$7 Gas

Here in South Korea gas is $8/gallon but the use of cars has only dropped slightly and they have good public transportation everywhere here. You really don't need a car here and yet despite the high price, people keep driving. On the way to/from work, I see lots of drivers driving alone and the buses are only half full.

Many are still referring to $4.00 a gallon, here in California the average is $4.70 a gallon. It does not stop many from filling up their cars. On the bright side we are still well below many of the European countries where the gas is $10 a gallon. According to some political party the middle class earns $250,000 yr. As long as the middle class can afford these prices they will not change much. People like me who must fall on poverty levels will have to go along with the ride. I believe we will see higher prices, much will depend on what will play off between Israel and Iran.

Wow, just looking at some of these off the wall comments makes me very worried for this nation. With people like a few of you multiplied by twenty million or so, I would give the USA about a 15 year life expectancy.

$140/bbl and $4/gal fuel is the product of the perfect storm of world demand, the weak US dollar, and especially politics. A presidential administration indirectly affects US industries (and the world to a lesser extent) by enforcing regulations strictly or laxly. With an administration taken predominantly from Big Oil boards in its lame duck years, what would you really expect? Bank on this: Once Condoleezza Rice is out of public office, there will be an oil tanker re-re-named after her (look it up).

Gasoline is required to keep today's economy alive. It is not simply a luxury. Millions and millions of greedy investors are soley to blame for the rising costs of gasoline. Self righteous investors, like the California Public Employees Retirement System are responsible for the rising cost of gas. Likewise, millions and millions of greedy Americans have "flipped" houses to inflate costs so far beyond median income that new homes are really beyond the reach of anyone who does not already have equity. It is not "they" who are to blame. It is we ourselves.

I have seen this type of garbage in the 70's and 80's where we had long gas lines, high prices and everyone screaming economy cars, only to have it return to big gas guzzlers in a few years. If we see six or seven dollar gas you can bet diesel will be higher and farmers who use fertilizer and diesel will either go broke, and or you green machine huggers will have to start eating your lawn as you will not be able to afford the food, since some will be unemployed. I farm and our fertilizer almost doubled as well as diesel. I debated weather to just let the land sit or borrow the money to plant a crop. I chose to borrow but I had to double my price for my product. Eventually the lower income will not be able to drive or eat. Where is Congress? I thought the Democrats got elected because they were going to do something about the oil prices yet, nothing has been other making sure they get their name in the paper or on television. Personally I think it is a scam by the major oil companies to raise the prices very high to a point we start screaming just so they can find a floor the American people will accept. If we scream at five they will keep it at four and so long to three dollar gas. I believe in the free enterprise system, I do not believe in greed.

two words harley davidson it cost me 15 bucks a week to fill up and get to work. get a clue motorcycles are part of the answer

We have only to blame the face we all see in the mirror every morning we wake up. Imagine 100 million Americans on STRIKE until gas prices are at a fair price, 10% taxes across the board, and whatever else WE decide. Don't be fooled. All 545 useless politicans in the District of Criminals ( Repubs and Demos )are all behind this lining their pockets at our expense, apparently our tax dollars weren't enough. We are doomed

It's hard to get one's head around the rising cost of energy when so many of those doing the complaining are human suvs - more than willing to supplement their daily caloric intake with a caffeine delivery system costing $3/cup, and later drinking from small bottles of water whose cost per ounce is often greater than their cost for gasoline for that same ounce. Obesity is our #1 problem, not the price of gasoline. What we, both as individuals and as a nation, could save by reducing our cup and fork costs would go a long way to offsetting what are seen as our traditional energy costs. So America, keep drinking and chowing down while you whine. The cost of our high energy consumption is not always a pretty sight whether it be at the gas pump or at the beach. Oops, guess I had better get in the car to drive to the fitness center for another session with my exercise and diet guru. Just too tough to figure it out for myself. Perhaps you can hold my hand. Oh my, the cost of energy.

Only the US has the comsumer capacity and technology to implement the new alternative vehicles like hydrogen cars. Let the prices rise and watch our market economy offer and provide a solution.

