scratch that, 1.05.7 the litter now >_>

Gas prices aren't going to go down noticabley if any after the war. Between China/India's growing middle class, maturing oil fields, and increasing domestic consumption, we're just using more of the shit with less of it available. We have to go super efficient and/or find an alternative fuel source in the near future or we're fucked. Coal liquification looks like a good alternative in the short-term. It's bad, pollution wise, but it's not as bad as our economy derailing due to skyrocketing energy prices.

no because world wide demand is to high

Maybe if we globally boycott the oil companies, gas prices will go down:D

That will never happen Wallow, Everyone uses gas in some way. Besides, most of the oil factories are only Operating at 86%. The government is making a fortune off this shit.

Nah, that never works. We couldn't be organized enough, the only thing that will make the cost go down is the consumption. Supply and demand is a bitch, man. I heard on the news yesterday that Holiday driving was down like 6 billion miles or something this past month, which is awesome. The less gas and oil we consume the less they're going to charge for it, it's always been that way. And they are NOT going to help us out with George Bush in the white house, the whole organization of OPEC hates him.

How do you propose that we boycott the oil companies? Everything we use on a day-to-day basis is shipped using petroleum. You can buy/eat locally grown produce, but even then it's been transported with petroleum, although less of it.

There are two ways to reduce price. Lowering demand or increasing supply. Increasing supply by opening Anwar (sp?) and exploring other fields (maybe antarctica, etc.) can reduce costs. There's also developing alternative fuel sources which will also reduce the demand for petroleum. Probably the dirtiest, yet most abundant source of fuel we have is coal. We can turn it into petroleum, but dealing with coal (especially the high sulfur kind of my area) is dirty business for the environment. However, we may not have much choice.

I say we just lift the embargo we placed on ourselves back in the 70's and import and refine our own oil.

Let's drill Alaska!

Even if we drill Alaska, that'll just be putting a bandaid on the fucking hoover dam. We need to switch to a more efficient means of transportation and an alternative fuel source. We could start with revamping the transportation grids of the U.S. The pattern of stop lights being helped a bit with new technology would help save (probably) a comparable amount of fuel to opening up anwar.

I'm all for any alternative fuel sources, because you've got to figure in the long run do we always want to be dependant on foreign oil? Hell noes.

Gas prices are going up because of the falling value of the dollar, not a lack of supply.

Among other things, yes. I guess if you look at it in that reguard, our value of the dollar may go up, eventually after the war is over but it will probably be a long time to get back up to where we were since we are in such a horrible debt.

I respectfully disagree. I understand you're an econ major and everything, but blaming it on one variable is too simplistic. The falling dollar, increased demand, supply disruptions due to civil unrest, and maturing oil fields are all big issues. Of course the falling dollar might possibly be the largest culprit, but there are more things than just that.

god gave you feet why don't you all use it.

Yeah I know it's a multitude of issues; I just thought I'd point out a big one one that is often overlooked. I think the real issue with supply isn't that supply is actually running out (though it is technically) but that projected increases in demand (outside the US) are causing oil futures to skyrocket.

EDIT: Oh and I'm not trying to pretend I'm some sort of expert because I plan on majoring in econ; I definitely haven't learned enough yet to invoke myself as a credible source. I have done some reading on the subject, though, and hopefully am not misinformed.

I thought the biggest issue was not that it wasn't getting pumped efficently, but not being refined up to where it should be.

Osmoses, your people are driving ferraris and living in mansions because we aren't using our feet :p. Well, the upper class ;).