$6 or $7 per gallon is a small price to pay to defend democracy....

Except that you can't comprehend simple language.

I don't play dodgeball, or "drag the goalpost" games.

I stand by what I said, and polls about Russian oil has absolutely nothing to do with it, which is something you seem incapable of comprehending.

 

I'm happy that we are in agreement. But, I hope you understand that when you start off with a flawed premise, anything that follows from that premise is not worth paying much attention to.

 

Coming from the guy who made an entire thread without links, references, quotes, or numbers, your hypocrisy is noted.
But lets take a look as I can back up what I post.
Lets see if you can.

How does CNBC sound for your required link?

Despite higher wages, inflation gave the average worker a 2.4% pay cut last year
Despite higher wages, inflation gave the average worker a 2.4% pay cut last year. Inflation grew 7% in December from a year earlier, the U.S. Department of Labor said Wednesday. Average hourly wages also increased by 4.7%. That amounts to a pay cut of more than 2%, on average.
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/12/hig...ation grew 7% in December,than 2%, on average.

BUT YOU WOULDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE FOLLOWING.

ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE
People who have not looked for work in the past four weeks are not included in this measure. It is important to keep in mind that the rate measures the percent of unemployed job seekers in the labor force—the sum of employed and unemployed persons—and not the entire population.

How the Government Measures Unemployment
https://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm

Higher gas prices isn't defending democracy. And YOU provided NO link to even make that claim.
Its just Golem gibberish

 

It seems to me the rate of inflation is the cost of "defending democracy." I think being reduced to penury is too high a price to pay to defend "democracy" in the Ukraine. Why do you think it is?

 

Exactly what I believe you do. You assume that others are the ones with flawed views- predetermined, because you believe your research is infallible.

I have no problem being in disagreement... and we are.
You are simply not a person I would ask to "do my research for me".
Even if we agreed on things.

 

I don't see how

Maybe

To the three of you

It's a cultural change. This is just my opinion but gas has been incredibly low compared to other western countries for no reason that I can see other than Americans don't tolerate high gas prices and it's in your culture to have these massive trucks on the road. And also your tax on gas is very low, but this is only partly related. It looks like the honeymoon is over and Americans are obliged to pay normal gas prices.

If you don't believe me look up the prices overseas. And look at the sizes of cars in Europe and Australia compared to the u.s..

Having said that, it might be time to open up things a bit more in the oil fields. Difficult situations require different measures.

 

Do you think Americans are going to tolerate the prices today? We don't have the same taxes they have overseas except in California. I am grateful I don't live there or Europe, I'm an American. I'm sure we will have that cultural change one day but being forced into it when it is absolutely not necessary is just stupid.

 

Links to some one else's opinion or your own is not proof.

 

Because this thread isn't about "showing". It's about making a point about how defending democracy is so important that it's well worth paying extra at the pump for it.

A point so well made that you have been desperately trying to derail the thread to hide this simple fact.

With the added bonus that I also get to enjoy your desperation because I won't bite.

 

Sorry but about half the price of a tank of gas in Europe is gas taxes. The exact same reason a gallon of gas about a buck and a half higher in Ca than in Ok

 

I'm afraid your comment is a bit shortsighted. It is waaay more than defending democracy in Ukraine. It's about defending democracy in the world. Sure... Ukraine is the obvious element. A bit less evident is that we are defending other democracies that Russia might covet. And even less evident is China standing by to see how it goes for Putin to start doing their own thing. In the end it's about any dictator with power attempting to do the same with any democracy. But that might be too fine a line for most to foresee.

 

Your government crushes you with fuel taxes, and they do it because you're cowed and obedient enough to accept it as "normal".

 

Your projection is duly noted. Next time you might want to learn a lesson from what I did with your false premise: SHOW it! And show why it's flawed... you know... like I did. Because just... projecting... is not going to earn you many points.

 

No it's not.

That's a cheesy excuse meant to be Parrotted by the low info crowd.

 

And exactly what you do.

 

Imagine the gas prices if America actually went to war with Russia.

I wouldn't describe Australia as being "crushed" by fuel taxes. We are somewhat at Canada's level. Who is the exception to the rule in this bevy of countries??

Yes, Europe takes the entire taxation bureaucracy a bit too far. We will probably agree on that. There are some advantages, but that's another story.

 

Hasn't neoconservativism gotten us into enough trouble? I'll worry about China when it gets close to Hawaii or Alaska.

 

And there you are continuing to accept it as "normal".

 

And democracy has gotten us into way more. But we still need to defend it. The alternative is that bad....

Shortsighted indeed. I'm not talking about China. I'm talking about expansionist dictators. We almost got one ourselves on January 6.

 

So long as they are not expanding into North America what do I care. What do you care?

 

So if we lived in the 1930s, you wouldn't be concerned about Hitler, and I would.

This is exactly what the OP is about.

 

Is the alternative really that bad? The Chinese are content living in their dictatorship as far as I can see. They go to school, they go to work. They have enough to eat and clothes to wear. There is relatively little crime. The government is interested in reducing the difference between city and urban life. They can't criticize the government, but that is about it.

No, I wouldn't be concerned about Hitler. Why would you be?

 

Zhi is as expansionist as it gets.

 

Sounds like a you problem.