With crude oil at a record high of $120 a barrel,

I posted a similar discussion and someone from Pakistan responded; he said he was paying $1.06 USD for a liter (just over $4 for a gallon of gas). I really think it's due to several factors, the least of which is that we're continuing to have our presence in Iraq, pissing off Iran and other oil-producing nations. Bush didn't fully understand the ethanol (so now we're in a food shortage!), and ethanol will destroy the rubber fuel lines and metal gas tanks in older cars! I think we're just poking a sleeping lion...and it doesn't matter WHO gets elected as president in November, this had better be their first priority!

Over the last four or five years, the United States has rushed through and approved items too quickly--the FDA has approved several medicines that really should have had more research before going to market (if they ever made it!) and the entire ethanol fiasco (if mixed with the older MTBE-additive fuel, it turns to sludge and ruins fuel lines, carbs and fuel tanks). I personally would have a problem voting for someone whose spouse refuses to release their tax returns--red flags are going up! (McCain's wife). I'm not too thrilled with Obama either (since it looks like it will be the two of them in November). Unfortunately, the Congress needs to stand up and start researching alternative fuels. The ethanol thing won't go away quickly, but when they're ready to stop using it, there had better be several alternatives. The gas and oil companies are in collusion to make money--and I think (personally) that they are more intertwined with some of the US government's highest ranking officials to continue with the status quo.

Yeesh, I wasn't aware that for some places it was already over four dollars for gas! This definitely isn't a slow climb downwards...someone really does have to do something. The U.N. cares, but they're really, really, freaking out right now. Over-reacting...saying ALL bio-fuels are bad, and that's misleading, it's only Ethanol right now which is hurting the world. I'm hoping this problem can wait somewhat til November. I'm not so sure most of who're currently options will help that much...all I can do is pray we'll elect someone who can figure out a way to start fixing this. I'm sure this would've been a problem without America's help, but GOODNESS Bush probably made this downright easy for his oil buddies and the food people to make huge profits while hurting people immensely. "Crisis, crisis, crisis equals money, money, money" The mantra of villains even if they don't consider themselves as such...and it all comes down to greed! If things get bad, we're all just gonna have to rely on eachother..neighbors, family, friends -- hey, that's how it is in Iraq and such, right? The thing is..they're kinda used to it by now. I pity all the people who've lived those high maitenence lives and never thought they'd have to make do...'cause I really don't know how bad this'll get.

I also think that this entirely unnecessary war is another cause--we're destroying that region and in the meantime, they've got us by the short and curlies (oil) as punishment! Someone should tell Bush that this is NOT 1941 again--yes, by entering WW2, we helped end the Great Depression, but this is an entirely different time.

What's scary is that because of my inability to walk long distances, I'm forced to shop at the local convenience store or drive to get food. UGH!

The worst thing of all? Even if people convert to electric cars, unless we harness hydro-, solar-, or windpower, we're STILL using oil! And honestly--why do people feel the need to speed everywhere? Can't they just learn to leave a few minutes earlier! And if crude can only be purchased with US Dollars, Bush and the Federal Reserve should work on strengthing our dollar, not fighting a war we can't win!