Atlas

WA state fuel tax is $0.55 per gallon on gasoline. Like CA, WA also has a cap-and-trade program but even the highest estimates of what that adds to the price of a gallon do not explain the extreme price difference the Northwest sees in general compared to other states. Some of it is explained by regional challenges, lack of pipeline infrastructure and also refining capacity. Industry profits seem to offer a window into potential price manipulation... Its common sense they would manipulate prices in states which have policies that are unfriendly to their industry (i.e. states that actually care about environmental impact).

The stations reporting the lowest prices in the nation (rumored to be Lubbock, Tx) do use fuel as loss leaders. It's Walmart and Costco and they subsidize the price of fuel as part of their memberships and store models. But OK, you're right.

Those prices are from Palm Springs which does not add any additional tax on the base other than 0.61 state and 0.18 federal. This is true, CA participates in Cap and Trade and they require low carbon fuels. 0.61 state + 0.18 federal + 0.47 LCFS + 0.30 CT = $1.56 in state/federal and carbon programs. So subtract $1.56 from $4.39 (lowest price in the list I posted). Gas is still $2.83 gallon base price. Add 0.18 back because all states pay federal tax and the base is then $3.01. The math ain't mathin' when it's still a dollar higher in the World's 4th Largest Economy compared to Texas.

Woke up and gas still isn't $2. Gas tax in CA is 0.61 per gallon. I wonder where the extra cost goes?

Machines can be trained to lie, horses and dogs do understand how to deceive. But I'd agree horses and dogs make better companions and are more trustworthy than many humans.

Like an inflation report that only includes gas prices and car sales?

Doubt it. I don't agree with everyone on everything. That would be boring. I tend to get along with people who can spot obvious lies and deception, from all walks of life.

Happy Solstice from Washington State!

It's strategic. "Silver loading": "Silver Loading" Strategy: Washington state implemented an emergency rule for 2026 requiring a uniform "silver load" adjustment. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits are calculated based on the cost of the second-lowest cost Silver plan in a given area. By artificially inflating the sticker price of all Silver plans, the state increases the amount of federal subsidy dollars flowing into the market. This aims to offset the loss of the ePTCs for low- and middle-income individuals.

If migrants are stealing all your jobs and buying up all the houses, they're not contributing to poverty in Texas. Sorry, can't have it both ways in fantasyland pal. America has been weakened, our nation is ridiculed, unemployment has risen and job creation is negative, inflation is still above target and was above target all year, GDP is downtariffs have cost us all, and we have a demented clown for a president... bUt aT lEaShT gAs PriCeS are LoWeR. Things are fine for me, but I'm not some fake-ass Christian, I actually worry what this does to our poor and vulnerable.

So you can't acknowledge that even in low tax states including Texas that the average price of gas is still well above $2/gallon? Just as a side note, do you know that Texas has a higher poverty rate, and more people in poverty than Washington where we have comparatively high taxes and where we are gouged by oil companies on the price of fuel?

That's not what I asked. Why can't you answer the question?

What's the average gas price in the US right now?

LOL no. I actually like that desert, though. Visiting the area outside of Palm Springs CA

Winter? It's going to cool down to a high of 80 today Desert life

Would be nice if the rest of the country would come down too along with a few stations making a political statement since last night. Sadly, retreating fuel prices are a sign of underlying economic trouble. And I'm not just being negative. Significant levers affecting fuel prices really haven't changed. Oil companies don't want to expand production. It's not good for prices at the pump, or profits for their shareholders. So it must be weakening demand.

Know what else smells like cheetos? Since 6pm pacific time yesterday, reports of <$2 gas have mysteriously appeared in handfuls on sites like Gasbuddy.com. They aren't true prices people are paying at the station, but they have been reported. Because anyone can report to those sites. See where this is going? False narrative?

Do you ever get tired of lying and making excuses for Captain Cankles? Gas stations with promotional offers don't count. Yeah, some stations around here sell gas for $0.93 when a local radio station arrives and broadcasts with their throwback gas deal. How about quoting the rest of your AI garbage you posted? The national average is still close to $3, period, end of story-

You heard it. Gas is already under $1.99 in many places as of today, December 17th 2025. The same old dementia patient has been claiming this since April of this year. So where is "many places" when the national average is just under $3.00/gallon? ... Well? ...

Are there companies that convert the medium duty trucks to have a standard pickup bed? Long time ago I know there were companies that did for the old MDT's/Kodiaks, but I have forgotten all the names. I don't think the new MDT's can be ordered with a bed from the factory, at least not a pickup bed? I saw a current gen 5500 the other day, crew cab, black, long bed, and I just about peed... it was beautiful.

I don't have the patience for upholstery. I'd have to hire someone too. Yours looks excellent, they did a nice job. Our place is fine, we are on higher ground with hills (but not landslides). It's starting to get ugly trying to get around with major roads/freeways either flooded or damaged by slides. We are lucky. A lot of folks can't say the same.

I had laparoscopic surgery about 20 years ago; only time I've taken pain meds during recovery. God that hurt. I've heard europeans typically don't take sedation with their colonoscopies. It's not supposed to be painful.

The heat excites the compounds in the air freshners which is why they disperse quicker in warmer temperatures. You can try putting them somewhere low/hidden and out of direct sunlight in the car. Although, I don't know how useful that will be if a closed up vehicle in full sun is getting up to 120 degrees+ inside. I've never found a replacement for "new car" smell - nothing even comes close, IMO. And the real thing isn't good for ya anyway (carcinogens and VOC's). I can still smell VOC's in my cars a few years down the road after they're new. It's a combination of parking them indoors and just generally keeping the inside very clean. (No greasy foods, scents, wet dogs, etc).

Colorectal cancer killed my maternal grandmother so I'll be doing screenings early. My parents made a big deal out of their first ones, it was all very taboo to discuss or ask about. My father in law had a false positive test a year ago on one of the mail-in kits and had to go in for the full exam and colonoscopy. It was a huge deal for him, worst thing ever, couldn't talk about it. Fear of potential positive results aside, anything butt stuff really sends people for a loop. It's just a camera, not a fist.

The overwhelming majority of "Medicare fraud" is exactly that. Private individuals and businesses fraudulently billing the government for goods and services. Medicare is one of the most efficient and tightly managed payers in the world, but it doesn't have much of an enforcement arm. They do audits and go after fraud but they have to focus their resources. That also explains why "DOGE" turned up exactly nothing of a smoking gun or anything to wave in front of the media. Of course, they just wanted CMS' data, which they got.