Jack, US gas prices are among the lowest in the world. Here in British Columbia (Canada) we are hovering around $5.00 a US gallon. But don’t worry, you guys will catch up soon enough.

my heating oil bill has more than doubled for my medium size, three bedroom single home,and i have a new heating system and the price of gas, didn’t i hear in the beginning of the month that by the end of march it was going to drop atleast $1.00 and we are sending how much oil over to korea?????

I have not heard Clinton, Obama or McCain talk about the high price of gasoline. If the price goes to $4 a gal., looks like we will starve to death trying to drive to the grocery store. We are on a fixed income and barely make it now. I wish all Senators and Representatives would get the kind of raise people on Social Security get. Maybe, something would be about the price of gasoline and groceries.

Lets see, I was going to use my Goverment rebate check to buy food
and medication but I’ll now use it to buy gas to get to the doctors office
and the suppermarket. Anyone have an old bike for sale for a Senior
citizen?

Jerry
Roselle,Illinois

Here in Ontario, Canada we have been paying that for some time, and are expecting $6/gallon ($1.50/litre) by summer! Gas for my boat was $6 last summer, probably going to $8. I’m shopping for a canoe!

It’s pretty simple Jack. Like millions of others, I’ll stay at home more of the time. Besides, traveling overseas is a non-starter with the freefall of the dollar. Nobody is talking about how the cost of oil is going to affect us in countless other ways as well, so the fallout will be far worse than just limiting our visits to Grandma. And what happens in Washington? Absolutely nothing. Not ONE politician is screaming like hell that this has to stop. Their silence is deafening! Why do you suppose that a visionary like Obama is America’s only chance for recovery? If Obama gets the nomination, all he has to do is ask folks if they’re better off than they were four years ago, and McCain loses.

Chuck in Amana, Iowa

I’d pay more for food and transportation and I’d travel less. I’d spend less on other things, clothes,movies, eating out etc.

It will affect us drastically.

We have an RV that’s become a guest house.

We live in a rural setting, so everything is at least ten miles to town. This year, we paid $600 in public school bus passes because the state budget doesn’t include increased gas prices and the district has to make it up somewhere. We have five nephews we are raising …that’s only for three of them. Home schooling is looking like a better option as public school is being priced out of our budget .

This also means less money for family vacations (if we can even afford to take one at all), extra-curricular sports, lessons and hobbies. It means our grocery bill will balloon, once again. It means possibly having to take on yet another job to just “get through” each month. With gas prices like this, it better be real close,

I’m seriously considering buying a horse and buggy.

Jack, I would like to see one of the canidates offer a plan to bring gas prices back to reasonable. Surely even they know that the high cost of gasoline and other oil fuels are the cause of inflation. Everything we buy gets to us by way of an oil burning vehicle, therefore as the cost of gasoline goes up so do the goods. I know that getting rid of the oil men in Washington would help but I really don’t know if our politicans even know how important this issue is to us working blue collar and less than 50,000 income folks. Thanks Jack please please pass this idea on. David, Corbin Ky

I would have to spend more money for gas. Even as old retired folks who do some traveling it is not going to change anything except perhaps make me complain a little about the high gas prices.

I’d redesign my car’s engine to run on milk. It’s a lot cheaper.

Jack if gas is currently at 3.09 a gallon here in NW Iowa
$4.00 a gallon gas will most likely raise even further the high costs of good healthy food.

President Bush and Congress better get to work on a quarterly stimulus check for the American People to afford to feed their family’s things like
eggs,milk,cheese, meat & produce you know the basics to sustain life.

As of right now, I can’t afford a car so I am relying on mass transit. And soon I’ll have a bicycle on the road. But once I can get a car, then gas prices may keep me from using it. If it’s not one thing, then it’s another. And frequently it’s more than one at a time.

I would no longer be able to commute to work 5 or 6 days a week.

It would mean leaving my very nice city home for a condo and a job that is near public transportation access—which would definitely pay much less–but would allow me to manage my finances for the next 12 years before I go into retirement. I did not plan on 50% or greater inflation when I planned for my retirement.

It would be a big pain because companies would just raise prices again to make up the cost of delivery. This is an fine example of how George W. Bush and his cronies failed us. Because right now in my hometown of Sylvania Ohio. It costs $3.14 for an gallon of gas and I honestly think we are headed for four dollars an gallon. We need alternative energy and better ways to make energy to power our cars and heat our homes.

