"The big three can make cars and trucks that get 50 miles to the gallon, I'd bet my left one on it. Why don't they you ask......... because big Oil won't let'em. "

Actually, its probably more along the lines of "people won't buy them and continue wanting SUV's.

"I don't like the idea of the Government going after companies that make a profit, it just scares me something inside of me feels that it is wrong. "

"Now the oil companies are far from angels, I think some gouging does go on, and they definitely are part of the problem. But to put the oil companies under government control, which is what many of you want will be an absolute disaster. You can listen to the liberal pols blame everything on the oil and insurance companies if you want, but I ain't buyin' it. "

I don't want the govt taking over the companies either. DJD is right, govt going after those who make a profit is a scary thing.

There are likely a number of problems here. Part of the higher prices has to do with oil speculators. They are profiting as the prices increase. Another is that countries like China and India are wanting more oil/gas while the countries that produce it are not wanting to increase the supply. Add to that the SUV craze here, and there is less to go around. I have no doubt that some are gouging. After all, I can pass a gas station on the way to work, see gas at $3.54, go out to lunch and the same place has it for $3.79. Gee, no one stopped by to drop off more gas, why the increase?

Bottom line is that we need an alternative fuel source, and fast. Until the people start really ******* about it, the pols will do nothing. Stupid ideas like the "fed gas tax vacation" (fed tax is $0.18/gall, average savings for the summer: $30) will do nothing (note that the tax goes to road work, where is that $$ coming from without the tax). Same for the idea of drill more places (you really think the US will see any oil from ANWARE (place in Alaska in case I spelt it wrong) if we drill there. Same for begging the Saudis for more oil. Hey, its going to run out completely at some point. Better to find a viable source(s) for energy long before then. If we can learn how to split the atom or put a man on the moon in a few years, we have the brain power to do something about fuel sources too. The pols just need the motivation: do something or we fire you during the next election.

Andrew