lundi 5 mai 2008
Dear Americans,

After all of the American media's grousing lately about gas prices, I would just like to point out one thing: how about paying more than twice as much, as we do here in France?

Yep. That's right. Here is the oh-so-exciting math:

Average gas prices here in France: about 1.40 € per Liter.
1 euro is about 1.55 $ lately.
1 gallon is 3.79 US Liters.
so: 1.40€/L x 3.79L/Gal x 1.55$/€ = 8.22$/Gallon.

There. Are you feeling better now? Can you please stop complaining already?

Yes, yes. Things are *further apart* in the US than in France. But it is your choice to live far away from your work, or drive one hour to go shopping, or to buy a huge honkin car.

Get over it.

Thank you,
People living in France

10 commentaires:

David in Setouchi a dit…

Actually if you look on the long term thing, the rise of the price in France is much slower than in the US.

When I first came to the US, a gallon of gas was about 99 cents, back then this was pretty much the price of a liter in France.

So in the past 10 years, while the price of gas got multiplied by 3 in the US, it got multiply by only about 1.5 in France.

On the other hand maybe Americans are now learning to use less gas, buy gas-efficient cars and all...

Anonyme a dit…

you are telling us to stop complaining....all you do in your blog is complain! I ride my bike to work every day, we have 1 car and use it only when necessary...not everyone has a huge car and drives 1 hour to work!

Megan a dit…

If you are going to leave a comment, at least be brave enough to leave your name. I DO NOT just complain in my blog. There are a lot of great things that I say about both countries. Grow up.

screamish a dit…

You touched a nerve there I think!!

yeah, in Australia they have petrol for 1.40 dollars a litre...much cheaper than here, but its a huge scandal. I guess you're used to what you're used to.

islandgirl4ever2 a dit…
Ce commentaire a été supprimé par l'auteur.
islandgirl4ever2 a dit…

You're a right... and what's MORE... why do Americans have such darn big cars? French people make WAY more babies than Americans, n'est-ce pas? So, it would make more sense for the French to have bigger cars to tote the family around! I don't see a ton of HUGE cars in France as I do here in Cali...... I am here in Cali now and people are really cutting back on there driving out here, I think??!!!! You really Do have to have a car in LA or San Diego... Public transport. isn't as good as in Paris... San Fran, New York or Chicago.. I do miss France... I'm tanking up at $42 a week and that's an economy car.. What's it like $8 gallon in France... I think Americans DO need to GROW up... AND.... get a Dem. Prez!!! Amen to you Megan!!!!

Anonyme a dit…

There is really no need for you to do the conversion from Euros to U.S. dollars, because I am assuming that if you live and work in France you are being paid in Euros. That said you are still paying 5.30€ per Gallon. But just think, if you went and visited the U.S. and needed to rent a car you would only be paying $2.60 while all the other American saps would be paying $4.00.

-Elisabeth

PunditMom a dit…

I agree. As an American who first visited Europe in the 90s and saw what gas prices were then, we've never had the right to complain about gas price here.

CPCcurmudgeon a dit…

Actually, not all Americans have a choice where they work. Lots of us are struggling to hold onto our jobs, wherever we happen to live and work. If the job requires a long drive, we drive it because we can't find another job.

Your point about the choice of car is well-taken. However, even a gas hybrid is going to require a fair amount of money to fuel (and you don't necessarily save the money over the lifetime of the car, due to its cost).

BTW, I visited a friend in Cassis last summer before going to Albi for a choral exchange. I love the Provence region. I only had time to spend one afternoon in Aix, but hope to go back again someday for a longer stay.

Betty Carlson a dit…

I just chimed in on a similar post on Leesa's blog. One thing I've noticed since I left the States in 1990 is that little by little, people stopped driving cars there. When I left, people were driving automobiles. Over the past ten years, it seems nine out of ten drivers are behind huge trucks, SUVs, etc. So I imagine they are feeling the pain. But I don't feel that sorry for them.

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