Politics

[CoElkHunter]

Federal tax is 18.4 cents per gallon on gas and 24.4 cents on diesel.

Top 5 States with Highest Gasoline Taxes (Jan 2026)
California: 70.9 c/gal
Illinois: 66.4 c/gal
Washington: 59.0 c/gal
Pennsylvania: 57.6 c/gal (approx.)
Michigan: 50+ c/gal (approx.)
Tax Foundation
Tax Foundation
+4
Key Details
Diesel Taxes: California also leads in diesel taxes at 87.3 c/gal.

I’ve never understood the reasoning for taxing diesel fuel at an often much higher rate than gasoline, when everything we buy or sell is transported by diesel fueled trucks and trains? High diesel fuel transportation costs raise prices on everything.

 

[Big_Easy]

I am not thinking we should control the working conditions overseas. I do think we should think carefully how we do business there. With China we saw a compromise of our moral compass by the political parties that extolled its virtues, and the uncritical consumers who benefited. Everyone liked it as people bought all the cheap stuff they saw on tv.

I often wonder how different our society would be if we didn’t drink that particular kool-aid?

I wonder if the Trump administration’s plan to bring home manufacturing will cause a spike in the cost of goods as labour will no longer be done in the cheapest place.

The trump admin has no plan to bring back manufacturing jobs. The bills passed under Biden had a much better chance. The trade deficits are still getting worse. Nothing will change until this country drops It’s adherence to shareholder value theory…absolutely nothing. It’s the main reason why I no longer vote Republican, they’ve completely abandoned the workers of this country in favor of the wealthy ruling class.

Multiple tax cuts for the rich under Reagan, multiple tax cuts for the rich under Bush, Multiple tax cuts for the rich under Trump. The largest tax cut for the middle class and the working poor was Biden‘s Covid Relief Bill; while not giving any tax cuts to anyone making over $400,000 a year. There are plenty of corporatist, globalist Democrats, but the entire Republican Party has been captured by that mindset.

Tax cuts for the rich simply do not trickle down to the rest of us, and shareholder value theory is destroying this country‘s middle class.

 

[Big_Easy]

I’ve never understood the reasoning for taxing diesel fuel at an often much higher rate than gasoline, when everything we buy or sell is transported by diesel fueled trucks and trains? High diesel fuel transportation costs raise prices on everything.

Yes, but when you work it out, a few extra cents per gallon for diesel divided over tens of thousands of pounds of cargo per truck, ends up adding very little to the end price of goods sold in stores.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I guided an executive from HP many years ago on a sheep hunt who was the liaison to the Chinese government. He said they didn’t want to offshore manufacturing but had to join the exodus to compete once it started. Wages got high and consumers didn’t want to pay $3000 for a desktop computer or $1000 for a printer.

As for working conditions overseas, there’s no way to control those. Sounds good to promote but unrealistic.

My mother in law worked for HP in Ft. Collins for many years until she got laid off in the ‘90s because HP was taking their operation overseas. “Globalization” was the genie in the bottle that we let out in the ‘80-‘90s and forced MANY industries and companies from many First World countries around the world to flee to Third World countries over the last few decades to compete with their competitors for survival. IMO, Nixon pulled the cork on that bottle in the early ‘70s with encouraging China to “integrate” with the modern world. Sounded like a good idea at the time but look at what China has become.

 

[steve white]

Any new updates on Ukraine? (along with the latest on destruction of Iran?)

 

[CoElkHunter]

Yes, but when you work it out, a few extra cents per gallon for diesel divided over tens of thousands of pounds of cargo per truck, ends up adding very little to the end price of goods sold in stores.

I understand your reasoning but I’m not completely convinced of just “a few extra cents”. Even if true, it still increases a product’s cost for no good reason. Fuel is fuel, and diesel shouldn’t be taxed and regulated to the point it costs more than gasoline. In ‘80 for example, gas was $1/gal and diesel was $.60/gal. There’s no reason that cost ratio shouldn’t be similar today.

