Gas in Europe $9 per gallon

Such high gas prices have to be frustrating for those living in Europe, but I agree that it gives people incentive to be more environmentally friendly. Even here in the US, people are starting to drive less and be more mindful of the electricity they use in their homes. No one wants to pay these high prices for fuel, so as a result we are slowly being pushed into an environmental revolution-- whether people like it or not.

Would anyone like to venture a guess as to why US gas prices, as high as they may seem, aren't likewise?
I'd say that the answer is in uroborus8's last sentence.

There might be more success in developing new energy technologies if the oil companies wouldn't buy out and dismantle alternative energy projects.

As a truck driver this is more about these drivers being able to make a living.

Do these industries believe that oil will last forever or what? Just exactly what do they expect?
They shouldn't whine. They should find other ways to transport their goods.

I could see where this would be a real problem for industries (as posted), but for the average Joe it's probably not as bad, since there is a typically a much larger means of alternate/public transportation in most European countries.

Hey American lawmakers! Let's start investing in rail again. Seems to make a lot more sense than depending on cars for everything.

I think people in the U.S. need to start being a little more appreciative of our prices here. This definitely makes me happy I am paying $4 a gallon.

in addition to all said, i think it may be Big Oil trying to make their last big bucks as we try to wean ourselves from fossil fuels.

Get ready United States, we are next.

our dollar sucks

Oil companies are making way too much profits. They are breaking records left and right.

Taxes are one thing, but when every major oil company made 12 billion dollars plus in profits a piece, that's bad.

You can tax people all you want for using gas, but they will just end up depleting other resources. Less driving may equal more biking/walking. More biking = more food consumption. More food consumption means more trucking to get food around is needed. Biking = sweating which equals more water resources being used.


It doesn't matter which chain you use to get energy, each chain will have its positive and negative effects on the planet.

Good news for America because America isn't in Europe! I'm kidding. I feel your pain, Europe.

So really, I know our gas prices are high but we should really be complaining about Europe's. Theirs is even higher.

@dkl165 biking/walking = much more efficient means of transportation.

Are these truckers not being reimbursed for fuel costs?

This is fu@#ing ridiculous! I have an idea! Let's just pay people to pull us in milk crates.

I agree let the prices keep going up and soon there will be plenty of other options to choose from instead of fossil fuels.

Marijuana is the answer to all our prayers. I'm sure we could use it for a fuel as well, it's got a million other uses. And plus if driving vehicles fueled by marijuana is anything like the vehicle in "Up In Smoke", that would be sweet (granted the vehicle in the movie was made of not run off of marijuana).

I don't care what people are paying in other places. $4 is too high. 9$ is too high. People should complain. It's ridiculous to pay more than 1.50 for gas.

Making things cost more so people stop using what is needed to live is wrong on too many levels. Making alternative ways is far better and more productive and proactive.

At least the EU has public transportation.

At least their cities were created when people had to walk to get from point A to point B, which now translates into better ground work for public transportation; unlike American cities that are so far spread out that public transportation is a nightmare to create.

I agree that it's totally plausible that there is some sort of technological evolution here. Much like animal species physically adapting to changing climates in the past, today it is humans changing our behavior, all in order to survive. So it seems the only way for humans to be better caretakers for our planet is for us to become scared shitless of our own demise.

It is good to try to do what is best for the environment but such a high tax will be bad for the European economy and European capitalist.

Taxing to better the environment is like lying to promote truth.

Or like a similar line goes, "...having sex for virginity."

Its unfortunate that our countries have relied on fossil fuels to fuel our technological advancements, now we have painted ourselves into a corner.

What corner? There is enough oil to fuel our needs for it. It's not about quantity it's about greed and laziness and laws that prohibit growth.

This overprotective nature people have over the Earth and how it's oh so harmed by us living here is funny. If humans are really that bad for the earth then those that think so should sacrifice themselves for the greater good of mankind or shut up.

OR actually create something that is proactive and productive for the rest of the world to live on...and isn't more expensive than what we already have. This should have already been done by the doom sayers of the environment. Instead they sat around cursing everyone else and did nothing, so they are just as bad as the people they point at and blame.

That is one of those things I just don't believe.

How we all forget that we arent the only one using oil. If it this bad in Europe, then imagin in China

Can you really afford to keep on not believing? I can't.

Clever wording, but affording has nothing to do with believing. I would rake in profits and lie about oil too, if I were in charge. Why not? People, apparently, will gobble up anything.

The world's biggest oil companies raised their 'upstream spending' - on exploration and development by 45% to more than $400bn last year, but that oil and gas reserves inched up by just 2%. A clear indicator that our resource for fossil fuels is running out.

it doesn't really matter if we are running out or not, eventually we will run out, maybe it will be fifty years maybe two-hundred and fifty, but we need to plan for that eventuality now. Not with hair-brained schemes or impulsive action but by seriously putting our best people to creating new means of sustainability. We are entirely up to the task but it can't be left in the hands of big business alone.

You know, this really bites, because it's not the truckers' fault that our infrastructures are built on the premise of cheap fuel that isn't cheap anymore.

As long as big oil and internal combustion motor makers stand to make an assload of money, they are going squash any and all competition that presents itself.

Those taxes are the only incentive to find better ways, but individuals can't make that change, whole nations have to invest in it. The individuals can only push collectively to steer their nations toward that change, which is what those truckers are doing, and I fully support them.

We were all 'set up' by the big auto makers to depend on gas - in Detroit all the mass transit has all but disappeared. There are train tracks going everywhere, but no passanger trains because the ones going between major cities only pass through at 2 am and 10 pm - not commuter friendly.

Now that they've got us by our bits and pieces, they can do whatever they want as we have no alternatives.

Also - take a look at Europe - the whole countries aren't any bigger than many of our states. They can get where they need to go in hours, where it could take us days.

I say we ALL go on strike and let Exxon sort it out.

cmon peoples. HEMP is all we need to solve some major problems. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-284.html

He was right the bilderburgs run the show in this world our u.s dollar is declining why? Woodrow Wilson was the one who signed the federal reserve into law a while back so this whole world is basically a huge plot. International bankers like J.p Morgan Chase, Rothchilds,and tycoons like Roosevelts started it back when the great depression happened it was there set up. Think! what makes money war every major war that happened in our history an event toke place coincidence! I doubt it. Well organized and influenced. Check out the list of people who attends the bilderburg annual meeting you'll be very surprised who attends. I can talk about this for years to come.

Is this supposed to make me feel that Americans are lucky that our gas is cheaper? It doesn't. The incentive for creating renewable, clean energies should not be driven by money and taxes, but by the desire to sustain the only planet that can sustain human life.

You mean Bush is manipulating gas prices in Europe too? That sure is one powerful dummy we have in the White House. He's able to control the weather, tectonics, plot terror attacks against his homeland, control world commodity prices . . . all the while making himself and his buddies filthy rich. It boggles the mind.