Why are gas prices so high?
365744
All of the answers listed are contributing factors but are really reasons why the cost of OIL is so high, the largest problem is Refining.  There has not been a new refinery built in this country in over 50 years.  The way the current environmental laws are structured it is nearly impossible to build a new refinery in the United states.  You can have all of the oil in the world, if you cannot convert it to Gasoline it is not going to help with the supply of gasoline which drives the prices we pay.
302605
Because they can!!!  There are certain thing in our economy that we all have to have and will pay just about anything for.  Think about it....would you pay for overpriced gas or overpriced ice cream, overpriced baby diapers and toilet paper or overpriced magazines and movies.  If you have ever noticed those are the types of things that I think have the biggest price fluctuations because companies know we will just complain but buy anyway.
406369
The 2 topics aren't related.  Take a class on Economics sometime to understand why gas prices are the way they are.
68168
Gas prices are set based on supply and demand. If more people are using gas or there is a lower amount of gas being produced then the prices will go up.\n\nThe recent increase in prices is probably due to the growing tension with Iran. If for some reason the oil from Iran is cut off, there will be less production.
300860
no gas prices should go higher!!\n\nthen maybe fat a**es will stop driving their big fat SUV's, take a bus\nand other technologies will be developed\n\nthe gov't did not create the "gas problem" people being lazy did
482515
No... All I know is that the reason gas is so expensive is because of supply and demand... maybe you should talk about that for 5 pages!!! I know I could... Well, there, I actually did help you!!! You are welcome...
140706
well, here in california gas prices are almost three dollars and from what i've heard, the farther east, the higher the gas price... so you do the predicting and calculations, sorry i wasn't much help. good luck finding out!
363648
How much they made in profits has nothing to do with the price of gas.  \n\nThere are quite a few reasons that gas prices are rising.  First, simple supply and demand. The price of the oil that is refined to make gas is rising.  This is because worldwide demand for oil is growing (think about China and India).  Right now due to our little war and the other unstable oil producing countries, worldwide oil production is not where it needs to be.  Secondly, with the increased demand for gas in this country, the current refinery system cannot meet demand.  The EPA has put a strangle hold on any new refineries.  There hasn't been a new refinery built in this country for 30 years.  Lastly, the government has allowed all of the major oil companies to either merge together or be acquired by foreign companies.  Exxon / Mobil, Chevron / Texaco, British Petroleum / Atlantic Richfield and Royal Ductch / Shell.\n\nAll of this is the perfect recipe for big profits.  Publicly traded oil companies like Exxon / Mobil are doing what they are supposed to be doing; maximizing shareholder value.  If you want someone to blame, blame the government.  They make the environmental laws.  They started the war.  They allowed all of the mergers.
638765
High prices!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  People trying to raise a family can not afford the high price.  The worst of it is with gas prices rising,  everything (housing, food, clothing, toys etc.) will increase.  This is probably going to put us in a depression.  People will not be able to afford things they need to live.  They surely will not be able to enjoy any entrainment
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.
302739
Poltical instability in the middle East is a cause for higher gas prices. It's ironic that Iraq is one of the least expensive places to buy gas in the world. The oil companies can't just jack up prices whenever they want, regardless of what you may have heard.
464151
It's not the oil thats so high. It's Cheney. He's being like any other republican. GREEDY. I'm saying this cause I am one. He's the reason gas is so high.
369352
Answer to Question one:  There is strife in Nigeria and Iraq driving gas prices up.  There is also a potential nuclear war brewing between the US and Iran, the forth largest producer.  For some insane reason, the fact that oil prices are skyrocketing isn't causing the powers that be to think twice about causing another war.  Finally, China and India are growing in economic capacity and need oil to build their economies.  \n\nAnswer 2:  Because the insurgents are attacking the oil infrastructure in Iraq and that's Imperialism.  I guess the US could exact tribute from Iraq, but were they to do that, the country would have a revolution within a few minutes and then they wouldn't sell any oil to the US.
640735
Oil prices are high because the demand is high.  \n\nImagine you had a pill that cured every health problem--obsesity, AIDS, cancer, and everything in between.  What would you sell it for?  You could sell it for $1 a pill--because everyone would want one.  Or, you could sell it for $1 million a pill--because everyone would want one.  Some people would sell it for $1.  Some people would sell it for $1 million.  People would fall everywhere in between.  \n\nWell, the oil companies don't have a magic pill, but they do have something that most of their customers cannot imagine living without.  They've realized that they can make a profit at $1.50 a gallon, but they can make a much better profit at $3.50 a gallon.  Why wouldn't they raise their price?\n\nAlthough I think the high prices suck, in the long term it is a good thing, because it will increase efforts to develop new kinds of energy and cars that are more efficient.\n\nBrazil has a fuel that is similar to ethanol that is made out of sugar instead of corn.  (Sugar is their main export.)  Since they developed this fuel, Brazil required cars to run on the stuff, and they are completely independent of foreign oil.  The U.S. should do the same thing with ethanol.  We could be done with foreign oil in ten years.
323088
Gas prices will never go down.  You might see a small reduction after a massive increase, but $3 a pop is now the price.  I bet you will see $4 a gallon by the end of summer.\n\nWith your suggestions I believe you think American corporate price gouging is the cause for high prices.  Most of the other answers point to supply and demand.  But if price gouging is a factor, I fear there is no solution.\n\nMost of middle America hates the prices, but loves the profits they are accruing with stocks in their 401K.  ExxonMobile made $10 million in one month, made $1 billion last quarter.  ConnocoPhilips made about 1/3 that in profits as well.\n\nThere just aren't enough people in the country that don't profit from selling gas to go beyond complaining about the price.
1033007
here in Michigan we have our gasoline mixed with ethanol yet our prices are still way high.
461481
It's called capitalism.  Supply and demand.  Those who have it sell it for as high a price as they can get.  Those who need it have to shop around for the lowest price they can.  Eventually, the gas gets so expensive people will have to walk or ride bikes.  Then fewer people buy it, and the price goes down.  In socialist countries, they put a $2 tax on it to encourage people to walk.\n\nBlowing people up starts wars.  People die.  Doesn't work out well in the long run.