It would sustantially increase my costs directly. It would also push- up othr prices producing an undesirale synergistic effect. The life style of the middle class is already on the down-grade, this could be the knockout blow.

Jack,

That is like asking how the flu would affect me. I’d get sick because I have absolutely no control over it. I can’t tell the big oil companies to give me a break and dillute their record profits. They know that I will pay the four bucks because my only other choice is to walk to work.

Take a set of retired grandparents, add two working parent, mix in a couple of teenage boys involved in high school sports at a priivate (Catholic) school that doesn’t provide a sports bus. After blending, top with the need for a vehicle that can also transport friends whose parents also work, along with all their equipment.

Seniors are drowning in this furiously escalating inflation, but $4.00/gallon gas would seriously interfere with our ability to be fully involved grandparents, and that STINKS!

Anna
Nanticoke, PA

Wow, Jack that is a no brainer. It has already effected my life at $3.19 a gallon. I am on a fixed retirement income. All my basic expense have risen drastically, my grocery bill is up 35% compared to last year. I spend as much of my time as possible getting out into the country hiking and camping, but that will change very soon to being a stay at home person, walking the blocks more frequently and maybe even buying a bicycle. Its tough paying $75 ever 7-10 days for gas, but $100 wow when will it stop. One thing for sure the truck will be gone soon and maybe a small wagon or more economical vehicle purchased to reduce that expense. I feel badly for those that live on a social security income which is for most considerably less than my military and restaurant pensions.

How come gas should be $4 a gal,when the oil company made $50 billon in profit just last year!!are we being scamed!!you bet you

YES!

My life would only be affected by paying $4/gallon for gas is if the gas station can’t afford to purchase the supply and there is no other alternative fuel.

As an oil company exec, $4 gas would allow me to buy another island in the Carribean. It would also give me more lobbying money to put another oil man in the White House and funnel to politicians to help kill off alternative fuel source efforts that might affect my bottom line - global warming and hostile oil producing nations notwithstanding. Since I’m NOT an oil company exec, however - I will just spend that much less in other businesses and affect THEIR bottom lines.

Hinesville, Georgia

I think its inevitable that gas prices are going to continue to go up and up and up until every last drop is gone. From the price of food to the cost of goods produced from oil - like plastics that are in just about everything, the increasing costs of oil will cause hardships that will affect almost everyone in North America excpet the super rich.

And yet none of our leaders, elected or soon to be elected are speaking strongly enough about ending oil companies reign on our lives. Bio fuels are not the answer - they are a short term solution. We need to get serious about cutting off our addiction to oil. Zero emission technology in the automobile industry would be a good start. North America is going to get left behind unless something radical is done to invest in our future - and soon!

I already at $3 per gallon go no where. I work from home and do all my calls now by conference call instead of going to the City where Business meetings are held. We have 5 cars with kids driving and I have cut their gas usage down as well. If gas at $4 per gallon we would start to take the bus or walk. We certainly do not now nor will we drive to the mall or shopping centers or anywhere else that needs to be driven long distances to. My oldest son is in college and I only let him drive home twice the first semester and once the second semester. It takes $90 to fill my SUV now. I would love to hop in my car and Drive to Florida to escape this miserable winter, but I will not do it. Exxon has made to much profits and I will not be giving them or Bush anymore of my money then I absolutely have to.

According to Reaganism it would affect me positivley. The energy companies would make more profit which would trickle down to me and make me richer. How could anyone refute logic like that?

It would have a major impact on many people who commute a long distance to work. Here in the greater DC area, we have many people who commute 50 miles or more every day to work because they can not afford close in housing. They would have to move in the City and face all its social problems because the commute would be more expensive than the housing price issue.

I already spend $100 a week on gasoline. If gas goes much higher, I will be eating dog food.

Here in the District of Columbia gas is already pretty high so a four dollar gallon wouldn’t do much else to me except force me to invest in a better bike pump, three more pairs of long johns and maybe a new scarf. Also, I might get a little closer to asking my girlfriend to marry me (she drives a Prius).

I’m on a fixed income, and as anyone on a fixed income knows, there is no such thing; it is a constantly DECREASING income. So I can’t tell how much, but it will definitely affect me adversely, along with all the ripple effect we have experienced in the last few months.

