by Fritz Walter |
In the mildest winter so far in history (one would be inclined to say "fortunately" if we also went to do an analysis of the cost of the raw material "gas"), it was the anger and nervousness generated as usual by the news read in the newspapers or heard on TV that warmed our spirits; other than a domestic Christmas outbreak.
Not enough of the Qatari World Cup won at the last penalty by Leo Messi's Argentina, the Arabian Peninsula has leapt to the 'disgrace of the chronicle' especially for the corruption scandal that has hit multiple MEPs, starting with Vice President Eva Kaili. But weren't politicians overpaid to avoid the temptation of being corrupt? Instead: millions of euros in cash; hotel rooms and briefcases bulging with euros; wives, husbands, partners, fathers and in-laws all foraged! All in order to influence in their own favor the politics of the Europarliament and positively rebuild the image of the Arab country itself. Tom Wolfe and Brian De Palma together could not have written a better script! And, as in any good corruption movie worth mentioning, here is the Italian prezzified, the now former MEP Antonio Panzeri elected with the PD who, as in an Aesop's fable, thought well of distancing himself from it by recalling his post-election switch to Article 1. Panzeri who?
From one peninsula to another; news about energy, gas and fuel costs have also characterized the past few months. Fortunately, the unusually high seasonal temperatures have partially mitigated the incidence of the bills: in the "it was good for me because I only got two slaps in the face" series.
Chapter apart is the cost of fuel. The average gasoline price for 2022 according to the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security was 1.81124 euros per liter. On these, the incidence of taxes was just under 48%, mainly due to the excise tax cut established by the Draghi government that calmed the last 3 quarters of the year.
Perhaps most people miss some details. First, it should be mentioned that on average from 2012 to 2021 the value of excise taxes on the cost of a single liter of gasoline has always been more than €1 with an average incidence of 65 percent on the cost at the pump. Second, in 2012 and 2013 under the Mario Monti-led government, the average cost of gasoline always revolved around the value of €1.77; without war, without Qatargate, and especially without inflation at 8 percent!
Ultimately and beyond any sacrosanct complaints, are we sure that the current cost of fuel (we have no excise tax cuts today) is disproportionate? More importantly, are we sure that the blame lies with the new government, which has chosen to act in favor of families and, above all, businesses?
