why do we americans not use our own oil for gas?
475557
You ask a good question. Here in Canada we have enough oil that we could easily do this, but we export it. I'm not too sure why, but I bet it's because other countries pay more for it.
607338
In the UK it is 3 british pounds per liter, there are close to two liters in a gallon, thus it is about 6 pounds per gallon.  It is $2 per british pound, as such it is around $12 per gallon of gas.  It is this expensive beccause they refuse to buy Gasoline from the Middle East, so, the USA exports all of it's American Oil to the UK at upwards of $250 per barrel (50 gallons), american Oil Tycoons get filthy rich selling their oil to the UK, and because the UK has a stronger economy, they have more mony, more money means things are more expensive.  The economy is better there because they have more gold to back up  each british pound, and less british pounds in circulation (due to the smaller population)
538898
People, gas prices are going higher because of one thing. DEMAND. I still see giant SUV's in traffic driven by one person. \n\nThe US has 5% of the worlds Population and we use 25% of the worlds resources. We are hogs and the Gas companies are making money from it. Also, the US Gov't taxes 46 cents per gallon thats more than the profit by the BIG OIL Co. They are the ones gouging the consumer.\n\nAnd in Europe they drive minis not Avalanches and Tundras and Armadas and any other vehicle named after the state that it is as big as like TAHOE !
337234
The answer to most of the US's problems is our dependency on oil.  Not only for automotive fuel but also for energy generation and heating.  We need to find cheaper and more efficient ways to handle these issues and soon.
513849
I know that this is a political question, but I don't think that any human effort can solve this complex issue.  There appears to be a great deal of fear-mongering, and information appears to be skewed.  I do not trust any intelligence that the Americans have used, since it was twisted to make their ends justified.  I know how the British work, I've talked to someone who belonged in the SAS. (Secret Armed Service)  What is at stake, and the Americans, sadly, feed it with their life-style, is a great deal of oil.  I would like to say:  get rid of your dependancy on oil, but the oil companies are so used to power that they will do anything to subvert any efforts in that direction.\n\nFor true peace to happen, peace must first begin with individuals, then with families, then with communities, then finally, with countries.  \n\nI think that it's gotten out of hand and no one knows how to stop it.
550693
Because when it comes to energy, you get it from where ever you can as cheaply as you can.  This is why Bush invaded Iraq after all.  So he can have cheap oil for his Families Oil Companies, so they can sell the oil products to Americans at high prices and become even richer and more powerful than they already are!
495005
The U.S. would not let all people around the world own its coal, so why should  other countries share their petroleum?
674830
Gasoline is the bloodline that keeps America moving. Our personal vehicles alone guzzle 65 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel each year, and that number is projected to increase by 2.6 percent each year. \nTracking gas prices can feel like a roller coaster ride. They're down a little one month, up the next, before shooting up more than 30 percent in a year. Plus, they're different depending on where you look. Other countries, and even other states and cities, can have very different gas prices from your local Gas-N-Go. To the average person, it probably seems as though there's little rhyme or reason to how gas prices are determined. In this article, we will look at the forces that impact the price of gas at the pump, and we'll find out where your gas money actually goes. \n\nAmericans have an insatiable thirst for gasoline, and with sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) continually growing in popularity we are only getting thirstier. Just look at the roads and highways and you'll see that a severe gas shortage would practically cripple the country. Americans drive more than 2.5 trillion miles per year in automobiles, light trucks and SUVs, according to a MEMA report. That's equal to 14,000 round trips to the sun. Today, we drive almost twice as much as we did in 1980 (1.5 trillion miles). \n\n\nPhoto courtesy Phillips Petroleum Company\nA gas station in Colorado Springs, CO\n \n\n\nHistorical Gas Prices\n(Adjusted for inflation)\n \nYear Price Per Gallon \n1950 $1.91 \n1955 $1.85 \n1960 $1.79 \n1965 $1.68 \n1970 $1.59 \n1975 $1.80 \n1980 $2.59 \n1985 $1.90 \n1990 $1.51 \n1995 $1.28 \n2001 $1.66 \n2002 $1.31 \n2003 $1.52 \n2004 $1.79 \n2005 $2.28 \n2006 (so far) $2.68 \nSource: U.S. DOE  \nThe United States consumes an average of 20 million barrels of oil per day (bbl/d, according to the Department of Energy. Of that, about 45 percent is used for motor gasoline. The rest is used for distillate fuel oil, jet fuel, residual fuel and other oils. Each barrel of oil contains 42 gallons (159 L), which yields 19 to 20 gallons (75 L) of gasoline. So, in the United States, something like 178 million gallons of gasoline is consumed every day. \n\nTypically, the demand for gas spikes during the summer, when lots of people go on vacation. Holidays like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July create logjams of tourist traffic during the summer. This high demand usually translates into higher gasoline