Thank you for this question. We should be worri8ed about other things other than Obama and Clinton and McCain. It is going to hurt a lot of people. They have to pay high prices for gasoline tyo go to work for depressed wages. Gasoline prices, food priceshave goone through the ceiling and not one of these candidates have even address this situation. They are too busy pandering.
Nina
Maynard, Arkansas

Hi Jack. $4 a gallon gas will devastate me, my family, and most of my friends. Even now I find myself thinking what foods don’t I need to buy (another mess all in itself) to fill the gas tank,

Unfortunately, it won’t affect the upper class and they will continue driving the gas guzzling SUVs because President Bush gave them tax breaks.

I foresee a horrible, terrible future for this country, and only if people start waking up and demanding that Washington actually work for a living and work for the common citizens will we see any change.

I won’t hold my breath.

Jack,Since im a retired steelworker and on a fixed income I guess it would make me more of a couch potato than I am now .This is a shame when foreign oil dictates the movemenys of our middle class people, thanks George for your non existant foreign policy.chuck

Higher gas prices have already affected my business; I have been passing it on to my clients and will raise those rates just as long as gas prices continue to increase. I hope what rhymes with the word recession dose not appear in any present or future generation.

Jack,
If were it only 4.oo a gallon gas, which by the way will ground me,, but as a 66 year old senior citizen I say we are being attacted financialy from all points,, bread ,, the price of wheat has rose 400%, corn products,, corn has risen 500%,, utilities have gone up because of the energy crunch,,,the only thing that has not gone up is these cheap ass shoe’s I got at walmart, and we know where they were made,, and now my blood pressure is going up trying to keep up with all these giant increases and wondering what’s next,,, well what the heck,, with Bush in the white house it’s no wonder ,,the rich get richer, and the poor get hungrier…. DEL in rural Misouri

Its Supply and Demand - There wont be nearly as much Demand for high gas prices and the result will be a storage problem for the Oil Company’s - Fact is, it cost MORE for them to store it than it does to sell it to you at a lower price. HOLD OUT AMERICA, THEY DONT WONT TO SIT ON THAT FUEL FOR LONG !! Curtail your driving and consolidate your trips because at the end of the day, the big oil companies dont really want you to conserve - they want to see how much they can get away with !

It would not effect me at all! I live in Egypt and pay about 80 cents per gallon, and they also have no income tax except for the very rich!

Let’s see now. What life? Oh, you must mean the golden years where we now sit at home in the lap of luxury (NOT!) all day everyday waiting for the social security check to appear once a month?

Oh, yeah, and then by the time we buy gas, pay the monthly bills, go buy staples, such as milk, eggs and bread which rise in price by leaps and bounds from one day to the next, we are almost broke again, and find ourselves waiting again for the next check.

There is no entertainment, except for the tv, computer, and radio or stereo for music.

We are not poor, but we live within our means.

Makes me wonder how a person on minimum wage exists. Before he leaves the house his first hour of pay is almost gone baby gone. No wonder there are so many homeless walking the streets.

Mary from Florida

Jack, the news media has been very fair and balanced, with Hillary. Hillary has complained about and blamed a right wing conspiracy, for decades. Now she’s decided the media is out to get her. Hillery should take responsibility, for her problems and not blame others. You can’t play the blame game, when you’re president. After last nights debate, I now support Obama.

dunno

Jack, $4/ gallon gas priced will devistate my family.

long overdue that we as world citizens pay proper prices ,would suggest raising tax on gas to audit & repair our nations infrastructure , LONG OVERDUE, DAVE.

I am retired so it won’t affect me as much. But I do feel bad for the people that have to go to work everyday and have kids to take places.

Just like finding out I was pregnant at age 75 ! of course if I were no doubt could sell the story and be able to afford the higher price of gas and food.

Well since I am on the lowest rung of the ladder, it would affect mine greatly. At present I have cut out all unnecessary trips in my car so that I can put food on my table. Not only gasoline, but auto insurance costing $55.00 a month, and If gasoline goes to $4.00 a gallon, guess I will have to walk to my doctor once a month, but it is only about 5 miles one way. I already walk .6 mile to, and from my grocery store, and push my little cart to help carry my groceries (very few) back to my home. I remember when people ate dog food because they couldn’t afford anything else. If things continue at the pace they are now, and nothing is done to slow it down, dog food may seem like a treat.