Fixing this problem requires an understanding of what caused it. The President, the Senate Republicans and the oil cartel currently want you to believe that it is a supply and demand issue caused in part by the moratorium on domestic drilling. That moratorium has been in place since 1981. The sharp price increases have been happening only since about 2001. The truth is that the Commodity Futures Modernization Act, written by our Republican Congress and signed by President Clinton in December 2000 caused this. It exempted almost all futures, including energy futures, and offshore electronic trading facilities from CFTC regulations. Look it up yourselves if you don't believe me. It was H.R. 5660, Public Law 106-554. It can now be found in Title 7 U.S.C Section 2. The oil traders have had a license to do ridiculous speculative bidding from unregulated offshore facilities since 2001. They've been building wealth and power since then while handing us the bill. The fix for this problem is a repeal of the above stated legislation that caused it. Unfortunately some folks within our Congress and Executive Branch will not act. Could it be that they have a vested interest in these high prices?

American Man: Social Studies lesson: The President enforces laws that Congress makes. Amazing how the country has gone to pieces under a Democratic Congress over the last 2 years. Don't be so quick to blame Bush.

John, I respect your comment about being fine without a car. That's just great for you. How about people like me who depends on a car to sell real estate. Sure, we have the internet and people can find their homes on the web, but at the end of the day, they still have to get in a car and go look at the home before they buy. I don't live in a small town of 10,000 where a bicycle might do the trick. I live in a town of 5 million people. How on earth would I conduct my business on the bus?! No matter how efficient I plan my day showing property, choosing the shortest, most expeditious routes, I still use gas. Guess I will be going to electric cars--it's the only solution if gas gets up to $7 a gallon. Or, better yet, when the government finally comes to their senses and declassifies their 50 years of hoarding anti gravity technology, then we can finally be rid of abusing our fossil fuels and leave them where they belong. The solutions exist. It's just our government - or shall I say, our shadow government - has other ideas for us.

Don't you all see. America is greedy and selfish. We deserve $20 per gallon. American is evil, we have used up all of the planets resources and now its time to pay. Blah Blah Blah. Keep on listening to the left and this is what you hear. I am sorry to burst your bubble, the energy policies of the last 40 years have done this, not Bush. Come on people, think for yourselves and stop listening to the "Green" fad bunch. We need more oil plain and simple. Call congress and tell them or shut up.

We should not be worrying so much about gasoline prices but what home heating oil prices will be come September. The price per gallon to heat your home is expected to be double from last year. If we do not do something and FAST you will see more foreclosures than you have ever seen in the history of the USA. The government will need to bail out once again! I wonder where everyone thinks this money will come from.

I don't know why people on the coast lines think everyone lives like them. Here in the Midwest fuel prices are hurting us, and it will spread outward. We are in the middle of cutting wheat and the cost to harvest it is unimaginable. Fuel is up, fertilizer is up, labor is up, and so are tempers. We can't walk to the corner and hop on a bus. Our towns are miles apart and small. We have to drive at least 30 miles to go to a Wal-mart. When it cost 25 bucks just for a round trip to get necessities, you start cutting back on other stuff. People blame Bush for all this? What about the tree lovers that won't allow a refinery be built in this country. Oil supply is not the problem, it is turning oil into fuel. We used to have 2 forms of fuel, gasoline and diesel. Now it seems that every little county has special requirments for their fuel which cuts storage capacity. Also, the EPA has gone crazy on all these emission requirements. Their lastest is taking sulfer in diesel engines down to .005 ppm. However, they dont tell you that by doing this it hurts the MPG, therefore using more diesel. Ironic isnt it. EPA wants cleaner air but they dont care that it uses more fuel. Where is congress in all this? wanting to raise taxes? OK, help me understand. raising my taxes will lower fuel prices? How? How about cutting taxes so I have more money to pay my fuel bill. I pay the state 24 cents per gallon and the federal 18.4 cents per gallon.

John, I don't know where you live but try Wyoming where towns are 50 miles apart and no mass transit. How would you handle that?

