Saudi Arabia doesn't want to impact developing economies, by big toe. Crack dealer OPEC doesn't want to do anything to minimize developing addictions, more like.

SA is concerned about long term demand. They have the most oil in the region and development of alternative fuels is not in their interest. They want the price high but not too high that it drives people/governments to actually invest in alternatives. At the same time SA is investing heavily in other sectors and other countries so keeping the price of oil at some relative level of stability is in their interest because shocks in the global economy negatively impact everyone.

I feel no sympathy for drivers of SUV's regardless of where they are. SUV's have limited utility anywhere. Farmers would find more utility in owning a truck which can carrier more supplies and equipment. An SUV has limited cargo space and only carries 5 people/possibly 8. If someone owns a vehicle that is larger than they need then gas is their problem. I do feel for people who have no choice and are stuck with the car they own and now can't afford other options. At least it's still cheaper than petro in Europe.

I read an article recently about how those living in NYC have the smallest carbon footprint in the country because most people there live in very small apartments and walk everywhere.

Ona - You must live in the city.

I've only visited the Midwest once so I don't have a clue as to what they need to drive. I do know in some places, its a long drive to get anywhere else.

Midwest? You only need to look at LA to see the disaster that awaits. People who live in the outlying areas and work in LA are screwed. This is what happens when you let major industries plan your urban development and kill public transportation modes so they can make a profit. Don't blame Saudi Arabia, blame your own government.

Until 12 months ago when I moved, it was 24 miles to the nearest Wal-Mart. It was 15 miles to the nearest town (with a supermarket), and 5 miles to the nearest restaurant. I now live near La Crosse, which is only 10 miles away.

Then there's the issue of weather. An economical car doesn't cut it in the winter. I can't afford two cars, so I drive my SUV year round. If I could find a job that gave me the freedom to be with my children, and paid as much as my current job, I'd take it.

Ever since a blizzard in Maryland cut me off from everything for a couple of days, I always consider whether I can walk to necessities when choosing where I'm going to live.

Having a wife in the ministry doesn't give me that choice.... If I had my way, I'd live somewhere where the seasons changed, but it rarely snows. As soon as I find that place, I'll let you know.

Unfortunately, this "oil game" started well into the GWB era. Nothing that happens to the middle class will be taken seriously nor internally until he exits. I look forward to seeing Obama/Mccain make a run for the money.

The public transportation in Europe is absolutely wonderful. I haven't had a car in years, and I only rent one if I'm moving or something. It is really sad the state the infrastructure and public transportation is back home. Though the oil prices may go temporarily down again, on the long term oil will not get cheaper, as it is becoming more and more scarce and expensive to get out. So public transportation and alternative energy sources will be solutions not only at the present time, but also in the future. We have been sticking our heads in the sand for a long time on this one.

I live in rural Alabama, and I would truly love to have the option of a train/light rail/reliable public transportation. I drive an hour each way to work, about fifty miles across Birmingham. I spent six weeks searching for a job nearer home, but it was not an option, so I took the higher pay rate and longer commute.

My husband and I are planning to move in to one of the suburbs sort of in the middle of things, since we work on opposite sides of the area and at different times, so we really can't ride together either. We'd spend just as much gas, and one of us would be on the road considerably longer than the other.

For those who may not be familiar with rural life, SUVs are sometimes necessary, particularly for people who work on farms and need storage space. Trucks are good too, but there are some things you might not want exposed to the elements, or dogs that don't need to be riding in the bed of a truck. Vans are an option for those with lots of kids and they do get better gas mileage, but if you also need to be able to drive across your field, it's not practical. Diesel is expensive, even though the mileage can be a little better, but not everyone has that option.

I really wish all these people in "enlightened" urban areas, who love to talk about how people "should" do this or that, could come out and live the life for a month or so. No public transportation, too far to ride a bike or walk... I have to drive eight miles to a Wal-Mart Supercenter for groceries, and that's really the only option I have for shopping anywhere close to home. Gas prices hit rural areas hard, since we have to drive so far to get anywhere to begin with.

tres jolie where heck have you been?!!?

Rural Southeast... hey thats me!

I think the big picture here is that not only is everything in rural areas far away, but the job prospects in rural areas are lacking... so its not just that we have to blow a lot of gas to get the neccesities its thats when the bill comes we can barely afford it because there aren't many well paying jobs where we live!

