Not another gas price thread!

[Mike DC]

This is a big country and we need reasonably prices oil products for the trains, planes and automobiles to move goods from here to there and keep our economy going

I agree.  I think it's pretty close to "utility" status at this point.
And if this is true, then the argument that the oil industry has a right to charge whatever we'll pay for our oil is no longer valid.


But right now I still think the gas prices are not that high in the big picture.  We've got big problems at $3/gallon because we're rediculously dependent on rediculously cheap gas.  I don't want the transporation costs for everyone to suddenly rocket upward, but I also think we've got to break the cycle we're in somehow. 

We had a big scare in 1973 and another one in 1980, but it seems that we haven't learned a thing.  We're still in the huge cars & trucks and still building our cities more spread out than ever.  It's so bad . . . I don't think most of America even realizes there's anything wrong with this picture anymore.

It's not just the huge SUVs that are the problem.  Even our "average" cars & motorcycles are total gashogs by other countries' standards. 
This gas crisis makes us wish we'd bought V6's instead of V8's.  But in Europe, they're looking at their V6's and wishing they'd bought 4-bangers.  We're looking at buying "reasonable" 750cc motorcycles while they're looking at buying Mopeds. 

In America we've got an automotive culture that's pretty unique.

[bull]

Well yea, we've got to look cool while we're driving our motorcycles and SUVs. Good fuel mileage is ok but it's not as high a priority as looking cool and/or riding in style.