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The hidden costs of fuel subsidies
iht.com — Buckling under the weight of record oil prices, several Asian countries have cut or are thinking of cutting their fuel subsidies, which raises a pressing question for Beijing: Can China afford its own oil subsidies at a time when it is spending billions on post-earthquake reconstruction?
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- magicjohnson, on 06/04/2008, -1/+7Fuel subsidies are just a HORRIBLE idea! If we were to institute them it would artificially deflate gas prices and slow down the movement we have towards renewable energy sources.
- rolf, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1It's also stealing money from taxpayers who don't buy gas (or much of it) and punishing the gas guzzlers.
Subsidies are stupid lots of times. Consider subsidies make tobacco, one of the most useless plants, also the most profitable.- Cyphase, on 06/05/2008, -1/+1"Subsidies are stupid lots of times." - rolf
Subsidies are stupid - and wrong - all the time.- sparksalot, on 06/05/2008, -1/+0they are ok when a mobile phone operator subsidies the handset tho, no-one ever seems to complain about that one
- wmelnick, on 06/05/2008, -0/+2That's not really a subsidy though. It is more of a loan. They give you a $200 cheaper handset and lock you into a 2-year contract that has been inflated by $10 per month to make up for it.
If you want to break the contract it costs you $250 - the subsidy plus a penalty.
The gas and other government subsidies are just the government screwing with the free market and somewhere along the line hurting someone else.
All government subsidies should be ended.
- Cyphase, on 06/05/2008, -1/+1"Subsidies are stupid lots of times." - rolf
- zombies187, on 06/06/2008, -0/+1How do you figure we don't subsidize oil? Don't we spend money to secure Iraq? Don't we spend money to clean up pollution caused by the oil industry? Don't we write tax code to allow oil companies to pay next to no taxes? Shouldn't the price of gas reflect what it actually takes to get from foreign countries into our cars and clean up the mess afterward? Aren't we paying very low prices for gas on a world wide scale?
- rolf, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1It's also stealing money from taxpayers who don't buy gas (or much of it) and punishing the gas guzzlers.
- HotDogBun, on 06/05/2008, -1/+1double post
- HotDogBun, on 06/05/2008, -3/+2China has never let the welfare of it;s people get in the way of 'progress' or profit.
- blackhappy, on 06/05/2008, -1/+6They are crying for more subsidies in Europe, their rioting over the gas prices and Europeans calls Americans babies for whining about gas prices, but your burning ***** down. Quit taxing your gas so damn high and maybe you wouldn't need subsidies.
- Murdats, on 06/05/2008, -0/+3but if they didnt tax it so much how would they afford the subsidies?
- flamingedgex1, on 06/05/2008, -3/+3This article is ridiculous as is the notion that we should work to maintain these horrible gas prices. There are better of ways of encouraging alternative energy sources than ***** over every person in the country who owns a car!
- sloppychris, on 06/05/2008, -0/+3Ahh yes, the hidden costs of government encroachment into the market. It is understood by so few, yet damaging to so many.
- wanieda01, on 06/05/2008, -1/+0The price of energy, in particular fossil fuel, is historically high and seems set to increase. Fuel bills - whether for the home or for the car - take up an ever-increasing proportion of people’s budgets.How about your opinion? Install fuel saver device on your car?
- wmelnick, on 06/05/2008, -0/+0None of them work. Don't be a fool. Just start using the car less and your bike (or feet) more.
- unpolloloco, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1How much money does China have? I don't really think that China can't afford anything
- siktath, on 06/05/2008, -3/+1Big fat freaking shock! I love how stupid and late you idiot Socialists are.
I own you. You work for me. I'm rich. You're poor. - jksturm, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1Real reason for high gas prices!
http://digg.com/world_news/Grand_Illusion_Gas_pric ... - AROERS, on 06/05/2008, -0/+3subsidies of any kind are bad, how can you call it a free-market?
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