Why hasn't the government stepped into lower gas prices or something? Even Just to build a refienerie.?
471050
Are you people serious? our oil and gasoline is Subsidized by the US government.  While your crying about $3 a gallon for gasoline, Europe is paying upwards of $7 a liter for their petrol.  The government is the only thing keeping you driving the 4X4 and giant SUV, wake up.\n\nEdit: and while your on Yahoo Answers moaning to all of your "friends" about how evil a democracy the US gov't is, they are loosening the restrictions on your car's waste output, and opening the countries fuel supply for personal use so YOU don't have to ride your bike to the mall tomorrow.\n\nEdit2: YES they CAN use the excuse they cannot convert oil->gasoline.  We are currently refining at MAX capacity (when weather systems allow) We havn't made a new refinery since the 70s, and since it take almost 20 YEARS to complete a new refinery, don't hold your breath. (10 years to complete an oil rig)  Also, why the hell would Exon make a new refinery? From a business standpoint, they have NO motivation to do so, they are getting prime price for their product.
1154704
Sounds like a good choise to me. As in the near future with the cost of petrol going up continually, people wont be able to afford to run a car!
332984
Hmmm...Not really sure.\n\nI know that the "price freeze", if instituted by the government, would only apply to the actual sale of gas.  The price of oil COULD continue to rise (the foreign stuff (a LOT)), which would mean less of a profit for the oil companies, who buy the oil & refine it into gasoline.\n\nI can't exactly aswer your question, but a price freeze may not help.
1089171
apresocratic,\nRawk on, man!  I want what you're on...\n\nAdrian,\nYes, there are barriers in the U.S. government that are slowing the transition down.  However, keep in mind that big Oil companies are actually evolving into big Energy companies, buying into whatever will lead our future markets.  Everyone knows Oil is a time bomb waiting to go off and die out.  There's no reason not to encourage alternative fuel sources.\n\nAt the same time, we'll never be 100% off of foreign oil before it's gone, but that doesn't mean we can't get consumption down to a respectable number so that fluctuations in price stop having an immediate impact on our economy.
1181308
No, neither directly nor indirectly.  One must recognize a number of things.\n\n1.  The federal government alone, via the taxpayers, is funding the war in Iraq.\n\n2.  The federal government does not control the quantity or price or oil or gasoline.  Even if our government was to release every barrel in every reserve in the country for public consumption, that oil wouldn't last even two months.  Any attempts of the government to control or manipulate gas prices would be to lower them, and historically, the U.S. government has proven unable to affect any but the smallest of changes in gas prices.\n\n3.  The war has not reduced our oil supply.  While insurgents temporarily halted oil production in Iraq at the war's onset, most delays lasted weeks, not months, and have long since been remedied.  Both OPEC and independent oil producers around the globe increased production throughout the war, if not because they wanted to help the U.S. out, then to take advantage of record oil prices, due exclusively to demand.
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!!
478800
WRITE CONGRESS AND THE SENATE AND ASK WHY THEY WILL NOT RELEASE OUR OIL RESERVES???? THIS WOULD HELP BRING DOWN THE PRICE OF GAS!!! ALSO ASK WHY WE HAVE NOT BUILT ANY MORE REFINERIES IN DECADES!! THE OIL COMPANIES PURCHASED ONE A FEW YEARS BACK AND SHUT IT DOWN AND REFUSE TO OPEN IT AGAIN!!The soaring profits have already attracted the attention of many members of Congress. On Tuesday, House Speaker Dennis Hastert warned companies that any price gouging is "unacceptable, and any company who does it will be prosecuted." He urged the oil companies to explain to the American public what they are doing to bring down the cost of oil and natural gas. And he urged them to build new refineries and pipelines. THERE HAS BEEN NO NEW OIL REFINERIES BUILT IN THE USA SINCE 1976! WHY HUGE PROFITS AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHIGN ABOUT IT!!!
425895
I would very much like to Contribute to the Well Being of Society but by Law I am not Allowed at this Point. I've come up with a way to Convert Regular Pump Gasoline into Propane. All Petroleum is essentially the same, on a Molecular Level. It's only the Dispersal that's Altered.What this would do to Benefit Society would be to signifigantly lessen Dependency on Petroleum, and at least Slow Down Global Warming. Granted, that Issue is Debatable, but Air Pollution is not. As to the Law , all Vehicles made from 1996 to the Present are Required to Run at 14.7 Parts of Air to 1 Part of Fuel.That's the OBD II EPA Mandate.No Changes are Allowed, even if Fuel Economy is Improved, and Emissions are Lowered! My Gasoline to Propane Converter is Set for 100 Parts of Air to 1 Part of Fuel, just like Propane, but with even more Engine Power. Engines Run Best on Vapor, not 14.7 to 1 Atomized Liquid Fuel. If This is not so, then how is it that Engines DO run on Large, Cumbersome, Expensive Propane Tank Cylinders? Again, there is no Molecular Difference, only the Dispersal.I've been to the US Patent Office and Looked at other Units that have been kept off the Market, so don't even go There ! See, Money has $topped it every Time ! I'd very much like to fix up a whole Fleet of Vehicles, and Donate Them to the Meals on Wheels Program, and keep them Insured, and Fueled Up. There are Plenty of Good People that want to Help, but with Gas. going back to $3 per Gallon, it gets Expensive ! Also, there are Military Veterans Assistance Services that get no Government Funding. We All Owe Them so very much.They often need Transportation for Medical Care. And there are so Many other charitable Organizations that could use a Hand-Up, not a Hand Out. You want Some Numbers? 50 + MPG, with even the Largest Gasoline Powered SUV's Hybirds? On the Highway, the Gasoline Engine has to Run, Plus, the Expense, and Weight of the Batteries.To sum Up, I'd like to do More for the Well Being of Society if I could be Allowed to do so. Greed, Big Oil, and the EPA have Stopped it Cold!
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.
1173170
Why do you think the gas prices suddenly went sky high?  There is NO shortage....no lines, plenty  of gas....but they get MORE TAXES with higher gas prices.   Government's answer to paying for war.
738995
Not just no, but Hell No!!!   There isn't all  that much oil there to begin with and after all that digging to install pipelines and so on think what that will do to the environment.  And hopefully, within 10 years, now that we have a Democratic Congress which isn't in the pocket of Big Oil, maybe we can find some alternative fuel sources - this is one of the goals of the Democrats.....to encourage and promote alternative sources of fuel.  Allowing the drilling there was just for Bush and Cheney's buddies so they could make more money - like the oil companies don't make enough money.
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.
356435
By getting the gas prices to go through the roof? That's an interesting question. \nThey said on the news today that Americans will not even consider buying a more gas-efficient car before the price of gas hits $3.5 per gallon... So I'm not sure that what's happening is really going to help.
381586
Yes we can. It's been attempted before but it's impossible. There are WAY too many people who rely on gas to do the daily things they do. It's just not going to happen.
1119538
The government doesn't have to validate gas prices.\n\nThe american people (i'm one!) just accept what those in power do to them while watching American Idol and Survivor.\n\nSuch is the circus...
82643
If things keep going as they are we wont be driving cars that run on gas. There are electric cars in development and other forms of fuel being developed.
351134
Gas prices, when will they ever go down.