You can’t equate gas prices to Europe’s

Steve Rosin, Las Vegas

Sunday, May 18, 2008 | 2:04 a.m.

I have read over the past few weeks how the people of the United States should be grateful that we are not paying anywhere from $6 to $8.43 a gallon for gasoline as drivers in countries in Europe do. (Several countries in Europe use the imperial gallon, which is 5 quarts instead of 4.)

Let’s look at why gas is so high across the Atlantic.

Except for Norway and possibly a couple of other countries, there are few, if any, drilling sites in Europe. Most countries have to import most, if not all, of their gasoline from other countries; refineries are few, if any.

From 40 percent to 80 percent of the cost of gasoline in Europe is in the form of a federal tax. The federal tax on gasoline in the United States is 18.4 cents per gallon. I am quite sure that tax revenue is used for road and other public improvement programs.

Most nations in Europe are smaller in area than Nevada. You can literally drive from one country to another in a matter of hours.

Most cars in Europe are smaller than the cars used by Americans. Many Europeans have adjusted their lifestyles to include using a gas-efficient automobile instead of the big gas guzzlers that Americans show off as status symbols.

Most cities in Europe, at least the major ones, have modern and efficient public transportation systems, unlike in the United States, where many major public transportation venues are either poorly maintained or neglected to the point of being dangerous for the commuter.

Yes, the price of gas in Europe is high, but compared with the reasons given above and the excuses given by this country, maybe the difference is warranted.