I'm not political by nature.

[FMCoug]

Aren't consumers breaking even or maybe even coming out ahead on this deal? It seems to me cheaper transport makes for lower priced goods.

Good point. Maybe I'll convert my truck to run on used veggie oil. Or start making my own biodiesel. Buckets of methanol and lye in the garage shouldn't be a problem, should they?

Wonder if they'll start taxing McDonald's used fry oil.

[il Padrino Ute]

Who the hell is keeping all the European diesels out of the US?

The labor unions and environmental nazis are to be blamed for everything.

[Ma'ake]

Yeah. All taxes are evil. Which is why I just said gasoline should be taxed so it's minimum price is $5 a gallon so we're all forced to switch to diesel that in the long-run is more economical, more environmentally friendly and doesn't leave us with the constant drain in economic power and national security that our dependence on foreign gasoline does.

August 4, 2010. This is the first time I've ever agreed with you. (It feels tingley, but not in a federal court kind of way.)

BTW, I have a VW TDI and love it. Love it. 40+ in town, close to 50mpg at 70+mph, plenty of punch, rides well, much quieter than my Honda, a superior car.

A couple of summers ago I ran B100 for a few months, though it's a niche energy market & not widely viable. I think it was soybean BioD, smelled like popcorn, a lot nicer than the normal diesel aroma. I've also burned jet fuel in it, on occasion. Works fine, though I think Jet-A usually makes a diesel engine put out a little more soot.

[wuapinmon]

Are the babies all stepping on my foot at the same time? If so, that's a pretty big f'n deal.

I think the biggest reason why diesels are not as common in the U.S. is the particulates in the exhaust. Apparently EPA regs restrict the amount/size of particulate exhaust matter much more strictly than in other nations, so many diesels that are okay in Europe cannot meet the standards here.

All the cars aren't on the same patch of asphalt at the same time, so all the babies aren't on your foot at the same time.

I had a 1984 Ford Escort 2-door diesel. It got 51 mpg.

Yeah. All taxes are evil. Which is why I just said gasoline should be taxed so it's minimum price is $5 a gallon so we're all forced to switch to diesel that in the long-run is more economical, more environmentally friendly and doesn't leave us with the constant drain in economic power and national security that our dependence on foreign gasoline does.

I did apologize....

Aren't consumers breaking even or maybe even coming out ahead on this deal? It seems to me cheaper transport makes for lower priced goods.

A fair point, but one that's irrelevant ultimately. If the government looked the other way for all things that lowered prices, we'd have precious little regulation, or tax income with which to build new/maintain existing infrastructure.

[landpoke]

A fair point, but one that's irrelevant ultimately. If the government looked the other way for all things that lowered prices, we'd have precious little regulation, or tax income with which to build new/maintain existing infrastructure.

Why so black and white? Of course some taxes are necessary, even some that impact prices. My point was simply that it might be wise to take a little broader view of this particular issue.

[wuapinmon]

Why so black and white? Of course some taxes are necessary, even some that impact prices. My point was simply that it might be wise to take a little broader view of this particular issue.

I did see your point, but I think that the view you offered unduly favors the industry's impact on consumer goods prices. I'm too tired to articulate what I'm thinking clearly.

[landpoke]

I did see your point, but I think that the view you offered unduly favors the industry's impact on consumer goods prices. I'm too tired to articulate what I'm thinking clearly.

Yeah, nice try. Its pretty clear to everyone that I just pwned you.