GOD Please Help Us….I just realized that in Europe people are paying way much more for fuel and we should be happy the prices are not at $10.00 dollars per gallon. I think we just need to be smart about commuting from work and play. Car-pooling is great for the office. Also I have children and I remember when I was young I rode my bicycle and walked everywhere and scooters were really popular. Today kids demand parents to either buy them cars or drive them to places. I guess the reason is due to safety and the children getting abducted. Don’t get me wrong I grew up in the 90’s I am 29 years old , so you have to consider it wasnt that long ago that everything started to change.. So FAST!

So to answer the question I would say it has changed my lifestyle @ $2.50 per gallon here in Houston TX but yes if it gets to $4.00 per gallon It would be horrible! I would have to find hobbies at home only! If this does happen I am going to either get a Moped or I will turn my application into the Oil Industry to make a living! I dont know if my business would survive, I operate http://www.car–transport.com , a Car Transport business in Houston, our gas bill per month is over 5K which Houston is the OIL CAPITAL of the US…And… We are paying about $3.00 average for a gallon of Diesel fuel and if normal prices hit $4.00 then Diesel wil be over $5.00! Oh please come up with alternative fuel Answer!!!!!!! Thanks if anyone has any suggestions please POST ASAP!!!

The websites for alternative fuels are: http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/

Visit the site to compare prices and see if the vehicle you drive has any compatible fuel that can be used if you upgrade your engine!

Ummmm…electric cars are great and all, but where do you think the electricity comes from? And don’t you think the cost of all that extra electricity that would be needed to power the millions of U.S. cars and trucks would be passed down to the average consumer? One way or the other, the Powers That Be get your money. It’s not just Big Oil that runs your everyday life, folks…it’s their partners-in-slime in the electric, gas and nuclear industries that strangle the average Joe and Jane. Remember, the most successful empires were Water Empires. He who controlled the water for drinking, irrigation and transportation, controlled the region. We need energy for this modern world to function, and it isn’t free (solar is inefficient on a large scale). One way or the other, we pay for our large lifestyles.

I agree with a lot of viewpoints, from alternative fuels to smaller/more efficient cars. Who needs a top speed of 185 mph when the best speed limit you can find is 90?

My real problem with all of this is you crazy foreigners trying to tell us we think we have it so good. You spend 9 bucks a gallon at the pump? Congratulations. You also bring home 40% more in hard, post-tax cash than I do. -AND- your health needs are covered.

Now let’s talk about the job you have to have to get that. Does it require some sort of degree? Most often, not. Highschool education. A highschool education here gets you 25,000 a year, USD. How much do -you- make, Eckhard? How much did your house cost?

Do a real comparison, don’t latch onto one of the few things that you can point fingers at, when speaking of the general American populace. That being said…Please, bash our government all you’d like.

In a way, if it does rise maybe then the people of this country will wake up to the facts behind global warming and this ill fated, unecessary war in Iraq. (Bring our soldiers home!!)

Something is definitely wrong when Brazil is making strides into their plan of being energy independant within 10 years while the U.S.A languishes.

The Bush administration has been negligent, arrogant even criminal in its abuses of power that have put this country in the negative position it is now on a variety of issues.

Won’t affect me at all. I live in town, walk wherever I need to in town, drive 1 mile to work each day, and hardly ever travel but take the train when I do.

i had to stop reading the arrogant comments from those who “assume” that people can “drive less”, “walk” or “bicycle.

at 62, i am forced to drive to my job from the only place i can afford to live - in the only vehicle i have that burns/wastes gas at 10 miles to the gallon - to a tune of $50/day in fuel costs at $3.00/prices.

the option for a newer car disappears into my gas tank EVERY time i go to work since my income is on par with my expenses and rising fuel costs. trade jobs? not an option since my local community is severely economically depressed DUE to the rising oil costs and lack of disposable income to return to my community.

the shortsighted and attitude that exhorbitant gouging prices of gasoline are “good” for the economy (will “make” us go to a green solution that doesn’t exist now) will destroy the economic viability of the united states. the lack of oversight of the oil companies making record billion dollar profits every quarter will drown the average citizen and small business holder in a sea of oil profits.

the worst part of this situation, however, is the wild supposition that this problem was created by OPEC - while, in truth, it is created by the u.s. oil companies and speculators who purchase the u.s. standard west texas intermediate (WTI) on the global market.

this is about money and profits for texas oil companies - period. the original price leap (to “break the control of opec on prices” started in 2004 with wti rapidly rising in price on the market and eventually dragging the rest of the producers along for the ride.

if you are curious, think “peak oil” in texas and maximizing the amount left in those fields… and look at their profit sheets.

this is NOT about the environment, a shortage of oil, low supplies (oil refiners convention head several years ago pointed out that it isn’t the quantity of oil that controls the price, it is how much is refined - and by “controlling” how much is produced, the refiners “controlled” the price.

i hope that any “greenie” who reads this will take the time to do their homework and look at what is REALLY happening - only then can we work for a solution that will make this planet healthy.

[HINT: think/google youtube - midi air car!]

i’m done - i have to go to work so i can furnish the texas good ol’ boys with another record year of profits.

More walking and less financing of tyranny overseas can only be a good thing. But those of you with these dreamy notions of a sweet simple life are simply nuts. We tried that back in the day (dark ages, middle ages, slavery ages, etc.) and it was simpler to be sure, but I’d hesitate to suggest that every day was sweet nectar. You might reconsider how nice it would be to have transportation to the hospital once your skin is rotting off from some wild staph infection, or your intestines are distended by the 10 ft worm living in there, which came from the new simple diet you enjoy. This aspect of simplicity would certainly cool the romance quick.

I think it is time to revaluate our American trade policy and come up with a responsible fair trade program that deals with imports and exports including oil. Its time to implement an alternative energy programs that works.

We’ve developed flex fuel cars that can’t get the alternative fuel. We have hybrid cars that should be running on flex fuel.

We need to create a distribution network starting with the major cities and work outwards. We’ve hit the price point where it is profitable to drill for new oil and produce alternative fuels. Profit is the incentive for oil companies to keep oil prices high. We have the technology to produce fuel efficient cars and we need to make sure that the American market is able to utilize this technology.

A good step forward would be to require the American government to purchase alternative fuel vehicles for its fleet and require the use of alternative fuel. This would spark a demand for alternative fuel and the private sector will supply fuels due to the demand.

It is up to the government to design a distribution network and it is up to private companies to bid on the network.

maybe it will open up more opportunities to telecommute in our jobs. it certainly will make it difficult to make ends meet if I have to continue to drive to work every day. and it isnt just the cost of a gallon of gas. everything we need will go up along with the cost of gas because the increased expenses will be passed through to the consumer. short-term the economy will probably weather it, long-term we will all suffer. it is doubtful employers will give out any raises to help their employees offset the higher cost of living this will bring.