Talk about a double whammy!

Hey Ca!

I know, I've been MIA. I had to wait until Clinton was out, it was just an itch I couldn't scratch!

Love your cake!

By the way, I have nothing but sympathy for those who live in rural sites, I hope I don't come across as judgemental or patronizing with my Euro talk. Anyway, I hope this subject will get attention on a bipartisan level, and that should be possible. Building better infrastructure has unfortunately never been a very popular cause though.

I don't live in a rural area, but I do live 50 miles from my job (it's too expensive for us to live in New Jersey, so we live in Eastern PA). We do have an SUV, but I feel that it is a neccessity for winters and also because we have 3 LARGE dogs (50-160 pounds), and we really do need that room. I carpool to work with a coworker, so I feel that I am doing what I can to save on gas.

trésjolie, I also agree with you in terms of public transportation. I live in Chicago and I haven't had a car in years. I can get anywhere inside or outside the city and any store I need to go to on public transportation. However, my family in the South can't walk to any of their stores, since most are two or three towns over and they have to drive - so, they are feeling the money.

I've lived in a lot of places, city and more rural. I should clarify that I certainly feel for those who have no choice in what they drive but I don't feel sympathy for suburban people or city people who chose to drive giant SUV's to tote their 1 kid around in.

It's hard now but it can always get worse so better to make changes in our life style now rather than later.

there are a few things at work here:
1. americans would never have made SUVs as popular as they are if we hadn't had subsidized oil prices for the past however many years. in europe i think a gallon of gas is $11 USD right now? NO ONE would "need" to drive their dogs around with gas that expensive. also - what about station wagons? my family did just fine without an SUV in the 70s and 80s. why do we suddenly need them now?

2. raciccarone is right, the poor urban planning choices of the past 50 years have caused most of the jobs-housing imbalance issues you're all talking about now. there was a time in america where all cities had excellent rail and bus service - even to the suburbs. the bay bridge, here in the bay area, used to be for trains! the highway lobby paid our government - bribed them - to stop the rail and bus service and start building the interstate system. they said it was a safety issue. see the movie 'taken for a ride' for more info on this.

3. i am really nervous about rising gas prices. my commute is about 5 miles round trip and i can walk to most things i need in my town, but i worry about all of the people who aren't in that situation. or people doing stupid things for gas... like those people who were storing it in their apartment and it blew up. stuff is going to get crazy soon. get a gun!!!

I knew that I never should have mentioned needing it for my dogs. My stupid mistake.

Also keep in mind that some of those "enlightened" urban folk are from the country, and had to move to the city in order to find jobs.

Why must it always be a game of "us against them" when it comes to rural and city living people? I was talking to someone the other day about how people always talk trash about Los Angeles, but the majority of people I know out here are from other states like Ohio, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Iowa, Texas, Kansas, Georgia, South Carolina...If you don't like Californians, it is a reflection of the country as a whole. We all probably have more in common than you think.

Wow, people really hate people in Cali - that is the first time I ever heard that. Real shame - that is a true reflection on that individual.

No matter where you live, gas prices will start to cause other things to go up because everything requires gas to be shipped. It will make food prices go up, because petroleum is also needed to grow crops...I am pretty scared, actually.

bellaressa, did you see the election commerical they posted a couple months ago? They were saying some senator was a "California values" kind of politician, and then they showed 3 people in horrible clothes dancing like they were drunk. UnDave said that CA is "scarily left" the other day. Because all 13 million people think the same way....

jillness that's a great point.

I was just in Norway this weekend, which is a part of OPEC, and the prices there for gas are triple the prices in the US, and you pay an extra tax for diesel. And a lot of people live in scarcely populated areas there as well, but you will always find a bus/ferry/city trains etc. to get to work or school and back. So I don't believe in things being impossible.

I agree, Jill. It really does affect everything, and it scares me a lot.

I heard they are predicting $5 a gallon by the 4th of July!

I also heard that speculation was part of the reason for rising costs!

I feel like part of the reason for rising costs is that OPEC knows that people are increasingly concerned with alternative fuels and becoming more energy efficient, and they also know that more and more countries are drilling. They know that their oil won't be as in demand in the future and they are trying to get all that they can right now. I have no facts to back up what I am saying, that's just what I feel is happening.