You can check these facts on the Department of Energy's website... In 1947, oil cost $0.23/barrel. Back in 1947 our money was still reasonably backed by gold and silver and our coins were still made of silver. So, $1USD was equal to 1oz of silver. Therefore, a quarter, made of silver, was 1/4oz of mostly silver. If you check the current price of silver and divide it by 4 to get the price of a 1947 quarter today, you'll see something amazing in correlation with the price of gas today. Just do the math and check your facts. It isn't supply and demand, it isn't speculators, it IS the illegal institution known as the Federal Reserve System. Just before we were taken off the gold standard completely in the early 70s, a barrel of oil cost $3. With inflation rates of the gold standard, a barrel of oil today would cost between $3.20-$3.40. A huge difference from $143 of today. Also, how is it that oil can cost $18 before the war in Iraq in 2003 and now just 5 short years later, it has jumped $125. Illegitimate money leads to illegitimate prices. Wake up to this America. Your dollar-bills are "Federal Reserve Notes" not genuine U.S. Dollars. The Fed keeps dumping more money into the economy, creating debt out of thin air to support the rampant spending in Washington. It is destroying our economy. I encourage you to look up everything I've mentioned. Check the facts. You might just be surprised.

We need to limit the public vehicles on the road like they do in Mexico. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday vehicles with green plates can drive; Tuesday, Thrusday, and Saturday can be another color. Sunday's are for everybody! If nobody is going to do anything about rising fuel prices, we need to force the demand down. Yes this is a free country, but the thing we have that is free is our opinions. Wages are staying the same, and with prices spiking up so high as they are people are having a difficult time feeding their families, and that is what is most important. Anaylist are predicting prices as high as 6$ a gal. by the end of the year, and the federal minimum wage is still 5.50$(ish). People need to step up and do their jobs, whoever those people are, before we turn into a country full of poverty and despair.

Gas cost has affected our family, but luckily my husband is a Web Developer and can telecommute part of the week and I work from home as a Medical Transcriptionist. Usually having to drive to work at a roundtrip run of 60 miles a day 5 days a week has been a pain in the wallet even before gas prices increased. To offset the increased expense of gas he's telecommuting as often as possible with an average of one saved day a week and if we are lucky we'll see two. Its the running joke at the office now with all this "GO GREEN" propoganda that they are increasing the companies carbon emissions ranking by staying home to work rather than driving to work. If gas prices continue to rise I would hope to see companies pushing more towards telecommuting for those with jobs that allow this option.

Alot of people are trying to push mass transit and/or riding a bicycle to work... that's all fine and dandy. However, there are no bus routes that serve the route I take from home to work. I live in one county and work in the adjacent county. Also, the highways I take are freeways... no bicycles allowed on the interstate. So, nice try, folks. When there are routes available for me, then MAYBE I'll take the bus. Until then, I'm keeping my car, thanks. I sincerely believe the price of crude futures will drop upon the sheer announcement of drilling. Of course, the supply won't immediately be affected. It's ironic that the 5-to-10 year delay is the exact same excuse that was used to veto the ANWAR drilling bill in 1995! Well, 2005 has come and gone and here we are. Also, it makes me sick that we're not allowed to drill for oil within our own borders and yet Cuba and China are drilling diagonally into our reserves off the gulf coast! It's not the demand in the U.S. that's largely responsible. It's countries like India and China... their demand is much higher than the States...

Wow isnt Capitalism grand, no we dont want to increase taxes on the oil companies or impose a price cap, because that would be socialist and socialism is evil

The thought of no cars being on the road for the general public is problematic. Two of my children live in rural areas as teachers. Teachers drive miles from neighboring communities to the community school to teach. Until we develop a new way of teaching these children, the teachers who earn only 30,000 a year will not be able to afford to drive to work. Do we leave these children without a quality education? Maybe the government will make us all live within 5 miles of our work in the large cities where we live in apartments (no more home owners because they waste so much). All work will be done in these cities so people can get to word. Where work is further away the government will transport people to work. No public cars or air travel allowed. Only companies moving food and material from one big city to another, buses, and trains are allowed. Now that's what our founding fathers meant by freedom.

i was recently at epcot in orlando and visited the gm facility at the test trac pavilon. there to my amazement show cased with the other gm vehicles was a hydrogen fuel cell suv. after talking to the gm rep. i was told that they were ready to start mass production of these vehicles. the rep. stated that the only hold up was our governments lack of commitment to help subsidize the hydrogen fueling stations accross the nation, that are already prevelent in southern california. when will our government wake up and realize that this is the only path foward? oil is no longer a solution. our government has failed us in not realizing that this day would come and we have no other choice but to pay thru the nose for their mistake.

