I think it's a good thing that gasoline prices are going up.

[hedgehog]

The more the prices of fossil fuels (including natural gas) rise, the more economic sense it makes to convet to alternative fuels and invest in energy saving devices such as triple storm windows and better insulation. The real advantage? Once a gallon of oil is burned, it's gone. Put the money into a windmill, and the savings just keep rolling in, year after year.

[muntrv]

1. Where I live in Michigan, the Meijers gas station sells bio-diesel for $2.89/gallon

while regular unleaded is $3.09/gallon. Alternative fuels is the future and will be a major job creator.

[uppityperson]

2. Things won't change until behavior changes.

Yes, alternative fuels are important, but it is going to take changing behavior to make real changes and yes, thinking higher gas costs will change behavior. Problem is that food will cost more, basics will cost more, people will make the same and have less to spend overall. My business experienced a drop off last yr because people were feeling the pinch and cutting back. So I have less to spend on more expensive stuff, like food.

[Vexatious Ape]

3. And people in the market for a new car will

reject the idiotic SUV's and monster trucks and buy something that gets better MPG's.

[ikojo]

4. Buy a scooter!!

My scooter gets 60-65 miles per gallon.

[jtrockville]

9. Smart car gets 90 mpg: smartusa.com, nm

[etherealtruth]

5. Unfortunately the poor and "working" class ...

...Will be disproportionately effected.

Where I live there is no (for all intents and purposes)public transportation ... the bulk of the lower wage jobs are located some distance from where the people doing these jobs live.

Triple storm windows are a great energy saver .... I paid eight thousand dollars to have my windows replaced ... hardly a cost the most vulnerable can pay.

I agree that fuel has been "underpriced" in our country for a long time (financed by government subsidies, military presence...) however ... "everyone" suffered equally.

I truly believe that the jack-ass that drives a Hummer won't even need to change their driving habits ... while a single mom in the city won't be able to afford to get to her low wage job or purchase groceries for her kids.

[Ghost in the Machine]

6. Wow! These were my thoughts too, as I read the OP... then I scrolled down

and here you were.. saved me a lot of typing. The poor and the working poor can have NO HOPE of ever being able to comply with some of these suggestions.

They are good suggestions though, for those who can afford it.

[hedgehog]

7. It sounds terrible to say, but the poor and working class are always going to take it in the chops.

Things won't change though, as long as most people aren't hurting. We've got to work hard to get the focus where it belongs. For example, some states have programs to assist people with fuel bills in the winter. Instead of paying off the utilities, now about hiring some semi-skilled people at decent wages to replace leaky windows and insulate the houses where poor people live? Instead of subsidizing gasoline prices, how about pushing for more and better public transportation?

BTW - some companies are finally waking up to the costs of low wages. Employers are complaining to temp agencies that too many people are late too often or skipping work entirely. The temp agencies looked at the problem and came back to their clients and told them that the problem was that the wages are so low that the people working for them can't afford a dependable car and are missing work because they can't get the blame things to start in the morning! in other words, pay a decent wage and your workers will be able to show up for work!

[etherealtruth]

11. The poor and working class DO always take it in the chops ...

... but, I think there are ways to distribute the burden to those that can more easily afford it.

I would not be opposed to heavy taxes/ licensing fees to the drivers of obscenely large/inefficient vehicles. How about large incentives (tax breaks) to those that purchase new/efficient technologies? This could allow us to shift w/out immediately wiping out the most vulnerable among us ... I don't think it is an exaggeration to say that precipitously rising energy costs (keeping in mind the effect it will have on the transport of goods...) will decimate the poor.

The poor and working "class" (I despise class designations) do not benefit from tax breaks and incentives as, in the end, they pay very little in taxes.

I don't disagree that we need to shift our dependence /use of of energy ... I would hope that we can look for ways that it will be less destructive to our most vulnerable citizens.
edit spelling

[Journeyman]

8. In 1975, when gas was at the astronomical price of 55 cents a gallon. . .

I commented to my brother that as the cost rose, those driving "boats" (Cadillacs and the like -- anything afloat in a sea of oil), would one day be forced off the road while the smart drivers, like us, who tooled around in Volkswagen Bugs would have the last laugh. My brother just chuckled, said the boaters would easily outlast us as they'd be able to afford gas no matter the cost, while we sensible -- yet poor -- drivers would be unable to fill our tanks.

