The "Free Speech" segment for Friday's "Evening News" went to British auto columnist Mike Rutherford who complained that Americans don't know how "lucky" they are for the cheap petrol they put in their tanks.
“Sorry, America, but if you believe you’re paying too much for the fuel you put in your
automobiles, you’re not living in the real world,” griped Rutherford. Noting that American gasoline is priced “among the lowest on the planet,” he added that “here in England, the average price of a gallon of fuel is almost $8 in your money. And you’re complaining,” he rhetorically added before insisting Americans “don’t know how lucky” they are.
Of course luck has nothing to do with it.
The reason most Britons find fueling the lorry a pence-pinching experience is because ol' John Bull is a tax guzzler.
For my full story, visit the MRC's BusinessandMedia.org.



















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Yeah, we should lower our sta
December 11, 2006 - 17:13 ET by Chris NormanYeah, we should lower our standard of living just to live down to the rest of the world. Anyway, one can drive clear across England for a buck ninety-eight...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
It sounds like he's the one c
December 11, 2006 - 17:18 ET by Mean Gene Dr. LoveIt sounds like he's the one complaining.
Being envious of others is a waste of time. Do something about it Mr. Rutherford.
'When you wade into political life you have every right to say what you want, but you cannot in turn argue that no one has the right to take you on'... --Rush Limbaugh
Just another example of what
December 11, 2006 - 17:23 ET by Indiana JoeJust another example of what an EXCELLENT decision all those "dead white guys" made 230 years ago... ;^)
Arrogant Brit
December 11, 2006 - 18:22 ET by Six String SpiffOh this again? Other countries with inferior governments telling US what to be happy about? HA! I guess this is just another example of how taxation without representation (couldn't resist!) turns people into envious trolls.. Hey Mike, how are those Muslim Christmas broadcasts going? GTFOH...
Not all Muslims are Terrorists. However, all the Terrorists have been Muslim.
Brit
December 11, 2006 - 18:31 ET by misterbillAnd , Oh, bye the bye, old chap, we usually live within 10 KM of where we work. Oh yes, and unless we learn to drive on water, we really cahn't go that far anyway!
I'm feeling kind of moderate
December 11, 2006 - 18:43 ET by mulerider24I'm feeling kind of moderate today and propose a compromise with my socialist media pals. I promise to sit through a 24-hour marathon alternating Fahrenheit 9/11 and An Inconvenient Truth only if reporters trumpeting the Euro-topian economy have to attend a Macro-Economics 101 class.
Moderate?
December 11, 2006 - 18:47 ET by BlondeI'd say you were felling rather generous today....
If I had to watch a 24 hour marathon of that subject matter...I'd require the reporters to sit through at least 2 classes each of macro and micro economics. Let us not forget their blather about Wal-Mart, after all.
Ahhh, the "Mafia-Mart&qu
December 11, 2006 - 18:55 ET by mulerider24Ahhh, the "Mafia-Mart" conspiracy. I will add Micro-Econ to my proposal.
Actually, socialism is macr
December 11, 2006 - 20:48 ET by robert108Actually, socialism is macroeconomics; free enterprise is microeconomics.
So, their system delivers fuel for $8 a gallon, while ours delivers it for about $2.50. Rather than our being "lucky", I would say that they are unlucky.
I don't think luck has anyt
December 12, 2006 - 10:51 ET by jmtI don't think luck has anything to do with it!
jmt
http://www.jmichaelt.org
It’s not fuel that costs, it is the LIBERALS
December 11, 2006 - 19:20 ET by TheTruthActually Mr. Rutherford we pay about the same for fuel. Your problem is not the cost of fuel, your problem is the cost of having liberals in charge. You and your fellow citizens have chosen to pay an additional six dollars a gallon in TAX. If you don’t like paying a massive TAX every time you fuel your auto then stop voting for the idiots (LIBERALS) that do things like taxing a needed commodity 700%!!!!
MSM: Arrogant intellectually dishonest LIBERALS teaching those stupid peasants how to vote by way of selective reporting, misinformation, propaganda, and out right lies.
Oh those wacky Brits
December 11, 2006 - 19:31 ET by RackieThe Brits have a gas tax that is based on the sales price per litre. As the price goes up, so does the tax. The MP's are trying to figure out a way to disconnect the tax from the price as they loose money when the price goes down. They really are trying to discourage private transportation in the UK. And, fags are nine-something a pack.
fags are nine-something a p
December 11, 2006 - 19:44 ET by Jack Bauerfags are nine-something a pack.
What? Fags roam London in packs?
I hate when that happens.
Proud member of the all-powerful and vast
militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex
And of course there are the l
December 11, 2006 - 22:46 ET by UnsaneAnd of course there are the lanes of traffic in London they charge you for driving in, in a bid to cut down on traffic in some areas. (I believe other European cities are doing that as well.)
"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy." -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)
So, you think their votes a
December 11, 2006 - 20:51 ET by robert108So, you think their votes actually mean something?
Ah, the glories of Socialism.
December 12, 2006 - 09:25 ET by dscottAh, the glories of Socialism. Aren't we here in America envious of the high taxes they pay for things other people no longer have to pay for themselves?
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
Seems to me he's forgetting
December 11, 2006 - 20:03 ET by RunningBeerSeems to me he's forgetting why our founding fathers left that over burdening country in the first place!
you’re not living in the
December 11, 2006 - 20:15 ET by Jack Baueryou’re not living in the real world
That would be a world where the price of gas is almost 90% tax!