prices, although that's not always the case. For instance, while gas prices soared 31 cents in April and early May of 2001, reaching $1.71 per gallon (which now seems inexpensive compared to today's prices), prices actually declined during the 2001 summer. \n\nIn 2004, prices continued to rise past the end of the summer travel season for a variety of reasons, including several hurricanes and an increase in the price of crude oil. And in 2005, Hurricane Katrina (along with a sizeable increase in crude oil prices) pushed prices to $3.07 per gallon on September 5, 2005. Prices settled down somewhat in November and December of 2005. But now the numbers are climbing again, with an average price for regular unleaded gas at $2.90 right now (May 2006). \n\nPrice increases generally occur when the world crude-oil market tightens and lowers inventories. We will discuss who controls the crude-oil market later. Also, growing demand can sometimes outpace refinery capacity. In the spring, refineries perform maintenance, which can place a pinch on the gasoline market. By the end of May, refineries are usually back to full capacity. \n\n How do you overpower the pump?\nRising gas prices are impacting everyone: what are you doing to soften the blow?\nWe want to know!  \n\n\nWhen you pump $20 dollars into your tank, that money is broken up into little pieces that get distributed among several entities. Gas is just like any other consumer product: There's a supply chain and several groups who are responsible for setting the price
495679
There simply is not enough land in the US to solve the energy crisis using ethanol.\n\nEven if implemented to the maximum, renewable energy sources would replace only about half the U.S. consumption of oil, natural gas and coal, according to an analysis by ecologists at Cornell University.\n\nTheir findings are reported in the December 2002 issue of the journal BioScience (Vol. 52, No. 12) as"Renewable Energy: Current and Potential Issues.\n\nFurthermore, the analysis states alternative energy systems -- such as hydroelectric, solar and wind power and biofuels -- if fully developed would occupy up to one-sixth of America's land area. And some of the so-called renewable energy sources aren't really renewable, the ecologists say, calling for energy conservation as a proven alternative.
508994
(1) US does have over 300 million citizens, so its hard to supply enough oil for them alone.\n(2) US mainly has oil in the southern states near the coastline. Hardly anywhere else. With Katrina, things took a HUGE hit, and a oil deficiency was created.
298246
There are only two. One is that oil is a very concentrated form of energy. Having cars run on gas is far more feasible than powering them by, say, burning wood. You just don't get enough of a return on the use of that type of energy. Second is that it is relatively easy to access, at least thus far. One of the things that will happen as oil becomes more scarce is that we will have to try to drill for oil that is in much less accessible places, such as the north sea, or in much deeper deposits. There used to be a third advantage - that it seemed plentiful, if not inexhaustible. This advantage has been proven to be a myth.
169042
The United States uses 30 times the natural resources per person than most of the rest of the world.  These all use up energy which we buy from the mid-east and from Bush's friends.  They control our lives because of this.  Use less and we gain more control.  Consumption feeds business but ultimately leads to loss of real power and control.
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.
593966
You mean like a communist country would? No I live in America.\n-one less thing for the gov to mess up\n-the gov IS in charge of creating energy policy and to date \nthey have not...since GH Bush..and his plan sucked (oil based)\n-replace greedy oil execs with greedy politicians?\nWe have high gas prices because we buy gas guzzling SUV's and live 30 miles from work. IT IS OUR FAULT!!
861237
Holy crap - you may just be the stupidest person on earth. The American military is an all-volunteer force, you moron. Why is that so hard for you to understand?\n\nAnd again - if it truly was about the oil, ANWR would be opened. You should go to a construction site and see if they can use some heavy equipment to pull your head out of your butt.
378121
Because Liberals are gonna be like "oooh!!! You're so selfish!!"  \n \nDuh-we NEED that oil.  Are people brain-dead?  Can you imagine all the lay-offs there would be in the airlining business?  Or the overall economy of the U.s?  ANd they already won't let us drill up in Alaska (I love seals and polar bears...but...)
333182
It's all about supply and demand, and right now Americans demand a lot of gas.  If we stopped filling our cars up and driving so much, the price of gas would (eventually) go down.  Think of it like this:  if you sell grapes at a farmers' market where grapes are normally 69 cents a pound, then suddenly everyone wants your grapes, you can raise the price of grapes until the point where people say that your grapes are too expensive (say, $2 a pound), and then they will stop buying them.  Now, economics and human behavior determine the point at which supply equals demand, and where those two lines cross is the top price people will normally pay for something - grapes, gas, etc.  \n\nGas prices won't go down until people reach the point where they say enough is enough.  Then they have to physically stop buying the gas.  Complaining about the price alone will not affect anything.