Ohh my Jill, I did not see that commerical. I guess I just never think that others think like that, I mostly hear from my Southern relatives that I went city.

It was awful, Bella...they were wearing terrible clothes and had no rhythm!

My boyfriend also hears that he "went city" from his relatives, of course, they said that when he first moved to a town of 300,000 as well.

tiff58 do not feel bad for your dogs being one of the reasons you prefer an SUV. Imagine trying to get 3 large dogs to the vet in a hatchback or station wagon. It's almost laughable. Of course you could always just do one dog at a time and use 3 times the amount of gas

My family has one sedan and one SUV because of Illinois winters. We often use the SUV for hauling furniture my mom rehabs or cumbersome construction materials for home DIY projects. That's the "Utility" part of SUV. I'm getting kind of tired of my friends implying that I'm a horrible person just because I also use it to commute to work. Isn't paying the extra money for gas enough of a punishment?

Thanks CoralAmber. When we have all three in the back, they literelly barely fit. They can't even all lay down without being on top of each other!

Like you, we also do a lot of DIY, and it does come in handy. When we bought it we also weren't driving these long distances- I had no idea that I would have to move for my job.

I am so confused. Why are others concerned why people utilize their SUV’s? Not everyone is using them to make a grand statement of wealth or to drive around one kid; some people generally need them. Very judgmental I see.

Bear in mind that people in Europe also have SUVs, its not like we're the only country that has them. I saw plenty of SUVs when I was in Europe and all I could think was, SUCKERS!! haha! jk

Also we're overlooking something that really plays into how the American people have been screwed by our gov't on this and thats subsidises for the American auto industry. You guys know I love this country, but the fact is that the American auto industry doesn't make itself competitive. 40% of GM's sales are from SUVs and trucks. They've have PLENTY of years to remedy that and they haven't, why? Because our lawmakers consistently block legislation that would force them to be more competitive. The fact is that European and Japanese automakers cars are not only more efficient and better quality, but European automakers especially have MANY models in their lines that use high quality low sulfur diesel and can go much further on the same amount of gas. When you're in Europe, almost every car is a diesel and uses this. But the fact is that the gov't blocked the importation of high quality low sulfur diesel for years in order to protect American automakers so they wouldn't lose sales to overseas companies.

Its a big load of BS and completely against the very basics of a free market.

All those SUVs in Europe? Most are diesel, run on clean diesel, and get the same if not better mileage than our gas sedans.

Thank you for mentioning that, Cab. I don't know much about this, but I have also heard that the oil companies have been paying off the auto manufacturers to NOT make their cars as fuel efficient as possible- also completely against a free market. I am not someone who is rallying against the oil companies. It's just very obvious to me that something is broken and it must be fixed.

The fact is, the auto industry has spent the last 50 years making bigger faster cars instead of more fuel efficient vehicles. And we have all bought into it, and fueled this idea. It's not like we didn't know oil was a non-renewable resource. As a whole we decided it was more important to get our larger behinds in giant fast cars, eat more meat, burn more petroleum. Our concept of what we NEED is so skewed. People in the west and increasingly so in China and other parts of Asia live life styles of excess which have contributed to our global oil glut. We can make life style changes or we can suffer the consequences. Small changes can make a huge impact. I've started turning down the thermostat and reducing our meat intake.

SUV owner or not we need to re shift our concept of NEED and learn to live leaner life styles.

Gas is far from cheap in the US but it's nothing compared to the prices they pay in Europe.

Clean diesel is good but the technology isn't that far a long we stopped use of regular diesel in consumer vehicles because it contributed to acid rain.

The technology of diesel engines is much farther along than hybrid engines, you can't even compare the two. In fact on long commutes, diesel engines get better mileage, a lot better mileage, than hybrid engines.

Clean diesel is clean enough to pass EPA standards in NY and Cali, so why not give it a shot till proven wrong? While we work on other things of course...

If that's true, then AWESOME!

Oh its true baby!

And now that GM has closed 4 major plants in WI, IN, and OH, maybe they will turn the page and begin production of cars that are more in line with what consumers need. Maybe the government will give them a huge bailout amount. We'll see.