
To do that I’d like to point you to another article that was published in May of last year.
Big Oil Outslicked is the title and it starts like this:
Big Oil gets a lot of grief over high gas prices—but what about Big Government?
This article then goes on to talk about where reality meets the road. Do you want to whine about oil companies gouging the American public? Check this out:
Excerpt:
Yet there’s no end to the sticky fingers of the state when it comes to motor fuels taxes—which are layered like a wedding cake. First comes the Feds. They hit you up for 18.4 cents on every gallon of fuel you buy. But that’s just for openers. Next in line is your state government—which will have its hand out for another 20 or so cents per gallon. (The amount varies depending on where you happen to live; some states have considerably higher taxes than others.) Then there are local taxes—which add another few cents to the tab. The total exaction can amount to some 60 cents per gallon in places like California and New York.
Do the math.
If the total price of a gallon of unleaded regular is $2.75 and the tax on that fuel is 60.8 cents per gallon (as in NY), then the tax rate is on the order of 22 percent. If you spend $50 per week on gas, that’s about $572 in taxes you’re paying each year. (On top of federal, state and local income and other taxes.)
There are many ways in which we can gain a handle on the high cost of energy in this country. I could write on this topic for hours but I’ll spare you the agony.
Instead, let me point out one simple but very obvious point.
Excerpt:
If opened, Murkowski said revenues would be used by the federal government for alternative energy development, plus energy relief programs for low-income families.
If they truly want to provide energy relief they could start by reducing fuel taxes…
