no connection to reality

Sudden price increases and a complete devaluation of the dollar is good? What planet are you on? Most people are still not going to be able to afford alternative fuel cars.

My family in other parts of the world make a lot more money per hour to pay for all of those more expensive things like food/fuel.

Just screw everyone in the world that can't afford the rising cost of food. When we had only 30 million hungry in the US is going to sound like it was to good old days.

Screw everyone that can't afford to get to work, too.

We're getting a good rogering. Hows about solutions? ABSOLUTELY America should reap what it sows. Some junkies crash and burn, while some junkies crash and learn, but crashing is the unfortunate inevitable constant.

When 51% of the country votes for McCain. How is that to be explained?

I do like high gas prices because it seems to be complacent lay people's only economic barometer. Given this, I thought it was ironic that with a modest vehicle purchase, many could be spending the same money for gas per mile, as they did three years ago.

Soaring cost of commuting, goods, food & services sucks. So now what?

1. Automotive mileage standards should be increased much more quickly - even China is way ahead of us here.

2. Charge a fuel, environment and infrastructure impact tax for the non-commercial bigger vehicles and recreational vehicles right up front. For that matter, make driving them require more stringent driving tests.

3. Boatloads of cash being wasted in Iraq could be used better - improve the public transport infrastructure and make it more resilient. Once that is in place, make it more expensive to not use it (raise tolls, put in more tolls, charge more to park). Europeans that pay a lot more for gas have not only access to more efficient vehicles, they have freaking clean, efficient trolleys, buses and trains practically dropping them on their doorstep.

3. Put in charging meters for electric cars/bikes.

4. Make current incentives for oil cos dependent on putting in hydrogen fuel pumps as well as charging stations along side traditional fuel stations.

5. Make smaller E85 cars for sale in the U.S., not just Brazil. Half the Brazilians are driving Multi-fuel capable Chevys.

6. Encourage and reward farmers to grow perennials or sugar cane for E85, not inefficient corn.

7. Make it easier to travel by bicycle within suburbs, exurbs and major metro. Make bike paths accessible by low-speed electric-motor bikes.

8. Put emissions testing requirements all over, not just in major cities. It is not just that so many cars are inefficient, so many are badly out of tune.

9. Give more incentives for making, buying, converting and using alternative fuel vehicles. Give incentives for ride sharing, car sharing programs and low-mileage usage.

10. Stop issuing fines and taxes to those that make their own clean-burning biofuels.

Geez, I could go on for hours.

Would be to make traffic lights more intelligent. How many times have you been stopped by a red light at an empty intersection? Seems easy enough to fix. Some congressman had a figure of gas wasted while idling at red lights. Big number.

Lotsa good points. GetRdone!

But no mention of increasing American oil exploration/production within a current energy policy based MOSTLY upon fossil fuels (and in this eyes- wide- shut country where 95% of travel relies solely upon conventional gasoline). Also need a way to deter crude oil speculation.

I've heard it suggested that the US needs an independent Energy "Fed"?

Well, back to my research into tap water combustion.