This is total bunk. There is no real justification for this level of price. The demand has not slowed. The supply has not dwindled. Methinks there is more here than meets the eye.

The truth is that the price of oil is being driven up to take your minds off what is important like the governments activities, corporate interest, zionist regimes, etc. They paint a picture of peaceful visits when they come and go, Bush to Saudia Arabia, the Pope to America, but what is really happening. Their called behind the curtain deals. Why do human being tolerate this, we are gods not rodents to be controlled by a group of crazy people who want ultimate power and knowledge. When will we see through the smoke and BS. Peace to all my sisters and brothers.

Wow since the dems have taken over congress, look what has happened. Open up our off shore areas to drilling and when that happens oil will go down. GM, Ford and Chryl better wake up and produce vehicles that do better than 15 mpg. People still drive too fast and we have too many old vehicles on the road. Time for change. Change congress first as the Dems have accomplished nothing since taking both houses.

I think our economy will be totally destroyed before gasoline hits $7.00 per gallon. It won't be so much because people will be forced to choose between a commute to work and food or medicine. It won't be because people will no longer be able to afford a vacation or a trip to Grandma's for Thanksgiving Day. It will be because the fuels used by our transportation industry, diesel and jet fuel, are significantly more expensive than the fuel we put in our cars. We have already seen the price of literally everything skyrocket because of the sharp increase in shipping costs. Our transportation industry in on the brink of failure. It cannot make any more cuts. The transportation industry is the backbone of the U.S. economy. Every other sector of our economy relies on transportation. Once transportation fails the entire economy fails. We are already dangerously close to that point. Fuel costs are up 33 percent from this time last year. Another thing that Americans don't see is that the stock market takes a major blow every time oil futures are bid up. On 26 June the Dow drop 358.41 in one day of trading because oil futures were bid up $5.50. That was the last 21 months of gains lost in one day of trading because of ridiculous speculative bidding on oil future. On 27 June the Dow lost 106.91 when oil futures were bid up $1.22. At this rate the stock market will crash before the end of this summer. The U.S. will be a 3rd world nation before it sees $7.00 per gallon.

The reality of what we read about the oil crisis/situation is indeed of significance. How we, as end users of the commodity, understand, evaluate, and act is of real concern. What are the essentials in life? Rhetorically, we know they are food, housing, and transportation: each is not mutually exclusive. How then do we make viable decisions based on alternative ways to overcome and still maintain our open independence as we go about our styles of life, all framed in a prudent manner to continue to exist in terms of success? As demographically diverse and intra cultural Americans, this can be accomplished if we exercise pragmatic ways to "meet and defeat": a fundamental of our democratic society. Is it at the point where we are so dependent on oil as a resource that none of us are willing to sacrifice and find innovative alternatives or are we just merely lazy and defer to complaining and making excuses and finding fault? Many questions to be answered. Americans have always taken pride in a moral fiber that demonstrates our flexibility to provide solutions to problems. Our economic engine in this country has, as it appears, found itself so attached to the production of crude and the association of all hydro-carbons derived from every distillation process that the effects are felt in every sector of our economy - transportation, housing, food production, and on and on. Let's find ways to creatively free ourselves of the bond to oil - no easy task but attainable.

When Israel attacks Iran within the next few months, we won't have to wait till 2010 for $7.00 gas.

I wish that I knew what is going on. I work closely with the oil business in Houston and most at my level here don't understand why the sudden spike in oil prices. I have heard about the speculators, the terrorists, big oil, supply interuptions, enviromentalists and more. I personally believe that it is a combination of all of the above. I believe the speculators with the help of the media are unnecessarily driving up prices, big oil is just sitting back and enjoying the big money they are receiving, they do not set the prices and they DO invest hundreds of millions to find and harvest the oil, but I don't see them giving anything up to help. Enviromentalists are a big problem to domestic drilling and they don't have any idea of what they are talking about other than their "feelings". Drilling for oil is now so clean that I can't understand their objections. Last of all are our politicians who wish to subjugate the US to the new world order. Just take a look at the Trans-Texas corridor plans to see what they have planned for us. Basically until people stop buying oil, the prices will not go down.

If there are that many fewer cars on the road, how would demand go up that much. Sure, demands up in developing nations, but the countries can't subsidize fuel for ever, and demand isn't up that much. If 10 million vehicles leave the road, don't you think that would impact the futures market?

