Do you know the real reason gas prices are so high?
544663
Russia upping the prices for more profit
318772
gas prices are terrorism
613084
◙ the only way to get gas prices to go down is for everyone to stop paying them. you can't blame them for their high prices. you can only blame yourself for paying them.\n\n◙ here in east moline illinois gas is $2.53 :)
1046750
when the oil companies are making BILLIONS in profit at our expense so that they can pay themselves millions in bonuses, I would say that yes, gas prices are a scam
457866
The price of gas is going up due to the increase in price of oil (from which gas is refined) in the world markets.\n\nIt is not a question of supply and demand. There is as much oil being produced and consumed last week as this week. It is just that the stock and commodity markets (mainly in New York) control prices and push the prices up for their profit.\n\nThese commodity market types rely on politicians like George W and Cheney to use violent language. They will then jump on the bandwagon by bidding prices higher.
598226
The bastards are messing with us!  They are simply raising the prices to fatten up their wallets.  Their profits have raised by 30% and they keep changing the reasons for prices going up.  We never get a straight answer.  First its "a pipe broke and needs to be repaired so oil has gone up", then its "everyones using too much gas in their suvs", then its "we're negotiating to lower prices", um, excuse me but doesnt Bush OWN a refinery?
486127
Declining oil resources and increased demand for oil and petroleum based products will drive prices up.  No-one would dispute this.  Many are optimistic about the market (see references below).  In fact, the oil industry in the United States has done very well under the circumstances.  Profits are up.  Way Up.\n\nUnlike other commodities, oil is complicated by heavy government involvement.  This tends to muddy the picture.  Political power applied through commercial interests and vast marketing efforts have lead the citizens of the US into a false sense of reality.  For example, the rise in SUV sales during the exact time when vehicles size and mass should be reduced.  Profit motivation coupled with buyer ignorance is not a rational economic path.\n\nGlobalization of the market is also coupled with globalization of the distribution system.  This very well might lead to more development in the area of alternative energy sources.  The most promising of these (at least for the American corn growers) is Ethanol.  This and bio-sourced oil products may hold the key to keeping prices down while allowing for expansion and development of economies worldwide.
690244
Gas prices are rising due to the rise in the price of crude oil.\n\nThe price of West Texas Light Crude rose to over $70 a barrel on the international market, although it has now fallen to $69.63. The price of Light Crude tends to be higher than other Crude Oil prices because it contains less sulphur. This reduces the refining costs involved with making petrol that conforms to the environmental standards in the US and Europe.\n\nAlthough OPEC and other Oil producing countries have increased production of oil, the demand is outstripping the supply.\n\nThe economy in China is growing fast and as the masses enjoy more disposable income, they buy cars which in turn require more oil.\n\nThe Indian economy is also getting stronger and they too are buying more oil.\n\nA further complication that adds to the demand is the lack of refineries. The efficient refineries are operating at almost full capacity which means that less efficient plants are being pressed into service. The problems in obtaining refined product places further pressure on demand side prices.\n\nOn the supply side, there are political uncertainties in a number of big oil producing countries. Such uncertainties cause problems within the supply chain and cause prices to increase.\n\nOPEC cannot produce enough extra oil to satisfy the extra demand.\n\nIn the past, Russia could be relied upon to pump extra oil. However, Russia is busily re-nationalising Oil Production (e.g. The recent Yukos case). This means that Oil production in Russia has fallen away from 2004 levels. Although Russia has huge reserves, it will be a while before production starts to grow again and so they cannot be relied upon to meet the extra demand. \n\nVenezuela is having a little spat with US Oil companies. Go Venezuela! Unfortunately, this is also effecting supply. \n\nNigeria, well is Nigeria. However, the locals are not happy with the way that oil companies operate and have taken to protesting over the way their land is being poluted. Local bandits and industrial unrest all combine to threaten oil supply.\n\nThen there is Iran which is in dispute with the west over Uranium enrichment.\n\nWhenever demand outstrips supply, speculators get involved. The US leads the way in commodity speculation. With continual upward pressure on the price of oil, speculators are having a field day.\n\nThe complication that the US has brought to speculation factor is the invention of 'virtual speculation'. These are speculators who speculate on the commodity speculators. This in turn causes prices to fluctuate more wildly and pushes prices even higher in a rising market or lower in a falling market.\n\nThe only way to improve the situation would be to either increase supply or reduce demand.\n\nIncreasing supply will take many years to be effective.\n\nTherefore the only way to reduce prices is to reduce demand. So, if everyone used less fuel the prices would fall.\n\nTime to dust off your old pedal cycle?
167901
Ethanol is not the answer for raising gas prices. They produce it as a cleaner burning fuel. It all deals with the theory of global warming. I don't buy it, but that is the reasoning they use for it.
481296
I read a report about 6 months ago that said gas prices would have to exceed $6.00 per gallon before it would even change our personal driving habits.  I believe this and I also believe the first 2 answers you got.  If the price gets high enough, will figure out something better.
345940
Greed mostly.  The actual physical factors that drive it are production supplies and output demand but these could be leveled off and maintained for the most part so fluctuations come from CEOs of exxon and similar gas refinery companies or Leaders in OPEC messing with prices just to jack up the price to make more profits
42936
Those are pieces of the economic picture within the US.  Based on the information that's been coming out of the oil industry, a high oil price is mostly priced into the earnings equations for most companies.  [I actually think that this is NOT the case, but that seems to be the assumption on Wall St.]\n\nThe auto makers are actually making announcements that are going to improve their profitability -- that generally makes their price go up.
397625
In general gas prices are high due to the federal and state taxes piled on each gallon (24% last check).  We would be led to believe the technology does not exist to make other sources viable.  This is probably untrue, but the gas companies may have it all tied up.  The answer is we must push aside the environmental wackos and drill for our OWN oil.  There are thousands of years worth of supply in many parts to the US.  Canada does not buy foreign oil, in fact we buy some of ours from them.  All we need to do is start DRILLING.
806984
I believe the Bush administration Is the cause for the increase in gas prices. Do you remember when the Vice President had a secret meeting with the oil big wigs? This meeting was so hush-hush the president went to the supreme court to have the minutes sealed. soon after gas prices went through the roof. The Bush started the war in Iran. We had Gulf coast storms. There were a lot of factors but mainly it is greed by the oil companies. Oil companies will site market conditions as the reason for gas prices increasing. What they wont tell you is that they caused those conditions. ask them why did they close oil refineries down in Calif. and not build new ones?
538898
People, gas prices are going higher because of one thing. DEMAND. I still see giant SUV's in traffic driven by one person. \n\nThe US has 5% of the worlds Population and we use 25% of the worlds resources. We are hogs and the Gas companies are making money from it. Also, the US Gov't taxes 46 cents per gallon thats more than the profit by the BIG OIL Co. They are the ones gouging the consumer.\n\nAnd in Europe they drive minis not Avalanches and Tundras and Armadas and any other vehicle named after the state that it is as big as like TAHOE !
306644
The gas prices are absolutley ridiculous.  This is captalism at its worst.  I am not saying I am communist, heck no, but our government needs to change its policy ASAP and make laws that restrict huge, unfair profits for corporations that are making money selling an essential consumer product.  Laws must be made, people NEED gasoline, it isn't an option to most, and it isn't right to have us pay outrageous gas prices, while someone else gets incredibely wealthy.  Unfortunatley, money equals power in this country, and if we don't do something about this we are all going to continue to get screwed over.  Good question!!
406369
The 2 topics aren't related.  Take a class on Economics sometime to understand why gas prices are the way they are.