Politician greed ups gas prices

• Published in: Star-phoenix (Saskatoon)
• Main Author: Hoover, Walter B
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Saskatoon, Sask Postmedia Network Inc 23.05.1996
• ISSN: 0832-4174

Just listening to some people complaining about the price of gasoline at the pump is enough to make one feel ill. Of course, no one wants to pay 60 cents a litre for unleaded low-octane fuel; but the fact of the matter is that since 1946 the pre-tax price of gasoline has been steadily declining, as expressed in terms of a fixed 1950 dollar. The theory goes something like this. Gasoline is a natural product found under the ground; therefore it belongs to all the people. Technically, it ought to be as free as air and water. But as it doesn't get from about 1,500 metres under the ground in Leduc to your car in Leroy, governments have to (generously, be it known) allow the roughnecks and other blue-collar workers to bring it to you. Then, the government (acting on your behalf, be it known) slaps on a 200-per-cent tax, thus laying claim to the oil, on your behalf, of course. That's what you get for owning the mucky crude 1,500 metres below. But, in my opinion, the crude belongs to the driller who will bring the useless muck to the surface, refine it into useable fractions and deliver the useable fuel to your corner service station.