I think once someone assassinates one our inept congressman (women) then the rest will take notice. It is bound to happen, too many people are complaining, and sooner than later, they are going to piss-off a shooter. I think that our congress and senate is so out of touch! When I become president here is my first items are: 1. Senators and Congressmen have two-term limits. A. Pay is $50,000 per year. B. No Medical Benefits. C. No Company Cars. D. They also agree to be audited for the next 20 years by multiple tax companies to keep pay-offs from happening. 2. We become an Independent and a self-sustaining Nation. A. We drill for our own oil, and if needed we can sell excess to pay off National Debt. B. We drill for oil, where ever oil can be found. C. We make our Oil Drilling areas "Cleaner, Better, than they were prior to drilling. D. We use ONLY Nuclear Power for electricity and NOT coal. We use coal for other things, or sell to other countries to pay off National Debt. (Nuclear Power has ZERO Carbon FOOTPRINT) E. Get rid of Diesel Fuel, and replace with Natural Gas. All Diesel Trucks will convert to CNG. F. Develop Hybrids, and Electric Cars. (Electric Cars will require HUGE demand for electricity, and only Nuclear Reactors can offer that amount of energy) Thanks!! More to come

My LARGE Harley gets 40MPG without even trying. The high gas prices just made me invest in some rain gear- thats its. Screw it, lets Ride!

I believe the oil/gas companies should be regulated as the Electric & Natural Gas companies are regulated. The only issue comes in that petroleum is a raw material in making products (plastics) that are sold for profits just as gasoline is a product, so at what point do we NOT regulate profits? The other problem is that the US Government can't control markets in other countries, will companies reduce oil shipments to the US where they can't make as high a profit that they may make selling it in Canada or other countries.

Part of the problem with high gasoline prices is tied to the law of supply and demand. There have been no new gasoline refineries built in the United States for several years. The EPA requirements have made it cost prohibitive for oil companies to build new refineries. While I agree that we need to protect the environment, I don't believe that environmental concerns should trump our national sovereignty. Our dependence on foreign oil is placing our country in grave peril. Environmental concerns have prevented the United States from developing some very rich oil fields. They have also prevented us from drilling for oil in offshore areas that other countries are actively exploring. The supply side of the gasoline price equation has cannot be solved in the short term. However, there are short term steps that can be taken to reduce the demand side of the equation. One immediate step that can be taken is to reduce the national speed limit to 55 mph. Driving slower will reduce the amount of gasoline that is consumed. Thereby reducing the demand for gasoline and causing the price of gasoline to be lowered. During the Arab oil embargo in the 1970's, a national speed limit of 55 mph was implemented. The demand for gasoline dropped and lives were saved. I have personally contacted both of the senators from my state and the national congressman from my district suggesting a speed limit of 55 mph. Not one of the 3 responded to my suggestion.

you want gas prices to go up????? How do you think most of our crops are harvested and how do you think they get transported to your local grocery store. Rising gas prices affect a lot more than consumer goods, mail and food. Rising gas prices also affect the number of jobs in our country as businesses cannot afford to keep as many employees. Rising gas prices = high unemployment. Wake up liberals!

The algore (he doesnt deserve capital letters) socialists in Congress are to blame for the sky high prices. They dont want to do anything about it but watch them go higher and higher to get people off the road and out of business. B. Hussein Obama is top of the list of socialists in Congress backing these prices. We need to drill here, drill now and pay less and push the socialists out of the way so we can survive!!!

Comment by American Man says Bush is hiding. What the heck does the president have to do with gas prices, or hurricanes, or sneak attacks from terrorists? I'm so sick of hearing the blame Bush comments. Two things determine gas prices; supply and demand. If we cut back demand, prices will go down. If we find more oil, prices will go down. If we get off the oil teat we might get our country back and revive our economy, drive the Arab states out of business, and get us the heck out of the Middle East. But stop blaming Bush. The Democrats have had control of Congress for two years and they have done nothing!

I highly doubt this...China and India are going to get called out shortly for the damage they are doing to the environment and their increased demand is going to go down. Interest rates in the USA will go up so that the dollar is more valuable and other countries will look to invest in our country again. If the government can stop handing out money to subsidize the losers of the economy this time around (the borrowers and lenders) then we can finally get into a recession and start repairing what is broken.

