Do you think gas prices are too high? Are we being ripped off by the petroleum companies?
368718
Some of the prices are artificially inflated. \n\nHowever, gas prices in the US are still lower than in most countries. Go to Germany or England and pay the equivilant we pay per gallon for a liter. \n\nI do think that many of the companies are taking advantage of teh recoupment of defense oil reserves and the war against terror in order to boost their profits.\n\nOn a final note, though, the war in Iraq was not about oil. If it were, we would be getting oil from Iraq. We are not, yet at least. Much of what excess Iraq is producing is going towards paying their reparations to many countries.
1056073
It is a real concern, but whenever someone makes a prediction about when a country of the world will reach peak oil output, they do so with what then is considered a researve.  As the cost of a barrel of oil increases, sources for oil that were once not considered a researve then become on because at that cost it is economically viable to recover it.  With the recent spike in oil prices, North America can now clasify the tar sands in Canada and the oil shales in Colorado oil researves, and that being the case, it is estimated that in the US alone, we now have more economically recoverable oil then Saudi Arabia, the worlds largest exporter.  As the price continues to increase, other marginal sources will become economically viable.  Sooner or later, we will reach a point where there simply isn't enough oil available for any price, but that is still a ways off yet.  I believe that before we reach that point, oil will be more expensive then alternate fuel sources.  Through simple economics, I believe that people will begin using these alternate fuels simply because they are less expensive.  I believe that the high cost of oil will spawn invention and inovation into the energy sector, and I believe that has already begun.  We are working on increasing production of biodiesels and ethenol, and there is increased research into fuel cells and electric autos.  I think the future lies in hydrogen burning technology personally.  We already have engines that burn Hydrogen, but we're still working on the fuel tank dilema.  So, for a long answer, I believe that there is and will be time. I'm looking foward to being put out of buisiness.
318772
gas prices are terrorism
326194
Yes we are in a crises! And if something is not done it is only going to get worse. I don't know exactly what needs to be done but Americans need to make a stand against this and say enough is enough. It is all over the news, on the net, talk shows and so on. That suggests to me that something is wrong. I don't know what Americans are going to do. The price of everything has went up and continues to go up. And we are not getting any cost of living increases either. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. And no help from the government because they are some of those getting richer over the oil. When Exxon goes above Wal-mart we have a problem.
871653
Doesn't matter.  We need oil and will burn oil. If the recent price gouging did nothing to curtail our oil use I don't think the oil companies have to worry about loosing any business any time soon.
461013
the gas companies have greedy businessmen behind them milking this for all it's worth.  they are lying to the public, and making record profits!!!  its disgusting.  no one in this government will take a stand on this.  i think that they don't want to bite the hand that feeds them(money)!!!
337489
We should riot against the oil companies. Their the most greedy people I've ever seen or heard of. \n\nThe oil companies need to go under strong investigation (not governmental investigation cause the government could care less about us) Whoever is found out (how ever many people that is) that have raised gas prices to where certain families struggle to get to school and work should be immediately forced to donate ALL their money and be thrown in prison awaiting the public's vote on what to do to them. -- that sounds a little extreme but the oil companies have ruined so many lives that they deserve it.
372469
Lets see, the oil company's own and operate the wells, then the some people that work for them bid on the oil and it is sold to the refinery's which by the way is owned by the oil company's which in turn ship it to the gas stations guess who owns them. Sweet deal huh. I really wonder why the prices are so high.
405461
A couple of years ago, all the Amoco stations in my city became British Petroleum, But I don't think they have much to do with Mobil except that they both are making us take it in our arses with the gas prices. Funny how the oil industry has claimed the highest earnings ever in history last year, yet they "claim" that they are only making a small profit. Hmm...
183877
What makes you so sure there is price gouging going on? You pay less for gas than almost every major industrialized nation in the world, but you complain about the price as you pump gas into your guzzling SUV. Sit back and realize how good you have it, because just about every European out there would love the opportunity to buy gas at 2.50 or even 3.00 a gallon ... they would consider it a bargin, not a price gouge.
645979
I believe that the oil companies are taking advantage of the situation.  It seems the prices are always higher during the summer when people are using their cars, or R.V's to go on vacation.\n\nThe president is walking on thin ice...Republicans are going to feel the wrath of voters because they will be losing their races and the democrats will take their place.\n\nThe president wants us to open up Alaska to drilling, so when we have higher prices...he can say they would be lower if we were able to drill in Alaska.
