Follow the Bouncing Barrel
on 01/20/2009 at 02:21 PM
About 10 or 12 years ago, I notice something interesting. The independent no-name gas stations were disappearing, mostly because of environmental regulations. Especially in the South Coast Air Quality Management District, it just cost too much to comply with all the new regulations. Thank you greenies, aka Liberals/Democrats/Progressives.
The individually owned name brand gas stations were disappearing because the oil companies weren’t renewing their leases and converting them to company owned stations.
What we got, at least here on the West Coast, was a situation where the oil companies controlled the entire business from the well head to the pump. Is anyone really surprised that about 5 years ago the price of gas was rising and it’s currently going crazy? Right now, in California we’re happy to see $2.00 a gallon gasoline.
That California pays more than the rest of the country is kind of interesting.
The legislature demands that we use specially blended “boutique” gasoline to improve tail pipe emissions. Naturally, it costs more to make the “special” blend. That’s particularly bogus because the entire point of the special blends is entirely negated by the computer controlled fuel injection systems of all new cars. A fun side effect of the boutique fuels is a loss of about 20 to 25% in fuel economy. When I’m driving from Los Angeles to Seattle, my Ranger gets about 18 MPG. When I drive to Denver, AFTER I’m getting my gas East of Las Vegas (Las Vegas uses West Coast fuel), the fuel economy jumps up to 24 MPG. That includes 90 MPH across Utah and red lining my little 4 cylinder up and down the Rockies.
The second reason is pretty straight forward. Being controlled by the Democrats, we pay more tax on the fuel. They’re talking about raising it too.
More reasons I’m madder than Hell and I won’t take it anymore. Hanoi Jane or not, there were some good lines in that movie.