I agree with Bill. I also live in an area where mass transit is very limited. Some of us need our cars to get to work. What about us? We have a do nothing government (all of them, including the President). Congress goes on vacation after doing what for the past year in a half, nothing. We need to drill and we need to do it now.

If Congress and the President would stop spending money at a rate that would make a drunken sailor blush that would strengthen the dollar and be a huge help, as would opening up more of our own resources for exploration and production. If gas actually hits $7 a lot of people, including members of Congress (hopefully ALL of them) are going to be unemployed.

This whole oil price increase crisis has been a way of life over in other countries for years, take a look at Japan and England etc.. for years they have paid alot more for oil then us Americans do, hence this is the reason you do not see these countries driving around in full blown v8 trucks and suvs. I dont feel sorry for most gas guzzling vehicle owners as they dug there own grave buying one and wasting gas for years. We had back in the 80's an oil problem, then instead of making cars-trucks more fuel efficient we started introducing v8 suv's in the 90's till now and pumping out more hp instead of fuel mpg, now after gas hits $4 a gallon we start to think that maybe its time to make more fuel efficient vehicles?? well what would have happen if we all drove fuel efficient vehicles back when gas was $1.50 a gallon a few years ago! would we be at $4 a gallon like we are now?

>>>When will someone make the call that necessities cannot be traded for ridiculous profit?<<< C'mon, when will people realize that this is a capitalist republic and not a socialist democracy? Obama and the rest of his socialist posse will start with something like oil, claiming unfair profit, move through all the utilities, then the grains and all commodities, then never stop. We already have enough of a parental, socialist government haunting us from FDR (and he only got around the Constitution by threat of his court packing plan). People need to wake up and realize that the government is not their savior, and that business runs in cycles. Those cycles cannot be suspended, a constant upward slope imposed, by fiat of some socialist president without having to pay the piper down the line. America is the land of freedoms; freedom of choice, freedom of economic contract, freedom of speech, freedom of the press. This is not some regime where they give you the other, weakness inducing freedoms; the freedom from fear, from poverty, from responsibility will only destroy our individuality, and our country.

Our congress is a bunch of crap.

Cable companies have price limits, our "government" should federalize the gas companies, and replace the limits removed by Bush and his people in 2001. Gee, maybe if we stopped protecting all the Arabs, and stop fighting their wars for them, and stop letting them come here by droves, and stopped them from taking over our colleges,....oil would go down? The ONLY reason they have money, IS oil. They have contributed absolutely zip to the world, and humanity in 3000 years. Without it, they are nothing.

"American" man is an idiot.

Doom, Doom and Gloom. .. Everyone thinks the sky is falling. The current fuel price bump is nothing more than Wall Street testing the market to find the maximum bearable limit for oil pricing. At $60 per barrel, they were making a tidy profit, gasoline was $2 per gallon and people were generally complaining, but not upset so much. An opportunity to make a test case for $3 gas came up during Katrina and it showed the market was willing to pay a higher price. Once used to $3 gas, a 33% hike was the next logical step. People are still driving and only a 5% drop of consumption has occurred. $4 has started to draw some heat, so prices may back down to $3.50 for a while. So what does this mean? If the average consumer drives a 25mpg vehicle 15k miles per year, then you are spending about $2,400 per year on fuel at $4. If gasoline hikes up to even $7, that will be only $1,800 more per year for fuel. If the average person earns only $30k per year, they need only make a 6% increase in their salary over the next 18+ months to compensate for a hike to $7. So no, the sky won’t fall if gasoline reaches $7.

American Man....you are a friggin idiot!

DRILL HERE, DRILL NOW, PAY LESS! 1. Since we've always protected Israel and have pulled Iraq & Kuwait's collective asses out of a sling, why are we note getting free oil for life? 2. Mexico (& probably Canada) owes us more money than they can EVER pay back -- why are we note getting free oil from them? 3. Oil companies have spent over 3 decades to research on pulling oil out of the ground safely, cleanly with minimal environmental impact -- DRILL HERE, DRILL NOW, PAY LESS! Dimorats want you to have to spend more on a gallon of gas -- they don't care & they don't have any solutions to the problem either. A vote for a democrat is a vote to bankrupt this country one citizen at a time.