And over the years, as I saw "ocean liners" replace the boats, I appreciate his prescience more each year.

[etherealtruth]

12. I started driving in 1978 ...

Would any of us have even imagined that people would be driving Hummers and monster SUVs around the city as a sign of status?

[Secular Agent Man]

25. In 1976 Cadillac started downsizing its "boats."

Please pardon me while I come to the defense of Cadillac. GM/Cadillac began tooling up around 1975 to downsize all of its models. The last "boats" were the 1976 models. The 1977-79 models (DeVille, Fleetwood) were a foot shorter, several inches narrower, lost a whopping 1000 lbs of weight, and the engines were reduced down from 500 cubic inches to 425c.i. The smaller Seville models were also introduced, and the Eldorado models were drastically downsized for the 1979 model year. The 1980 Deville/Fleetwoods were even lighter and engines were reduced even more, and by 1985 these were redesigned and downsized even further.

BTW, I am the owner of a 1979 Coupe DeVille, but don't freak out, it currently has 4,900 original miles on it (that's not a typo). So no one can accuse it a being a gas guzzler!

[dave_p]

10. Agreed

Western Europeans pay $6-7, but they cope despite having lower average incomes (and higher prices for just about everything else) than Americans. Britain pays more than most, yet has outperformed its EU partners in recent years. And most of the money goes to the government in tax. Americans should follow that example and demand that the extra revenue goes into effective public transportation, instead of giving the stuff away.

[alarimer]

20. Many european cities have excellent public transportation

There isn't the need for cars, at least in the cities. They also get more bang for their tax dollar: universal health care and public transportation. Well worth the extra taxes, in my opinion. Not to mention shorter work weeks, more vacation days and better overall quality of life.

[Johnny Appleseed]

13. It will keep me on my bicycle more... that's for sure...

which is ok in terms of exercise.

[sproutster]

14. Yep... I bought a bike with my tax returns ... funny story and hell freezes

1. Now I just have to get into shape enough to bike all the way to work.

2. A co-worker last year almost bought a hummer. Everyone was ooing and ahhhing (cept me who was yelling prius) and he ended up buying a big ass truck. I nicknamed it the bohemouth that feeds on iraqi lives.

A year later SAME group of people are all bitching him out for buying it, and he's starting a car pool.

It's changing people.

[alarimer]

22. I wish biking to work was an option

but it's just too hot here in the summer. And I work outside so I am usually wiped out at the end of the day. Not to mention how dangerous the roads are for cyclists. Truly scary.

[silverojo]

15. Spoken by someone who doesn't give a damn

About the poor and lower-middle-class of this nation.

I think Al Gore has proven that you can raise environmental awareness WITHOUT gouging those who can least afford it.

[alarimer]

16. No way- higher gas prices mean higher everything else

I know my salary does not keep pace with inflation. A windmill will not get me to work. \

Bad for the economy and really bad for poor people, who already have it tough.

I do know what you mean- in the long run, we have to change our ways. But I don't see that happening without dire consequences. If prices keep going up, people will lose their jobs, their homes and end up in the street. And thousands will probably die.

[Individualist]

21. Exactly.

My retirement income definitely isn't keeping pace with rising gas costs and the domino effect of everything else going up in price. Those of us who are barely making ends meet now are going to be hit hard as prices continue going up.

[alarimer]

23. Those on fixed incomes will be hurt the worst

I don't know the answers but I fear the consequences. I know what the answer is long-term: reduce (or eliminate) our dependence on oil. But our society and our cities/suburbs are designed for cars. It was a very short-sighted, poor decision but I honestly don't know how we get away from it. We can't do it overnight, that's for sure.

[bigtree]

17. I still have to drive to work every day

I can't drive a windmill

[SmokingJacket]

19. Too bad the electric car got killed.

We're all totally dependent on the whims of the oil companies.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

18. I Could Never Be Glad That People Already In Hardship Have To Fight Even Harder.

I wish it were a nickel. To each their own perception of what's good for Americans.

[gollygee]

24. I know a lot of people who have to reduce their grocery budget when gas prices go up

No, I don't think it's a good thing. Oil company execs make more and more money, and poor people can't get to work, or live on ramen.