Gas Production Less Expensive, But We Pay More

Taxes screw us over yet again. The new year has begun, and in the article entitled Gas Prices Will Fall in 2014. But You May Pay More at the Pump Anyway, written by Brad Tuttle, it states that in fact, prices for gas will be lower. Perhaps the lowest they’ve been in awhile. However, just because the U.S. has now become more dependent on its own crude oil doesn’t mean that the state governments are willing to give consumers a break.

As it turns out, even though the production of gasoline will be less pricey, the amount that we pay might actually end up being more. States are the ones that are making this happen. In Pennsylvania the gas tax has increased by 9.5 cents as of January 1st. Apparently, these taxes are being increased/introduced “in order to upgrade, build, or simply maintain roads and infrastructure.” Part of me says that it’s fair. That if we are driving on these roads, then we should be able to help out in making sure they’re nice roads. However, it just seems like every expense that comes up is paid off with money that we have to give up. Is there no other way to come up with revenue? I’m not saying that gas should be free, or even that there shouldn’t be taxes. But, if the production of gas costs less, then why should we pay more? Use the money that is no longer being used to produce gas, and pay off whatever road repairs that come up.

It’s just not okay for every expense to be thrown back in our faces. It’s almost like every time that something is more expensive and we have to pay for it, the government is waving the benefits of living in America in our face. Just because we get benefits doesn’t make it okay for us to have to pay for everything. Again, I’m not saying we should never pay taxes. I just don’t think that every time there is something to be paid, the consumer should be the one to cover the cost. I’m young though, so when I’m older maybe I’ll understand this more. I just wish the government wouldn’t make us the ones responsible for everything/ Where do they come in? They have a job too. The reason all of the original colonies decided to go to war with Britain was because they were being taxed unfairly.