[fabsroman]

Skinny,

You forget to mention that maybe with the increased gas prices, people will start buying more hybrids and flex fuel/ethanol vehicles. This will not only result in less of a dependence on foriegn oil, but it will also help the environment. I shudder to think what will happen if we actually go to war with Iran and the oil from the middle east is cut off. Talk about hurt, we will all be riding bicycles to work.

Essentially, people will have to make decisions based upon the gas prices. Living an hour plus drive away from work in the sticks will be a much tougher decision to make. I am willing to bet that SUV sales will be really down.

At the end of the day, opening our own oil reserves, drilling for new oil, etc. is only a temporary, short term fix. That is the problem with us. We are near sighted and don't think about the effects that our actions today will have 20 years down the road.

If every new car sold was a hybrid, flex fuel/ethanol, or 4 cylinder that gets 30+ mpg, don't you think the demand on oil will be drastically decreased. I read somewhere that if every American traded their car in on a vehicle that got 5 mpg better gas mileage, we would no longer be dependent on foreign oil. Do you think people are doing that? My brother just went from a 4 cylinder PT Cruiser to the Trailblzer SS and he is getting 12 mpg. His other vehicle is a 1990 Mustang that has been modified heavily. God only knows what that gets. His third vehicle is a 1976 Land Cruiser with a 327 in it. Oh, I am sure he is sending a ton of money over to the Middle East.

Yeah, when gas prices go up we all suffer, but we are also all responsible for the price increase. Lately, I haven't been driving much except for work, and I try to pass that cost on to my clients. My wife and I both drive cars that get 27 mpg and our next vehicle will be a hybrid or flex fuel vehicle.