517644
I don't want to create a conspiracy theory here - that the gas companies haven't built refineries, so that the supply has remained steady whereas demand skyrocketed, driving up the price...as the companies have seen quarterly profits that are unheard of.  I won't try and say that this was a carefully constructed plot on their behalf, ahem.  Well, ok, I don't think it is but I do think that they've been cheap and that their current plans to expand existing refineries won't solve our problems.\n\nDemand for energy will continue to grow (disproportionately here in the U.S...) and I really believe STRONGLY in seeking alternative sources of energy so that we can not only reduce costs for Americans (costs for living...crude oil costs affect EVERYTHING...prodution, shipping...driving up prices...costs to commute, etc.) but will reduce our dependence on foreign oil - doesn't get much better than THAT!!
445516
As of yesterday it jumped 13 cents in 24 hours making it 2.69 in Florida, it makes me sick because they are just playing with us, there is no legitimate reason for these prices. The worst part of it is they say it will reach 3.50 per gallon by this summer and when that happens I will have to quit my job because it will cost me 35.00 a week just to drive to and from work, no place else just to and from work.I work part time just for extra spending cash ,my husbands job supports the household , so what's the point in my keeping the job, can't afford the gas to go any where and spend it.
581781
There is NOT a supply shortage. Even OPEC and Saudi Arabia are saying there's no shortage. They are saying the gas prices should not be anywhere near as high as they are. What's raising the cost is that oil companies are gouging everyone because they basically have a collective monopoly, even though they're supposed to be in competition with each other. That's why oil companies keep scoring record profits each year while average Americans are getting poorer.
446687
It is already here.  But we don't want to change and continue to use gasoline like when it was cheaper.  It will start affecting how we travel and live when the price continue to increase.  We continue to buy these oil from Iran (not our friend) and support their government through our need for oil.
363434
Nationally, the average per gallon price for regular gasoline is $2.50.\n\nAre gasoline prices high? That's not the best way to ask that question. It's akin to asking, "Is Williams tall?" The average height of U.S. women is 5'4", and for men, it's 5'10". Being 6'4", I'd be tall relative to the general U.S. population. But put me on a basketball court, next to the average NBA basketball player, and I wouldn't be tall; I'd be short. So when we ask whether a price is high or low, we have to ask relative to what.\n\nIn 1950, a gallon of regular gasoline sold for about 30 cents; today, it's $2.50. Are today's gasoline prices high compared to 1950? Before answering that question, we have to take into account inflation that has occurred since 1950. Using my trusty inflation calculator (www.westegg.com/inflation), what cost 30 cents in 1950 costs $2.33 in 2005. \n\nIn real terms, that means gasoline prices today are only slightly higher, about 8 percent, than they were in 1950. Up until the recent spike, gasoline prices have been considerably lower than 1950 prices.\n\nSome Americans are demanding that the government do something about gasoline prices. Let's think back to 1979 when the government did do something. The Carter administration instituted price controls. What did we see? We saw long gasoline lines, and that's if the gas station hadn't run out of gas. It's estimated that Americans used about 150,000 barrels of oil per day idling their cars while waiting in line. In an effort to deal with long lines, the Carter administration introduced the harebrained scheme of odd and even days, whereby a motorist whose license tag started with an odd number could fill up on odd-numbered days, and those with an even number on even-numbered days.\n\nWith the recent spike in gas prices, the government has chosen not to pursue stupid policies of the past. As a result, we haven't seen shortages. We haven't seen long lines. We haven't seen gasoline station fights and riots. Why? Because price has been allowed to perform its valuable function -- that of equating demand with supply.\n\nOur true supply problem is of our own doing. Large quantities of oil lie below the 20 million acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). \n\nThe amount of land proposed for oil drilling is less than 2,000 acres, less than one-half of one percent of ANWR. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates there are about 10 billion barrels of recoverable oil in ANWR. But environmentalists' hold on Congress has prevented us from drilling for it. \n\nThey've also had success in restricting drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and off the shore of California. Another part of our energy problem has to do with refining capacity. Again, because of environmentalists' successful efforts, it's been 30 years since we've built a new oil refinery.\n\nFew people realize that the U.S. is also a major oil-producing country. After Saudi Arabia, producing 10.4 million barrels a day, then Russia with 9.4 million barrels, the U.S. with 8.7 million barrels a day is the third-largest producer of oil. But we could produce more. Why aren't we? \n\nProducers have a variety of techniques to win monopoly power and higher profits that come with that power. What's a way for OPEC to gain more power? \n\nI have a hypothesis, for which I have no evidence, but it ought to be tested. If I were an OPEC big cheese, I'd easily conclude that I could restrict output and charge higher oil prices if somehow U.S. oil drilling were restricted. I'd see U.S. environmental groups as allies, and I would make "charitable" contributions to assist their efforts to reduce U.S. output. Again, I have no evidence, but it's a hypothesis worth examination.
395908
... they are part of it...you can't disagree that a billion people is a large market... but I don't think it's trippling gas prices... I think it's only part of the issue... I think a large part of it is the saber rattling in Iran... it's creating a fear based inflation...