Gas just looks more expensive

People have a nasty tendency, when gas prices skyrocket, to blame the most convenient outlet: big oil companies. Why don't we try blaming the true source of high gas prices: taxes. Federal taxes alone take up 18.4 cents per gallon, while with the addition of the Utah state tax of 24.5 cents per gallon the total reaches 42.9 cents per gallon. Add Utah's 6.6 percent sales tax on to that, and the number can reach frightening proportions. The bottom line is gas is probably less expensive now than ever before, due to a combination of improved technology, lower demand and a proportionally higher supply. It just looks more expensive because of taxes and inflation.

Richard Sagers

Sandy