[doug from upland]

So what? They are just asking for the government to do something. Unfortunately, it appears that oil companies have colluded to not build new refineries. Environmentalist whackos don't get all the blame.

Our country is on the verge of an inflation explosion. Because of fuel prices, huge numbers of people can no longer afford to drive their cars to work.

I certainly believe in profits, but this is terrible PR. It opens the door for Hillary and the Democrats to demand more regulation and even price caps. If people can't drive their cars, there will be a groundswell for government intervention, and not just by the lefties. The oil companies better do something to get the prices down.

[Alberta's Child]

Because of fuel prices, huge numbers of people can no longer afford to drive their cars to work.

Oh, please. Do you know anyone who has quit his or her job because of high fuel prices?

I never expected to hear an "Al Gore" story from you, Doug!

[KevinDavis]

If the government does intervne there are going to be more problems.. I hope the people understand that the left has been trumpting around that gas prices should be high so people can make the right descisions their way...

[RipSawyer]

Our country is on the verge of an inflation explosion. Because of fuel prices, huge numbers of people can no longer afford to drive their cars to work. >>>>>>>>>>>>

Oh, No, not you. Please go back and start over, this statement is so full of holes that I don't even want to start on it. Everybody has bad days, please disown this statement and begin again!

[FFIGHTER]

According to AAA the average fuel cost per year for the average American is $975.00/year(2004), even with a 50% rise in fuel cost, it works out to $487.50 or a little over $40.00 per month.

[gogogodzilla]

I'll say this. If prices continue to rise, you'll find this lifelong Republican voting Democratic (for the first time) simply in protest.

And I don't think I'll be the only one.

Argue all you want about the rightness or wrongness... Cast aspersions about my character... It won't change my mind.

The only thing that could even possibly change my mind would be if I saw that oil companies building new refineries and drilling for more oil.

But I won't hold my breath. I think it'll be foreign companies that will eventually fill the gap, not our own.

Companies like Lukoil.

[dirtboy]

Unfortunately, it appears that oil companies have colluded to not build new refineries.

I don't think it took a lot of collusion. Margins for refiners were very low.

But at these prices, companies are probably falling over themselves to increase capacity. Which will eventually bring the price down.

[ChildOfThe60s]

The oil companies better do something to get the prices down

How? By drilling for more oil in ANWAR or the Gulf? Or a hundred other places that the government has forbidden exploration? They have certainly made no effort to do that.

How about they start "giving back" by selling to the lowest bidder? /eyes cross

Geez, get real.