Why is Gas in the US so cheap?

My Family spent over $500 in gas last month. Considering my Dad drives a Camry and my Sister a Sentra its damn near silly.

 

Can't really compare much of europe to the U.S. unless you break it down so taxes are separate.
About half of the price in the UK are taxes that go to fund there Socialist system of medicene and programs.
Looked this up a couple of years ago but haven't checked on it lately.

 

What! Europe has far more efficient vehicles, You are more likely to see a subcompact than a monster SUV. Next time your on the freeway count the SUV's cut that by 25% (maybe more) and you will have the number of SUV's on a dutch highway. It's trade (US exports/imports vs other country import/export), value of the US $ (more then than now), availability of processing, and international trade contracts, bla, bla, bla. I can't/won't spend 3 days explaing international economic theory but I will say that with the falling dollar and our trade def are not the only things allowing oil companies to gouge americans. OUR politicians are in big oil's pocket, big oil is making record profits and OUR politicians and the media are looking the other way. Oil companies want you to pressure your Congressman/senator to loosen restrictions on drilling. There is no oil crisis, just market manipulation by the powers that be, simply because the stars are aligned (war in Iraq, chavez in latin america, Putin leaving office in Russia)and a good poker player knows when to "all in". thats is, feel free to fact check and let me know if Im full of it.

 

oh, well nevermind then........

 

The biggest difference is taxes. According to this article, government policy is the primary reason. Some countries charge as much as 75% tax over and above the cost of gas.

 

My guess its that it's relatively cheap here because we use so much of it; thus, big oil/govt (same thing) knows that they can only push so hard before the economy goes all the way to hell. They sure wouldn't make any money then. Disclaimer: opinion only, I have absolutely no facts to back this up beyond general observation.