You think gas is expensive in the US?

In America though, you have more freedom to move about the country. Assuming you have a good working car, you can get into it and literally go anywhere in the country (negating Alaska and Hawaii). In England or Europe, it's much more difficult to do that if you only have one family car or have to rely solely on public transportation.

I'm use to TP crowd and libs who nitpick everything so that caveats of the post:
1. Yes, I realize that you can travel by car to many countries in Europe. But, language barriers and different country customs and what not limit you. Also, when you're paying $9 a gallon, you're less likely to travel far from home and just like when we're paying $4 per gallon here in the US.
2. This is not a "freedom" issue in the Ron Paul or libertarian sense. It's just more of a general sense of the word "freedom". Like Credit Cards give me the freedom to buy as much as I want without having to carry around a wallet full of cash that can get lost/stolen. With a car, you have options to go places that public transportation doesn't necessarily give you.
3. America has a good car culture. We have three major auto makers here with many foreigns that build with American workers as well.
4. We have our own oil and the refining capacity to handle our auto use (we actually are a net EXPORTER of gas believe it or not).

A lot of people want us to "be like Europe" in certain senses, but they don't realize what makes us uniquely American probably because they've never actually been to those parts of the world. It's easy to pick and choose the highlights of every country and wonder why America can't be more like that. People want all of the good and ignore all of the bad.

The United States has 1.5% of the known oil reserves in the world (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves) and yet the United States accounts for 24% of the world's usage (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2174rank.html). Do the math. We do not have enough oil to meet our own demand. That is not nitpicking. That's simple math.

Like I said, unfortunately there are those who nitpick statements, like you just did, to suit their purpose. I know this all too well from my time in the Podium.

You're hatred for this country and the selfish comment is unfortunate. I'm sorry for you.

Also, I failed to realize that you're last sentence undid your whole statement. We're free to drive 1/4 mile to the liquor store, 1.4 miles to the grocery store, 14 miles to the ballpark and 140 miles to a neighboring city. Now, I'm not saying that you can't do that in Europe. I never said that. Rather, you have the FREEDOM to do it whenever the hell you want, however the hell you want, etc. You're not operating on the subway conductors schedule. You're not operating on the bus drivers schedule. You're not operating on the train schedule.

Like I'm said, I'm sorry that your hatred for this country is so ingrained in your very being that you don't understand my point. Yeah, I'm selfish because I don't want to be like Europe.

Isnt England like the size of Rhode Island? Where are you going to drive?

I don't have a hatred for my country, I have a hatred for people like you. You fail to understand that Europeans have the same ability to own a car as we do. The reason it actually costs so much is because instead of spreading the cost around to everyone including those who don't drive they actually force drivers to pay the majority of it. In the US driving is heavily subsidized by people who don't own a car. By not walking to the store 1/4 mile away you increase pollution, increase traffic, and increase costs for everyone. So yes it's extremely selfish driving when it isn't necessary, it has negative effects on everyone but you. As you said I have the freedom to own a car but I don't. While it would be convenient at times there's already enough cars on the road and I'd rather be part of the solution than the problem. If I really need one for something I can always rent one.

n the US driving is heavily subsidized by people who don't own a car. By not walking to the store 1/4 mile away you increase pollution, increase traffic, and increase costs for everyone. So yes it's extremely selfish driving when it isn't necessary, it has negative effects on everyone but you.

Based on the world market our prices for gas are relatively low. The only places that really have lower prices are places that also control a lot of the supply.

We control plenty of our supply, yet our prices are much more than Iraq, which is like 7cents per gal.

The United States has 1.5% of the known oil reserves in the world (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves) and yet the United States accounts for 24% of the world's usage (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2174rank.html). Do the math. We do not have enough oil to meet our own demand. That is not nitpicking. That's simple math.

Controlling 1.5% of the world's supply while using 24% of the world's supply is not a formula for self reliance.

We control plenty of our supply, yet our prices are much more than Iraq, which is like 7cents per gal.

Perhaps you missed this post...

Controlling 1.5% of the world's supply while using 24% of the world's supply is not a formula for self reliance.

Lots of pollution is created when driving long distances of... 1/4 mile.

I wonder how much mass transit and "high-speed" trains are/will be subsidized by people who don't use them. Can't wait to see the numbers that come out of California's zillion-dollar train.

The U.S. has a crap-ton of coal. We should probably use that. To power stuff like electric cars that are already subsidized by taxpayer money anyway. That way we will be less dependent on oil.

Oh wait, the EPA doesn't like coal, and it just took a hammer to any new coal plants, so I guess not. More oil, please.

The U.S. has a crap-ton of coal. We should probably use that. To power stuff like electric cars that are already subsidized by taxpayer money anyway. That way we will be less dependent on oil.

Oh wait, the EPA doesn't like coal, and it just took a hammer to any new coal plants, so I guess not. More oil, please.

I love when podium trolls come to the lounge