[Akula2ssn]

We have to keep in mind that up until the end of the last century, Europe and America were pretty much the industrial centers of the world. With China and India going through a huge industrial boom, gas prices are going to rise and stay high. We enjoyed lower and relatively stable gas prices in the past because other places in the world were not as well developed. Furthermore in the US, it didn't help when Nancy Pelosi pretty much put a stop on modernizing and expanding existing refineries, which prevents increased efficiency and put a cap on how much domestic refineries can process.

Exactly what the future holds is still uncertain. Problem with cars running on electricity and hydrogen fuel is that it takes a energy to produce electricity and hydrogen. Most of that energy thus far still comes from burning oil, natural gas, and other fuels. Biodiesel production isn't all that energy efficient compared to refining oil. Ultimately we are reaching a turning point in our history. However, there is a process that is still in the experimental phase that holds a great deal of promise of making biodiesel production economically competative. As we become more of a global economy and more and more countries begin to become developed with increased standards of living, we simply cannot expect to keep the exact same low costs for items like we have in the past. I'm no Marxist, but I can't say that Marx was completely off the mark when he said that capitalism requires inequality in the world in order to work.

[MissionTrek08]

In a larger sense (beyond our wallets), high gas prices are probably the best thing in terms of helping end our addiction to oil (especially in the U.S.). Only the great expense of filling a tank will force consumers to create a demand for alternate energy markets... and by creating a market demand, that will spawn practical developments in new technologies to meet it.

$4.oo/gallon gas and beyond will change the mindset of consumers, which is required to incorporate new sources for efficient, renewable, non-polluting energy into everyday life and economics. It's unfortunate that the U.S. has selfishly clung to combustion engine technology to satisfy our car lust (deeply engrained into our culture), and gas prices have been kept artificially low for so long despite shrinking resources.

Now we're getting up against the wall, and we have a lot of catching up to do in the future of energy and transporation manufacturing, instead of having the foresight to lead the way.

[FanWriter45]

Not to mention, British Rail has been kept up, despite two world wars. Unlike the US, which stupidly reduced our mass transit system to a barely functioning cargo/materials transport service. America has NO REAL MASS TRANSIT system. Considering the sheer size of the U.S., it's stunning, an absolute scandal, that we aren't at the forefront of efficient mag lev trains running coast to coast!

[Akula2ssn]

Originally Posted by FanWriter45

Not to mention, British Rail has been kept up, despite two world wars. Unlike the US, which stupidly reduced our mass transit system to a barely functioning cargo/materials transport service. America has NO REAL MASS TRANSIT system. Considering the sheer size of the U.S., it's stunning, an absolute scandal, that we aren't at the forefront of efficient mag lev trains running coast to coast!

Yeah, proposals for rail systems are already difficult enough to get through on the local level much less the national level. It's pretty bad over here in Seattle. Each time we want to put in a light rail system it gets shot down. Ironically some of those that shoot down the idea are environmentalists. As if widening our roads to handle larger volumes of cars would be any better for the environment.

[wal]

Yeah, Big Oil is making record profits.
However, if you remove their profits you only save yourself a whopping EIGHT CENTS at the pump- no savings at all.

On the flip side, you have your Federal, State and sometimes your local Governments increasing the price up to a quarter a gallon.

Personally, I blame the environmentalist movement and the political / social left that gives these lunatics attention. If we were able to drill more, like in Anwar or off the coast of Santa Barbara, if were were able to produce more refineries and even return to nuclear power then many of our energy woes would dissipate.

[trekie]

Living in California is even worse, you can't travel with out a car here. We have gotten some metrolinks in the last few years but they take too long ,over two hours, what would take you 40 min to get some places
Gas prices are up and so is everything eles

[MissionTrek08]

Originally Posted by wal

Yeah, Big Oil is making record profits.
However, if you remove their profits you only save yourself a whopping EIGHT CENTS at the pump- no savings at all.

Um.... huh? Big Oil are making record profits in the billions annually off eight cents per gallon of gas sold? Ya lost me.... source, please?

Meanwhile, drilling in Alaska or off Santa Barbara is not the answers either, since there's not conclusive evidence that any oil taken from the arctic reserve would add significantly to our national stocks (by the way, it's ANWR... Anwar was the first name of Egypt's President Sadat).

Also, the Fed and State taxes you pay on gas fund Highway Trusts and road infrastructure repair among other car-related usages. Your car would be fairly useless if roads across your state and the nation became unnavigable. It's another reason why the "gas tax holiday" proposed by McCain and now Clinton are stupid mistakes which cause more problems than they'd ever relieve for you at the pump.

More refineries will simply use up the dwindling oil supplies we have available even faster, which may offer a temporary cheap price fix but no doubt will be offset by the oil companies' costs to build new refineries, and increased transport costs moving more product to/from them... since Big Oil won't spend their profits on reinvestment, they have stockholders to fatten instead.

Feel free to solve the toxic waste problem of nuclear energy and I'll lobby with you for more plants tomorrow. Meanwhile, no thanks.... no one wants them in their neighborhood.

[Zardoz]

Well as an Alaskan(well ex-Alaskan), I can say there is enough in the Artic Wildlife Refuge to supply us for 100 years, accoring to projections.

The refuge itself is bigger than Texas, and the area they would drill in would be smaller than a small suburb. The north slope has proven that you can drill and still care for the enviroment. it's impact is minimal. Also they have perfect operational record.

[wal]

Originally Posted by MissionTrek08

Um.... huh? Big Oil are making record profits in the billions annually off eight cents per gallon of gas sold? Ya lost me.... source, please?

Well, how much do you think they are making per dollar?
Sourcem please?

[Saquist]

Right now As of May 1 2008 Houston is averaging 3.54 for regular unleaded.
Of Course the Highest it's ever been.