You make a good point, winterstorm...we need to make a priority of reducing our dependence on foreign oil and knee-jerk rejection of tapping our own resources (ANWR, the Rockies and the Outer Continental Shelf) is a mistake.

I agree with you winterstorm, boycotts aren't that great of an idea. I mean, I hate high gas prices as much as the next guy, but why should I punish a small business owner (the person running a station) for what is only the result of market forces? Oil is a commodity that is subject to supply and demand laws as much as any other product. Plenty of factors go into it-- environmental problems like Katrina, speculation, political tensions, etc. In my opinion, it's not just price gouging.

I'm sorry, boycotts are silly. They simply do not hurt the people you want to hurt. As noted, the oil companies make their money drilling oil, not selling gas.

But if you boycott their drilling, like stopping ANWR, then you hurt the country as a whole by depriving us of oil independance from the middle east and lower gas prices.

Hammertoe has it right: We need a better solution...

... in Germany we pay 4.9 Euros per gallon. That's about $6. And the Autobahns are still overcrowded.

Cheers, R

The largest factor in pump price is the cost of crude. The second is state and fexderal taxes. Moreover, when you compare profit to each dollar of revenue, big oil is not out of line with aother industries. BILLIONS of people consume gas/oil every day so it stands to reason that their profits would be huge. I just don't think big oil is the bad guy here. They are in business to make a profit and as consumers, we buy their product in astonishing amounts. They're not the bad guys--WE ARE! We need to stop all the finger pointing and start talking about sensible, long-term, comprehensive energy policy!

hammertoe, I'm not calling for a Boycott, simply pointing out my personal preference. That PR guy (actually felt sorry for the beating he was taking!) actually made a good point and I figured "Hey, Why not take my business elsewhere?"

With Prices being what they are, I find myself walking, taking mass transit a lot more often or canceling road trips out right.

With Oil companies raking in Billions per quarter, IMO, they are price gouging no matter how they justify it.

S.D.--the problem with a boycott is that so few of their stations are actually owned by them--fewer than 1,000 of the 170,000 stations around the country. The vast majority are owned by moms and pops.

I tend to avoid Exxon since the Valdez (sp?) oil spill. The company spokesman at the time got on the podium, answered some hard questions from reporters and said (paraphrasing) "If people don't like us, they should not use our gas."

Hey, it sounded good to me.

I agree, that $4.50 a gallon sounds pretty fishy to me too.

In regards to the boycott idea I just don't see it making a difference. These things have been tried before with no satisfactory results. Boycotting a certain station really only hurts the "mom&pops" that own the stations. Not only do they loose out on their gas sales but they loose out on their convenience store sales as well (their real money maker).

We need to reduce our dependance on foreign oil sources and we need to develop alternative fuels if we want to see real change. And yes, we really should think twice before we drive our cars three blocks to pick up some milk when we have a bike collecting dust in the garage! :)

I can't help but agree, Joel. How can we complain about high energy prices when we're sitting on a number of untapped reserves here in the United States?

"Perhaps if we tapped into those we'd see some relief."

Maybe, but I tend to doubt it. We're talking about Oil Companies that are making Billions in Profit per Quarter.

IMO, They have honest politicians in there corner, that is, Politicians who stay bought.

peakguy mentioned that everyone is operating at full capacity. I have to argue that the US is not -- given that ANWR and other sources of oil here in the US sit untouched. Perhaps if we tapped into those we'd see some relief.

When Exxon and other oil companies post billions in dollars in profit per Quarter, after they cook the books, even the most strident capitalist has to wonder about price gouging.

Companies only exist to make money, nothing more. Gov't by the people exist to serve the will of the people. If people are unhappy it's not unreasonable for people to expect the Gov't to do something about it.

And for the Peanut Gallery: No, I'm not advocating Communism or Socialism, but the Gov't better get a clue especially in light of Midterm elections coming up. Way things are going, pretty soon "It's the Economy, Stupid!" will be the Slogan of choice again.

Gas prices are going up because we have finally hit the peak of global oil production capacity. Everyone (including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, Venezuela) is operating at full capacity and our appetite is ever increasing.

We write about what our city can do to prepare for this situation at The Oil Drum NYC. We invite your suggestions.

There is also a conference next week here in NYC looking at the full range of ideas to adapt our economy and lifestyle to be more energy efficient.

I had a friend who traded in his SUV for two honda accords...

adam - i don't know if you are necessarily safer in your SUV than a smaller car. the new yorker had a fascinating article about SUVs last year. one of the myths is that SUVs are safer. they are manufactured to a truck's safety standard which are more lenient than a passenger car. also, a study (studies?) were cited that drivers of smaller cars got into fewer accidents as they drove more defensively. i showed it to a SUV driving friend of mine who didn't seem to appreciate it.

True enough. I thought I would *never* be able to live without certain things (gym membership, expensive haircuts). But once the price got to be too much for me, I did find alternatives. And it really was not that bad. And now, I don't miss them at all.

As people, we generally don't change unless we have to. Actually, the best thing we can do for the Earth is to let the oil companies rip us off. It's the only way we will change.

tard: sounds like you have issues with IDing yourself or you're an insecure gay guy.

Stay on topic Children.

Let the market figure itself out. Nothing is going to make the consumer change their driving habits and what car they drive except how much it costs.

High oil prices spur growth in alternative forms of energy for transportation/home heating, etc.

This rise in prices, although a boon for the time being for the oil companies, will eventually be their undoing when more and more people move to alternatives.