What can we do as a society about our ridiculous natural gas prices????
147813
Move away from natural gas as a source of power (many eletric plants are being converted to natural gas as it burns cleaner than coal and was very cheap until recently).  Use geothermic energy to heat many of our buildings, stop building one story buildings (Schools, Wal-Marts etc)(By building upwards, the heat loss is less than building outwards as there is less contact with the outside as well as heat rises heating the upper floors), support alternative energy sources (Xcel Energy has a program where you pay for the cost of producing wind energy versus their other sources making wind more desirable), find ways to limit southern growth (air conditioning is the main reason for the boom in the south and southwest, by keeping people in the north, natural gas will not be diverted from heating to energy production in southern states), turn your thermostat down at your work, home, school, etc(During the 70's energy crisis these places were commonly set at 65, now 68-72, the extra heat needed to stay at that temperature would decrease the demand for natural gas thus decreasing the prices as well), buy a hybrid/electric car or better yet take mass transit, and last but not least, halt the suburbanization of America (the number of single family homes in the US has grown tremendously, if people sacrificed space(land and House) energy costs could be reduced by living in an apartment or a duplex as again the heat loss of multiunits is less than single as less interaction with outside air(homes have grown from an average of 1,500 sq feet to over 2,500 in the last 20 years, that is 2/3 of the old house that has to be heated on top of what as already there.))
788164
Join Green Piece.... or sum such group... they do it all the time.... Drive up the cost of *everything*
1101282
Ask the country in a heart felt way to conserve energy.Explain the big plan with out any panic.Have a good leader that everyone respected state the plan.Everyone would obey the rules and follow the plan or else they have to pay big fines.
1100937
Regulating prices will do one thing- run oil refiners out of the US. Guess what that will do, raise prices further.\n\nWhen people conserve demand goes down lowering the price. Remember Adam Smith? He didn't drive an SUV either....
1081489
At first yes, I did feel helpless.  I mean I am a single mom and its hard enough making ends meet.  But you learn to make adjustments in other financial aspects to accommodate the rising gas prices. I totally understand where you are coming from, but we have to deal with it right? I guess we don't have to-but what else are we going to do? Just like you said, would we rather be able to provide for our families and end up getting bitten in the but because of the financial struggle or get fired or quit and live off of the state for the rest of our lives? I guess for me, I am way to proud to have to live off of the state the rest of my life, therefore I deal with the rising prices in EVERYTHING.  I hope all works well for you!
293797
I had a website addressing this very issue. We have many options available to us presently, but as long as their is a dollar in fossil fuels neither government nor corporate America is going to move in that direction. If you would like to be a mirror for the site let me know and I will get it back up!
222226
Yep, I'll speculate, they are giving us shit gas. I'ts 2.65 in Wisconsin and only goes half the distance in my car too. There are places where gas isn't treated here, but now are great goverment wants to poison gas across the state. One way of not raising the taxes elsewhere, just buy twice as much gas. Use 2x's the amount-get2x's the tax.
627584
Ain't that the truth?! I acually saw a sign at a gas station the other day that said "I'ts not our fault we're getting screwed too!"
478316
I think that's a question that we all need to consider.  Many people are aware of our pollution problems and horrible conservation policies, but are unwilling to do anything about it, even spread awareness.  But, to answer the question, I'd give up my gas-guzzling car in a heartbeat.
1163558
For myself and alot of others it is hurting right at what it is a gallon. Something needs to be done about the rising cost of everything....
393908
The best thing to do is not meddle. If price gets high enough, people will be forced to conserve. Prices are usually over $4 per gallon in Europe and over $3 per gallon for most of Latin America. Perhaps prices would be more stable if North America were to stop wasting the world's fuel supply.