 

[Woodcarver]

It has everything to do with "why" there's a few more cents added to every gallon. @WAB spelled it out quite succinctly in pointing out the onerous added costs that CA forces on gasoline and diesel with CA specific CARB regulations, amongst others. Ignorance, or folly, of the CA voters has allowed CA legislation demanding higher and higher levels of compliance that have forced oil companies to begin closing refineries. Bottom line is, the bottom line. If a company sees the cost of compliance exceed the value of doing business there, they will leave, or shut down in the case of refineries. The mass exodus from CA to other states by small business is telling. CA has reached the breaking point on trying to tax themselves into utopia. Real economics doesn't play that game. Hopefully, the rest of the country will not be saddled with the bankruptcy that is coming.

 

[spike.t]

Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new supreme leader?

Many expect the 56-year-old, who has largely kept a low profile, to continue his father's hardline policies.

www.bbc.com

 

[spike.t]

Here you are @steve white bit more from your favourite journalist...

Iran war: Oil prices jump above $100 for first time in four years

Major disruption to energy supplies threatens to push up prices for consumers and businesses around the world.

www.bbc.com

 

[spike.t]

I wonder what will happen to these 2 ships.....

Two Iranian vessels depart Chinese port with suspected rocket fuel precursor - WP | Iran International https://www.iranintl.com/en/202603082663

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new supreme leader?

Many expect the 56-year-old, who has largely kept a low profile, to continue his father's hardline policies.

www.bbc.com

I'll tell you who he is...

 

[Pondoro]

Crude oil just hit $108 per barrel..oh my..

 

[mark-hunter]

DW:

 

[VertigoBE]

Crude oil just hit $108 per barrel..oh my..

It’s going to be a hectic week on the markets again…

Sustained levels of this will damage Republican chances in the mid terms, and will cripple the EU economy.

 

[Pondoro]

Brent spot now $109..

 

[DieJager]

It’s going to be a hectic week on the markets again…

Sustained levels of this will damage Republican chances in the mid terms, and will cripple the EU economy.

It will handicap my own personal economy . I'm using my own car for work and the price of diesel is 2,40 per liter.... Not getting compensated enough from my employer with those kinds of prices.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I’ve never understood the reasoning for taxing diesel fuel at an often much higher rate than gasoline, when everything we buy or sell is transported by diesel fueled trucks and trains? High diesel fuel transportation costs raise prices on everything.

I have a couple of theories why diesel gets taxed at a higher rate than gasoline.

First, the average American driver and voter uses gasoline. So by taxing diesel at a higher rate, the voter doesn't get hit as hard......directly. Ultimately, the consumer / voter pays indirectly for the higher cost of shipping goods.

Second, is an environmentally driven reason. Years ago, diesel cost less than gasoline. Diesel cars/trucks got better mileage and the fuel was cheaper. What's not to love? But the dirtier emissions were viewed as a problem and higher taxes was the answer.

Having worked for a major oil all my adult life, I often wished the gas pumps broke out the price and the tax separately so people could see the numbers. Occasionally, a gas station might put a sign on tope of a gas pump saying "Each gallon of gas is taxed by the Federal Government at 24 cents per gallon and by the State 50 cents a gallon" or something like that.

The government loves it that the oil companies are the villain, collecting taxes for them.

 

[fourfive8]

Yes, but when you work it out, a few extra cents per gallon for diesel divided over tens of thousands of pounds of cargo per truck, ends up adding very little to the end price of goods sold in stores.

Load of socialist left Dem BS.

 

[fourfive8]

The trump admin has no plan to bring back manufacturing jobs. The bills passed under Biden had a much better chance. The trade deficits are still getting worse. Nothing will change until this country drops It’s adherence to shareholder value theory…absolutely nothing. It’s the main reason why I no longer vote Republican, they’ve completely abandoned the workers of this country in favor of the wealthy ruling class.

Multiple tax cuts for the rich under Reagan, multiple tax cuts for the rich under Bush, Multiple tax cuts for the rich under Trump. The largest tax cut for the middle class and the working poor was Biden‘s Covid Relief Bill; while not giving any tax cuts to anyone making over $400,000 a year. There are plenty of corporatist, globalist Democrats, but the entire Republican Party has been captured by that mindset.

Tax cuts for the rich simply do not trickle down to the rest of us, and shareholder value theory is destroying this country‘s middle class.

Bigger load of socialist left Dem BS.

 

[Russ16]

The policy justification for taxing diesel higher is that gas taxes fund the highway trust fund which is what funds interstate construction. Diesel trucks out much more wear on the road per mile than passenger vehicles. So the theory is that that they should pay more because they are putting more wear on the road.