Quote Originally Posted by hebe View Post
I'd never have known that US fuel was so much cheaper because of tax dollar subsidies.
Contrary to what some have implied (but not supported), this is not true. There are no subsidies to oil any different from other businesses in the US or elsewhere under standard accounting rules and normal standards of determining taxable income. Example: some say it's a subsidy to allow an oil company to expense their exploration costs (thereby reducing their taxable income)...but they don't make that same argument saying a technology company is subsidized when they expense their R & D. In the same way, allowing an oil company to use a highway built for the general welfare and use of others is not a subsidy...but some wrongly argue it is.

Differences in gas prices in different countries are more heavily influenced by taxes, refining capacity, distribution network, and shipping costs.

Eta: I was typing while jobob was posting...I appreciate her clarification