[quote name='shieryda']$3.45/gallon today outside Chicago.
Public transportation and car-pooling are not an option.[/QUOTE]
Why aren't those an option? Many parts of Asia and Europe have been doing it for decades, buses, railroads, biking, even walking (like myself). I have no sympathy and respect for those who stretch their budgets out of monthly payments to buy finance large homes and SUVs/Hummers and live so far away from the rest of the world. Research a little bit on peak oil, if people don't change their behaviors, mother nature will. Perhaps people have gone so lazy and fat by now that those measures will be real hardships for them.
Before you blame oil companies (yes it's their fault, but not 100%), consider the major causes of high oil prices (along with subsequent effects)
1. Price of crude oil per barrel
-commodity prices driven up by investors, because other sectors are too risky (real estate).
2. Falling US dollar
-govt keeps spending money to boost economy.
-the value keeps falling because fed keeps cutting interest rate.
-investors are ditching dollars and trading with other currencies.
3. US relations with other countries
-current standoff with Chavez really reduces our supply unless US invade Venezuela (was the 3rd largest supplier of oil)
4. Peak oil
-supplies haven't increased, but demands have as other newly industrialized nations are competing with US now for the resources.
-long term investors know that the price will only go up, not down.
-as mentioned, when everyone (well not true, but close) uses Hummers and SUVs it will only exacerbate the situation.
The situation is much more profound than it looks, so...
ing around with gas prices? Public transportation and car-pooling are not an option.[/QUOTE]
:lol:
