Gas prices are out of this world again..I haven't heard any reasons why. My husband works as a delivery driver at nite and it is costing him more for gas than he gets in tips. I just know that if gas prices stay where they are or even higher we will not be going anywhere.

Yup, gas prices were up like this last year, remember?  It is rediculous!  Unfortunately they are not rediculous enough to stop everyone from paying the prices.  No, doubt they will hit $4 and above this summer.  It is not enough for some of us to conserve and the silly boycotts, "don't by gas on x day" only make sales the before and after all the more great!  So, any good ideas on how to make an impression without whinning? 

Well, you have to stop buying so much gas.  Conserve ... buy cars that get better gas mileage or even the hi-breds.

The government is not going to prop up alternative fuel research (like they do the oil and tobacco industries) so that prospect is so far into the future it may not exist in my life time.  The oil companies certainly aren't going to help control prices --- they are addicted to their bazillion dollar annual profits.  The US auto makers don't seem particularly interested.  I'm thinking they are all making plenty of money ...... and the number of giant SUVs keeps increasing.  And we pour millions of tons of emissions into our atmosphere.  I find it strange and amazing and scary - all at the same time. 

Automakers make the cars that people want.  It's just that simple, supply and demand.  If it was highly profitable to make hybrids, then they would make them, but that's not what the majority want.  BTW, I'm all for hybrids, I own one and I love it.  I use it to commute to and from work and have cut my gas bill in half compared to my big pickup.  But not enough people want them, and they are still much more expensive than their gasoline only equivalents. 

If you want to learn a very telling aspect of the general public, just watch car commercials.  Look at the cars they're selling us, mini-vans with 280 horsepower, cars that go 0-60 in blah blah seconds.  Some people drive pickups and SUV's like they were sports cars.  I like to go fast too, but in a mini-van?  It's ridiculous.  When the automakers have squeezed the last drop of profits out of gas guzzlers is when we'll see a big swing towards more fuel efficient cars.  Why would any manufacturer shift production to some product that is less profitable?  Simply because it's better for the environment and society in general?  RIGHT!  It's all about the power of the almighty dollar, and it won't change until the public at large starts embracing more fuel efficient vehicles. 

It seems to be all about the old mighty dollar...and greed!! It is just sad that our goverment buys oil from other countries when we could use our own. And if we were using our own oil the foreign oil companies would suffer a great deal and maybe then they would lower their prices to reasonable....

Eek, seems simple enough, doesn't it?  Unfortunately us peons don't get to make policy decisions.  But because the dollar is powerful, the general public can be very powerful through our use of the dollar en masse.  The problem is swaying public opinion (and the associated spending dollars).

100% true Gregl.... Just tired of the gas prices going UP for really dumb reasons....

I own a Hybrid and love it;  but I love it for how quiet it runs, heated seats, especially the all wheel drive--thats what got me to work in our past snow days and the true reason I bought it in the first place, none of that has anything to do with it being a Hybrid but thats all they had at the time so that's what I bought. I think Hybrid vehicles are great if you live in the city and are using it in allot of committing traffic but here in Tehachapi they get about the same mileage as a gas engine, if you really want to save money on gas then buy a motorcycle we did and we love it our gas bill went from about 500 a month to 200 and we have fun on weekends riding.

I don't like the high gas prices any more than anyone else but what can we do? We need our cars to work, we have to commute because there aren't enough decent paying jobs here on the hill thus seeking jobs outside our community personally I DON'T want to live in Lancaster or Bakersfield so one of us (my husband) is forced to work down the hill.  I doubt  we will ever see gas under 2.00 again so I guess we all just have to make changes that work best for us and deal with it; so a motorcycle was our change.

Thank you GregL ..... for agreeing with me.  The power is with the people, even tho we frequently feel overwhelmed.  If we buy, in masse, the smaller cars with better gas mileage - and hybreds - the auto companies will make them for us.  Unforturnately, it takes them a long time to re-tool the manufacturing plants.  But today is the day to start.  Just because the journey is long doesn't mean it isn't worth making. 

I loved hearing from all who actually own hybreds.  Many congrats!!!!

To Lori and GregL - Sadly small cars are not practical for everyone. I for one have three children that need to still be in carseats and I watch my neice during the week making that number four. My husband wanted to buy a surburban when we needed to get a bigger car. I wanted something smaller. We went with a minivan. 

I think people buy SUV's for different reasons. I know that the reason my husband wants one for us so bad is for safety reasons. He is a firefighter and has seen many vehicle accidents. Usually the bigger car wins. I know that sounds awful, but it is true. Some people just don't like minivans. I know I hated the idea, but it fit into our budget better so I got over it. (pretty much had to! lol)

Also, as mentioned before. Hybreds aren't exactly cheap and don't work into everyone's budget.

Yes, countygirl, I definitely understand about the budget issue.  I certainly didn't like paying what I did for my Ford Escape Hybrid, but I tell you what, I sure do like that car!  It is surprisingly roomy on the inside, with seat belts for five.  I can fit myself and three of my big buddies in there no problem, with cargo area in the back.  And I understand about the safety issue too.  I also have a 4WD F-150 that I go off road in, and it is a tank.  In fact, someone plowed into my truck while it was parked on the street a long while back, and not much happened to my truck, but the other car was totaled!  The Escape is obviously not as big, but I feel pretty safe in it.  In addition to the regular airbags, It has airbags sewn into the seats for side impact cushioning. 

The good news is that when I bought mine a year and a half ago, they were getting popular then and the dealer was selling them left and right.  Hopefully, as more and more people buy them, the manufacturers will begin to drop their prices.  New technology is always more expensive until it becomes mainstream.  Bummer.