The Price of Gas

What's the price of gasoline? In the U.S. it's about $4 a gallon. But some experts say the true price of gas is much higher. What about the costs of pollution, and the global and local problems caused by it? Who pays for those? This animated feature from the Center for Investigative Reporting calculates the carbon footprint and other "external costs" of gasoline use in the U.S.

Reported by Sarah Terry-Cobo
Produced by Carrie Ching and Sarah Terry-Cobo
Sound mix and editing by Carrie Ching
Animation and illustration by Arthur Jones

How much would you be willing to pay for gas? Share your thoughts with California Watch and CIR:
http://www.publicinsightnetwork.org/f...

Read more: http://californiawatch.org/dailyrepor...

Sources: http://www.documentcloud.org/document...

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[sarahterrycobo]

Actually, there are several types of "greenhouse gas pollution" that we are referring to in the video. Yes, carbon dioxide is one, but we are also referring to methane (23 times more potent in the atmosphere than CO2) and nitrous oxide (300 times more potent than CO2). Even though it is not technically a "regulated" GHG, we are also referring to ground level ozone (O3), which is very harmful and creates smog.

[Claude Lebel]

.... and we are going to vote against Obama unless we get 2$ gas cause it's 'obviously' his fault. It's got to be somebody's fault ..... anybody but ME. Pass the 'buck' please.

[justin schwegel]

This estimate seems low to me. The video did not include the cost of maintaining our huge military which is largely related to keeping petroleum flowing. The true price seems like it would be much more like $20-$25/gallon if one counted half of our military expenditures as well.

[pellucid00]

We've known about this for decades, but everytime mass-transportation goes to vote, we shoot it down.  If you tell me to ride my bike around LA you can KMA. Change won't come until something is available to replace driving. Quantum locking, mag lev, ET3, I don't care what you pick but pick something.

[honkeyreduction]

right on

[Stealth189237409]

Who gives a shit about the hidden cost?

As oil production starts to decline globally we won't be able to use as much anyway in the future.

[EconAtheist]

It's cute when self-identified libertarians don't account for externalities.

/biggest. frauds. ever.

[Bryce Delaney]

Smooth.

[Bryce Delaney]

Wow.

[Bryce Delaney]

Because you're a fucking moron.

[Bryce Delaney]

How stupid are you? Do you not know that if we destroy the environment we go down with it?

[Molly Lane]

I was just waiting for the lorax to pop out during this entire video.