Why despite the following, Americans complain about gas prices?

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meco031719

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- prices are roughly at the same range as in the Philippines; I can understand Filipinos complaining about increasing prices because their daily wages can't even afford a full tank of gas but Americans can easily afford it relative to Filipinos
- prices of gas are far more expensive in Europe and yet there are fewer complaints in that region
 
Americans as a whole generally love to complain more. Come down to where I live, D.C... they complain about EVERYTHING.
 
You must also consider many US cities do not have good quality public transportation. So you have a larger percentage of the population that rely on their own vehicles to get to work, enteratinment etc.

Europe has a reliable public transportation system and many areas are easily walked to. Only major cities in the US have this convenience.
 
We always hear (1) how those in Europe and other places have to pay so much more than we do. But they don't have as much space to cover when going to work or even visiting another country. They usually drive smaller cars and are not as dependent on this mode of transportation as we are. (2) Someone suggested that we pay a certain price for 12 ounces of a soft drink and that we are paying much less than this price for gas for our car. But consider this: How far can we get on 12 ounces of gas? They are comparing apples and oranges, so to speak.

(3) We are told to drive smaller cars. But we really aren't safe in the cars we drive now when we're on the Interstate with fast traffic and big trucks. (4) Many young mothers drive SUV's and are criticized for it. But they can't fit carseats and growing children with long legs in the smaller cars. It's impossible to place more than two car seats or booster seats in the backseat of these little cars.

(5) With the exception of large urban areas, many parts of the United States don't have mass transportation. People have to get to work. Many people cannot afford the price of gas. (6) Wages and/or retirement incomes are not keeping up with rising costs. As .fuel costs go up the price of everything else rises accordingly. When our spending power decreases we may be unable to buy all of the necessities such as food, medicine, housing, clothing, school supplies, etc.

(7) We're told that we should all live close to our work site. But a job may not last for a lifetime. People can't afford to move every time a job changes. Moving is expensive. Should everyone uproot their family time after time? Decent places to live may not be close to a worksite. Children don't need to be moved from school to school throughout their young lives.

(8) We hear of the gas producers and companies who sell gas making huge profits--more than ever before. They should make a profit. However, when they are profitting on the hard earned wages of so many and giving CEO's the bonuses we read about, we realize that the average American has the right to complain. If only someone would listen!
 
Americans are used to being wasteful. They throw garbage out of their cars. They do not recycle and they use a large majority of the world's resources.
 
As far as Europe is concerned I don't think people complain because the gas is taxed so the price is so much higher but that tax goes to public health care, social security etc, not just to the CEO's of gas companies. I lived in Ireland for 5 years and could see where my taxes went when I went to the doctor or the dentist. I am not as sure about the people in the Philippines. Also in America the prices went up so fast . Or maybe American's just like to complain more, lol.
 
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