Oil companies aren't making as much money on you as you think. They were only making about 6 cents on each gallon of gas when it was $2.27/gallon.
I'm not saying the oil companies aren't getting rich. Skimming 3% off of the top of $4/gallon is much more profitable than skimming 3% off of $2.50, but the extra nickel or dime they are making is not what caused your gas to go up $1.50.
The price of gas is mostly driven by the price of crude the oil. The fact of the matter is that there is only so much under the ground. We want just as much as we always have, but now people from China and India have cars too. They want to fill them up too. The only solution to new demand is new (or renewable) supply.
Several alternative sources of energy exist. Instead of relying on the the energy trapped in oil, we can harness the energy in the wind, the ocean's waves, the earth's heat, the sun's rays, rivers/dams, coal, or biofuel. We can also improve our efficiency with diesel, hybrid, or fuel cell vehicles.
All of these alternatives involve new environmental hazards or involve more costly vehicles, equipment, infrastructure, or fuel. Believe it or not, $4/gallon is actually cheap when you examine the alternatives.
I'm not saying the oil companies aren't getting rich. Skimming 3% off of the top of $4/gallon is much more profitable than skimming 3% off of $2.50, but the extra nickel or dime they are making is not what caused your gas to go up $1.50.
The price of gas is mostly driven by the price of crude the oil. The fact of the matter is that there is only so much under the ground. We want just as much as we always have, but now people from China and India have cars too. They want to fill them up too. The only solution to new demand is new (or renewable) supply.
Several alternative sources of energy exist. Instead of relying on the the energy trapped in oil, we can harness the energy in the wind, the ocean's waves, the earth's heat, the sun's rays, rivers/dams, coal, or biofuel. We can also improve our efficiency with diesel, hybrid, or fuel cell vehicles.
All of these alternatives involve new environmental hazards or involve more costly vehicles, equipment, infrastructure, or fuel. Believe it or not, $4/gallon is actually cheap when you examine the alternatives.
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