Can the government or should the government do something about the rising of gas prices?
475568
I think that most Americans have stopped buying "unnecessary" fuel, but they are making more than enough money back off of just the necessary fuel (fuel that is needed for daily life, not all of us can walk to work/carpool)... if you have to have it, you have to have it... cuting consumption further isn't an option for most...\n\nSo what happens when capitiolism fails... seems like we are reaching that point with oil... increasing costs could have a crippling effect on our economy through inflation (especially if costs continue to go up)... is it worth it?\n\nThe reserves should have been released a while back... that's just silly, but that's also a Bush...
329269
I don't I heard one this week say gas prices should be higher
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.
949639
If pols could control gas prices, it would always be cheap.\nIf oil cos could control prices it would always be expensive.\nWhat can we conclude from this?
502628
Not that I am for this--But dear it wouldn't matter and why you ask---well here is an article--this is starting to open up a new can of worms--please understand--Anyone in the world could have all the oil in the world..and it really wouldn't matter at this point...\n\n$3-a-gallon gas: Blame Washington, not Big Oil\nWhat's driving up gas prices? It's not just higher crude costs; it's new regulations.\nNelson D. Schwartz\nMay 3, 2006: 2:20 PM EDT\n\n\n(FORTUNE Magazine) - With gas prices roaring past $3 a gallon and consumer fury rising even faster, Congress and the White House are engaged in a Kabuki-like ritual: pointing fingers at each other over who's to blame, while furiously attacking Big Oil for reaping gargantuan profits - as drivers get hosed at the pump.\n\nIf the politicians really want to figure out who's responsible for the latest round of price increases, though, they'd be better off looking in the mirror. That's because the rise isn't only due to higher crude costs. It's also fallout from some little-noticed provisions in the energy bill passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush last summer.\n\nBuried in the 551-page energy bill - which was supposed to ease energy shortages, not worsen them - were new regulations governing what additives go into gasoline and how it's refined. Corn-based ethanol is replacing the petroleum-derived additive MTBE, but Congress timed this logistically tricky switchover to occur just as demand for gasoline peaked ahead of the summer driving season - right about now.\n\nThe end result is an extra strain on the refining and distribution system when it can least afford it.\n\n"It's too late now, but Congress has consistently failed to sequence regulatory requirements in a responsible fashion," says Bob Slaughter, president of the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association.\n\nAdds Larry Goldstein of the Petroleum Industry Research Foundation: "The gasoline crisis is made in the U.S.A., not in Iran or Venezuela or Nigeria. At least half the increase in gasoline prices is due to unintended consequences of the energy bill, but no one in Washington wants to admit that."\n\nIndeed, while crude prices have risen 21% since the end of 2005, gasoline is up 37% - a sign of just how stretched the system is. Congress's mistake, says Goldstein, was setting the new law to go into effect 270 days after it was signed - May 5 - rather than waiting until fall, when gas demand is typically on the downswing.\n\nNow the big question is, How high can gas go? Well, perhaps the only good thing that can be said about paying three bucks per gallon is that it seems to be slowing consumption - which should, in turn, reduce prices. Over a four-week period in April, says oil analyst Jamal Qureshi of consulting firm PFC Energy, U.S. gasoline demand dropped by half a percent, to just over nine million barrels a day. That may not sound like much, but it's a reversal from the 1.7% average annual increase in gas consumption the U.S. has experienced over the past decade. If $3 is indeed the tipping point at which consumers change their behavior and alter their driving habits, it's the one silver lining in an otherwise very dark cloud for drivers.\n\nThe wildcard in this scenario, of course, is the increasing risk of a military confrontation with Iran. If that happens, says Qureshi, "all bets are off." Given that crude oil accounts for 55% of the cost of each gallon of gas (refining accounts for 22%, taxes for 19%, and distribution and marketing for 4%), an upward spike in crude oil would push gas up even if the bottlenecks caused by the energy bill ease this summer.\n\nThat's why Red Cavaney, president of the American Petroleum Institute, says the answer in the short term is conservation. Washington is indeed being turned upside down when it's left to Cavaney, Big Oil's chief lobbyist, to talk conservat
332085
I agree with you to a point.  This government isn't that weak to listen to some protesters.  But they are doing something about it.  Other people gripe...and do...NOTHING.  That will really get you nowhere.  What are you doing about gas prices?  I know you're griping, but they you are, filling your tank up once more.  Protesters do something.  They gripe to the right people.  The media love this stuff.  Either that or a rescue story of a stupid dog.  \n\nEven though protesting gets you nowhere, doing nothing gets you some place worse.
1034426
Well Government,,, this too heavy word when discussed.... since it cannot be in 1 line or 100 page or book ,, need to understand lot to discuss government...\n\nwell first of Government is running the country and that government is suppported by the ppl... Its public voice to raise or lower gas price, raise or lower taxes, raise or lower mortgage, raise or lower salary rates, raise or lower immigrants....  the difference is which ppl support raise or lower thats what the conceern suppose to be rich or poor ppl goes for what you should know by now...\n\nIn Short....\n\nGovernment for the People\nGovernment by the People\nGovernment to the People
1168910
There is definitely a crisis. Energy demand continues to rise much faster than supply can compensate and to top it all off we are quickly approaching the limit of all cheaply available petroleum.
1159449
The concern is inflation and rising prices.  Most of it can be pegged to gas prices.  The high price of gas works its way into the prices of all things.  One way to help slow inflation is to raise the interest rates.\n\nGrowth is good, of course, but inflation can lead to uncontrolled growth, which is not necessarily good.
714627
I don't think so. Although gas has gone up since the election. I think the prices were down before the elections to help the republicans hold there power, that way the republicans can help them. I look for gas to steadily increase so at the next elections the republicans can blame it on the Dems. The stock market is controlled by the big corp. They won't let it go down on purpose. The hard part will be trying to keep the C.E.O.s hands off the employees pension funds. Luckily my pension is funded through my union and the gov. watches unions like a hawk. They don't seem to watch company pension plans very close.
96927
Price control should only be to prevent gouging.  When dealing with economics, its best to let the market find its equilibrium point.  But during a natural disaster the supply of food and gas become inelasic, because people want to servive the disaster, and are willing to pay $100 for a gallon of water.  The government interferes and controls prices to save the economy (if people spend all of their money surviving a natural disaster, they will have none to start over after their homes and jobs are gone.).
212410
It depends.  Some things need to be done but people won't let it happen.  Other things people want but the gov't doesn't do it.
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.
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.
128405
Won't work unless everybody makes the same amount of money. The person who has a minimum wage job would get screwed, he doesn't have that much taxes taken out to off set the  increase in gas costs.
420882
The reason I have a problem with it is because of how quickly the price of gas has gone up. Where I live, it has nearly doubled in the last year. If I only had to worry about driving to work or running errands, or I lived in a city where walking places were an option, then it wouldn't bother me. Unfortunately, I own a small business that is based on driving. I have to fill up everyday. My clients will not pay an increase month after month just because gas prices rise. The increase would've been fine if it were more gradual. However, because I have set-priced contracts with my clients that are binding for one year at a time, I may end up having to close my business.
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)!!!