Why Are Gas Prices So High?

How high do gas prices need to get before people do something?

I realize that we have our hands tied somewhat, since most people need gas in order to drive to work, store, etc, but there must be SOMETHING people can do to put pressure on the states to cap oil prices. By continuing to buy at these hiked prices, we're sending the message that we're ok with paying these prices.....but we're not! What do you suppose should be done? I was hoping others would have ideas. the only thing I can really think of is organize a protest march on the capital demanding that they cap oil prices or something along those lines. I'm kind of mixed feelings as to whether protests work, so I'm open to suggestions.

Public Comments

1. ok, what do you want to do????? I can not think of anything, if you can, i will listen.
2. They are planning boycott May 15th for a week. Check this out it will stop oil company ripoffs http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com/
3. Hmmm, you could resolve to walk more places (instead of driving), so you don't have to give those greedy gas-companies all your money. And you could get family members, friends, or co-workers to join you, (so it'd be more people than just you on a gas-strike), I guess. You never know. All great things start with just one person. :)
4. Since America loves there vehicles so much. In my opion no matter how high the gas prices go. We will still drive are vechicals.
5. One day boycotts have no effect. How do I know? I work for a major oil company, keeping gas at your local stations. These boycotts have NO effect. The only way to protest is to USE less. Then you're truly buying less. Otherwise you're just delaying the inevitable purchase of all the fuel you normally use. Even if one area boycotted with any measurable effect, the fuel would just sit at the terminal in one of several million gallon tanks until the stations needed it. You'd have to stop using enough to cause the tanks to fill and stop the pipelines that supply the terminals. Then the refineries would be in danger of shutting down and prices would drop like a stone. (Then we'd buy like maniacs, which would restore prices to pre-boycott levels.) I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but until there is a fundamental shift in energy use on a worldwide basis, we're stuck with the market prices. States can't cap prices. If they did, oil companies wouildn't sell there, they'd sell where they can make a profit. There's no law that says my company has to sell in a certain state. We'd threaten to pull out and poof, the legislation would die a quick death. Buy a fuel efficient car, move closer to work and avoid driving as much as possible. Save yourself, because the rest of the world doesn't give a damn about the individual consumer.
6. Write to your Congressman and ask for a law to requiring that all car manufactures MUST sell cars that get no less than 35 MPG. Try and get everyone in the community to spread the word to not drive and or not to get gas for a week. A large protest march in D.C would also be a good idea. In short more and more people need to speak up and not take a laid back approach.
7. If you buy a car that gets less than 35 miles per gallon, whose fault is that? If I make a car that requires 20 gallons of gasoline to travel 20 miles, and there's a big EPA sticker staring you in the face stating this fact when you bought it, is it my fault for producing the car or your fault for buying it? The car always was what it was, but it was your decision to purchase it. Do you really think gas stations are making a lot of money with the high prices? They pay high wholesale prices now and actually make less of a profit because people like you and I have less money we're willing to part with for soda, chips, snacks, newspapers, magazines, cigarettes, and alcohol. People can "speak up" all they want, but the message is loud and clear that gasoline is a good for which there is a great inelasticity of demand.
8. How high does the price have to go before you stop driving? That's the only answer that will change anything! So what is your answer?
9. Its 3 dollars here. we bought bus passes, electric bicycles, and turned one car off. We bike or walk for groceries and take the bus home, car only used if it is the only way. takes some planning, but not so bad this time of year. healthier too.
10. $5 or $4.999 per gallon