Its not all about the price of gas, but the environment as well.

There could be a moderate spot that will allow both a decent gas price and fuel efficiency.

My point was not that it's ok to pollute the air, my point is that we will most likely never get to pay $2.00 in gas to drive 30 miles again.

Alrighty then, the solution is simple. If we want cheap gas we need to ban the oil companies.

Gawd, I wonder why no one has thought of it sooner!

This is my exact same argument I have always had. AS cars with better gas milage come out, gas prices go up. It's a simple supply and demand formula.

UmmmmWe had a gas price spikes arond in 1973-74 and again in 1978-1979. Not surprisingly, this was when small cars became more viable to drive. Fuel economy became more relevant to drivers, and average fuel economy went up. 8 years later, oil prices collapsed, followed by cars getting larger and larger (e.g. the Ford Valdez). I suspect that in 3-5 years, as hybrids catch on, and people seek better fuel economy, we'll see prices drop again. Not back under a dollar, but still a drop...

According to the law of supply and demand, if demand goes down (better fuel efficiency), price should go down also. Gas prices in the US have gone up dramatically in the last six years (since 9-11). The average fuel economy of cars did NOT go up during this time. It may have actually gone down! The real problem is Americans insist on driving trucks, SUVs and high-performance cars.

Oh, and the fact that Pres. Bush's family makes their money by selling oil probably doesn't help.

Granted, some countries have lower gas prices than the USA, like Venezuela. Most countries pay more, a lot more. The price in Paris is over $8 a gallon, then again everything is more expensive in Paris. The point being that prices in the US are low and that is the result of competiton, not collusion. The gas companies can charge as much as they want. That they don't is because of competition, not backlash from irate consumers.

There is no 100mpg carburetor. The auto makers haven't any interest in enriching the oil companies. It is simple economics: supply and demand. What about the car that ran on water? Why didn't that catch on? It wasn't economical.

We will see $12 per gallon eventually, regardless of how efficient cars are. As oil supplies go down, the owners will want to stretch it and charge more. Also, the indications are that whatever takes the place of gasoline will cost more. The days of the fuel hog are numbered.

$300 a barrel oil is on the horizon... and it won't matter much how fuel efficient vehicles become. Oil is a Cartel... with serious vested interests ensuring that it stays high and continues even higher. It's all about destroying the middle class in America. Yes OIL is more expensive in France, UK, Germany, etc... it has been for decades, but with the exception of the UK, most of the others must import 100% of their needs, and their governments tax the crap out of it, very similar to the taxes levied in Canada. We ship quite a bit of our oil south to the USA, but for Canadians to buy it, we pay more than the Americans (at the pump) As well, the Tar Sands in Alberta contain more oil than Saudi Arabia, plus Americans have shale oil deposits in Colorado that equal Saudi Arabia as well, and at the current prices for oil, its even economical to harvest. There is NO shortage of oil... there are simply too many politicians whose pockets are filled by the oil companies to ensure that the status quo remains. There are lots of alternatives but zero interest in Washington to provide tax incentives for wind, hydrogen, hydro, and solar energy conversions. As long as Bush and his buddies are in... YOU will pay whatever the market will bear for your oil.

"...As long as Bush and his buddies are in... YOU will pay whatever the market will bear for your oil..."

Actually, we'll pay "what the market will bear" regardless who sits in the White House, because-

"...It is simple economics: supply and demand..."

Supply and demand is EXACTLY the reason for higher prices, and increasing demand from developing economies like India and China are further driving the price up. The only successful method for reducing price is decreasing demand, by conservation or by more efficient use of resources. What's good for my wallet also happens to be very good for the price of energy: using less. If we want lower fuel bills we need tu use less by using our cars more efficiently, and by buying more efficient cars. It really is that simple; we can't all afford to have gas-guzzling cars any more.

"...What about the car that ran on water? Why didn't that catch on? It wasn't economical..."

Stan Meyers claimed that oil companies had offered him "a billion dollars" for his hydrogen-making apparatus; if he had anything worth selling, why didn't he jump on the offer? Did he think he would make more by selling his kits, $50, $500, $50,000 at a time?

No. He didn't "sell out," because (most likely) the offer was pure fiction on his part, or because he didn't have anything to sell. "The car that ran on water" wasn't just un-economical, it didn't work. It was, and is, fiction.