That's unreal to me. I know, I have to pay it. Well someone has to keep the corrupt EU afloat.
One other point, almost EVERYTHING in England is more expensive than in the US.
So remind me again, who's being unreal here.
Proud member of the all-powerful and vast
militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex
EU prices
December 11, 2006 - 20:20 ET by BlondeOkay, Jack....
So when I come to London, and buy you a Scotch or whatever, how much is it going to cost me?
That must really, really hurt on a daily basis.
Well, a whole bottle of Gle
December 11, 2006 - 20:31 ET by Jack BauerWell, a whole bottle of Glenlivet would set you back about $28 from a supermarket. And it only has to travel 500 miles.
A single shot of scotch in a pub, I'm guessing about $6.
And a drinkable bottle of Californian Chardonny can be had for about $10 from a liquor store.
But the exchange rate is great for the pound. Not so great if you're visiting from the States at the moment.
Proud member of the all-powerful and vast
militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex
Twilight Zone, Sr. Bauer.I ne
December 11, 2006 - 20:49 ET by BlondeTwilight Zone, Sr. Bauer.
I never told you I drank Glenlivet.....(but I do!). It's about the same, here though, after a much longer journey....so those taxes must be in effect, yet again.
That's not too bad...well, except for the Calif. Chardonnay.
That is spooky.Other things
December 11, 2006 - 20:59 ET by Jack BauerThat is spooky.
Other things to remember is that the US has a higher standard of living with a higher annual per capita income. $41k compared to about $30k in Europe.
So while goods and services tend to be cheaper, wages tend to be higher.
That's NO accident.
To be accurate though, alcohol in the UK is the highest taxes in Europe.
Proud member of the all-powerful and vast
militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex
While researching a few thing
December 11, 2006 - 21:12 ET by BlondeWhile researching a few things about that idiot French Maternity post yesterday, I ran across a WSJ article (excerpt only) which, of course, I can't find now.
The article stated something along the line that even the smallest state (I think it may have been Rhode Island...in terms of output, not landmass) in the US had a higher per capita income than each and every country in the EU.
Nuff said about that socialistic form of government I suppose. I'll try to find it when I get back on the other computer. As I said, it was an excerpt, but it would be worth looking at again.
Quiet!!!
December 11, 2006 - 22:02 ET by UnsaneSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!! You don't want to break this cold heart fact to crshedd, do you? After all, if one listens to him, one would believe the rotting EU is the wave of the future!
"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy." -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)
Well, Uns.I believe crshedd i
December 11, 2006 - 22:06 ET by BlondeWell, Uns.
I believe crshedd is another one of the fakirs.
You know....a multi-millionaire bio-tech ph.d. like blue meat.....
Or one with multiple advanced degrees....who owns his own fabulous business....
All the while advocating for socialist policies.
Color me fooled...I'm just a silly blonde, after all.
Whenever you hear about a mul
December 11, 2006 - 22:14 ET by UnsaneWhenever you hear about a multimillionaire/highly educated Socialist, just think to yourself: he/she is afraid of waking up one morning surrounded by a succesful army of...Them.
OR, he/she is overwhelmed with fear of competition, and knows the best way to kill off competition is to take away any incentive for us Little People (that would be Them, up above) to move up.
"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy." -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)
Sorry,I think to myself.....l
December 11, 2006 - 22:20 ET by BlondeSorry,
I think to myself.....lying trolling liberal fool.
You know all of their names here....we just have a few more to add.
Any highly educated multi-millionaire (billionaires are a different breed...they have more than enough $$ to toss away)....is a conservative.
Where does this apparently
December 11, 2006 - 21:41 ET by james789Where does this apparently uneducated Englishman think the money to support their QUEEN comes from, donations? That right there ought to be the biggest argument for CAPITALISM over every other form of government, think about it, here in America we have thousands of queens, we also have some of the lowest taxes in the world and one of the highest standards of living on the planet.
The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price,
peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of
soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life. Theodore Roosevelt
Someone should tell this guy
December 12, 2006 - 00:16 ET by ferrarimanf355Someone should tell this guy that Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, Aston Martins and Land Rovers aren't all that fuel-efficent, either...
Uzumaki/Ayanami '08. Because a ninja and an Eva pilot can govern the nation better that what we have now...
Yeah but if you are driving
December 12, 2006 - 00:38 ET by james789Yeah but if you are driving a Bentley or a Rolls in England, I don't think you are going to worry about the price of petro.
But paying for a queen that isn't even a part of the working government, thats what I'm scratching my head over. I rode the short bus to school where I graduated in the top 95 percent of my class, but that doesn't sound very cost effective to me.
The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price,
peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of
soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life. Theodore Roosevelt
I honestly can't understand t
December 12, 2006 - 00:38 ET by SvenI honestly can't understand the rationale of libs.
They always approach things from a negative viewpoint. Instead of asking why his country doesn't have lower fuel costs like America, he chooses instead to criticize us for not knowing what "real" high prices really are. Now that’s conditioning for you!
I’m still wondering why we’re supposed to care what Europe thinks of us? Let’s see: they have high gas prices, high unemployment, rising crime rates, and as of late, Muslims being allowed to use their Sharia Law to try other Muslims (Thanks France...you twits!).
Sorry, but maybe it’s time for Europe to start caring about what the United States thinks of them.
sven
December 12, 2006 - 00:46 ET by misterbillHe is a foreign lib. He is not as dangerous as our internal leftists. We will only be defeated from within!
Gasoline
December 12, 2006 - 09:19 ET by chinesearithmeticHas our British cancer really moved this deep down, this filthy?