317783
The people as a whole can solve this problem by using as little gas as possible until prices go down.  Take public transportation, walk or bike whenever possible.  Car pool to and from work or school.  Find things to do at home on the weekends instead of going out.  These ideas have been repeated for years I know, but they are as true now as they were 20 years ago.\n\nIf we reduce our use of gas enough than the Oil companies will be forced to lower their prices.\n\nRelying on the government to "fix" economic problems makes the economy worse rather than better and that is true under any president or any congress.
1062509
Look who's running the country...a bunch of oil freaks.  Everytime the price of oil goes up they are cashing in!  They don't want to come up with alternative fuel sources because there is no money in that for them.
517097
They (I assume you mean oil companies) have every right to raise prices.  Its called capitalism!  If you want to be picky, why don't people protest bottled water or movie popcorn?  Its profit margin is a helluva lot higher than gas.  \n\nThere are a lot of other options for people if they think gas prices are too high.  Don't drive! Ride a bike, walk, public transportation...
680409
Yes, I am.  But there's not much we can do about it.\n\nEveryone says boycotts won't work.  I'd like to think they would, but they won't.  Here's why:  Everyone boycott's Exxon.  Everyone else pumps more oil to meet demand.  Eventually, they won't be able to keep up, and gas will run out of stations before the next delivery arrives.\n\nEventually, everyone will have to go back to Exxon-providing station for gasoline.  Since everyone will be coming there, Exxon & the gas station will spike their prices, and everyone will be paying throught the 'you-know-what' for gasoline.\n\nYou may think that I'd take a long time, but a one month boycott could trigger these problems, considering the amount of oil the U.S. goes through daily.\n\nExxonMobil's $8.4 Billion is the HIGHEST EVER posted quarterly gain for an oil company, I believe.
353979
It is funny how people complain about the price of gas and then complain when the Pres. tries to do something to lower that cost. Lets here some solutions from the people who grip about everything he attempts to deal with. I have yet to hear a plan that is logical from anyone. Alternative fuels ,yes but where are the people at that are willing to fund the development of these fuels? The president can not force companies to make a new fuel source as that would not be free enterprise. Do you think the oil companies who's profits are way up are really going to work hard to come up with other sources? I would love for the US to go to ethanol but someone with more money than me will have to set up the refineries. This solution he is giving is not enough and I will agree with you there but it will take more than the Pres to fix this problem. I will be honest and say that I could do more to help like take public transportation, quit driving my truck, stop letting the grocery store us plastic bags for my purchases but I like these things. We need to Stop playing the blame game.
375511
your observation of current conditions go far beyond the political structure that our world suffers from Today.In brief, the answer to the first part of your question is 'Its already too late!" Our Environment is in total upheaval due to the persistent use of FOSSIL FUEL!! Global Warming is UPON us as we sleep, eat and make war....for the very product that will terminate Life as we know it...First of all,once the concept of Greed is comprehended ...We as a race might have a chance to not become exstinct. As it stands now, it doesnt look very good. Understanding the free worlds economy and realizing that it is controlled by the Petro Dollar.and the handful of people that own the Companies that produce Petroleum.Failure to keep the Petro Dollar afloat WILL and WOULD collapse the free world economy,  THIS is the POLITICAL Machine that decides whose Son or Daughter should be sacrificed to maintain a "Freedom" to breath foul air and watch our Planet slowly Die; Being ravaged by Hurricanes,Tornadoes,and Floods caused by the melting of our Polar caps.Once the Salinity content of our oceans deviate much more or the temperature should fluxuate (I believe its 4 Degrees Celsius) disrupting the food chain, we as a race of people should be issued a shovel the next time we fill our gas tanks ....so we can start digging our own graves....We are on the Precipice, and it IS serious,....but we as a people have a tendency to not want to hear this until its knocking at our door...I pray that we as a society will take note and a STAND and commit...your children and your grandchildren have the RIGHT to live in a world free of Toxic Gases we call 'AIR' that is generated by the handful of Petrol Sharks that keep us stuck from utilizing the technology that ALREADY exist to burn clean fuel  ...Sundancer