Hi Jack,

No one should be suprised when gas reaches $10 a gallon. The direction its going is pretty clear. America is a world leader in technological developments in space and military weaponry. Imagine if we concentrated our energies towards developing “green” technologies? We could be world leaders in this new technology. Not only would it protect our economy for the future, but we’d be doing our part to save our planet at the same time. Oil is the way of the past, the sooner we realise it the better.

Wayne Peltier,
An American citizen living in Canada

Let’s see, that is about a 34% increase in one year. from $2.35 to $3.15 As a teacher, this might be okay, if my paycheck had increased the 34%–but it didn’t. Think how difficult this makes it for those who work for low hourly wages and what the $4.00 will make all of us suffer.

Jack, out here in California gas is already $3.99 for a gallon of premium, & most of us here expect it to go up to $4.25 gallon for Easter vacation. I don’t own a car Jack, but, I do take taxi’s when I go shopping & I can tell you the drivers are PO’D. They’ve gotten a rate increase, it’s now $2.50 just to get into a cab & $.20 for every quarter mile, but, drivers aren’t making any money just because of the cost of gas. It takes a driver $70.00 just to fill their tanks for a day’s worth of driving. And Exxon wants to get out of paying Alaska residents for the oil spill???!!!!??? Exxon is making enough to pay for that mess 10 times over!!! Oil companies need to get over themselves!!!
Patricia,
Palmdale, Ca.

IN MY AREA, FOOD PRICES HAVE ALREADY GONE UP 1/3 WITH $3/GAL GAS. AT $4/GAL I GUESS I WILL GET TO GO ON THAT NEW DIET EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT, THE STARVATION DIET. ANYONE KNOW ANY GOOD SOUP KITCHENS IN MY AREA?

Jack, that would mean 16.$ a day to get to and from work at 8.50 $ an hour.. the math is not hard..there goes the milk, eggs,bread, n so on..how do the candidates get to all there stops?how do they eat? oh the Millions that we give then, there all full of gas, n the worst is yet to come.

Jack,
Two word’s, Mountain Bike.

Oh yes it will, it has a $3 a gallon. We have a race car and with the gas prices we just can’t afford to travel even to the local track 35 miles away. We definitely won’t be going on our 3 fishing trips this summer, while they are only 140 miles away $4 for fuel for our van, boat we just can’t afford it. Looks like a boring spring, summer and fall.

Let’s make sure the Oil Company CEO’s are getting the multi-million dollar bonuses.

Would $4.00/gal gasoline effect my life? You bet it would Jack. I would need to get a second job. If I found it necessary to do that I would not be home to watch The Situation Room!

Here in Phoenix we are building a light rail system- better finish quick!

I’m going to change cars next year. My current vehicle is a sedan and will be ten years old by then. Gas prices at $4 a gallon will force me to shop smarter and I will choose a hybrid vehicle. When I look around at all these huge SUV’s that people are still purchasing and driving I ask myself….do they even have a clue?

I’ll have to stop doing so much charity work. You Know the old saying don’t you, Jack,” Charity begins at the pump.”

When gas prices hit $3.50 per gallon let alone $4.00 per gallon I will be sitting home. No going to the Mall every so often. No buying gas for the lawn mower as I’ll have plenty of time to cut the grass with a pair of sissors. One question I have is what was the time spam from when Cheney had his secret energy meeting to the time that gas prices started to climb. You can bet that Bush and Cheney will be laughing all the way to the bank with oil at over $100.00 per barrel.

It’s hurting now I can’t even begin to imagine what people will do what when it reaches $4.00 a gallon. Our gov’t gives us extra money and tells us to go out and spend it. You’ll have to put most of the money in your gas tank to even get to Walmart. Every time the cost of oil goes up the oil companies’ profits go up breaking records. That just doesn’t seem right. People are up to their eyeballs in debt. They cannot borrow any more money. If something isn’t done to control the profits and the cost of oil in this country I am afraid we will see a lot of bloated bellies walking around not driving around.

It would only effect me in some minor areas of life, Jack, you know, like cutting back on “eating”, “staying warm”, or buying those luxury items like “prescription medications” that I have to have. Other than those minor things, I’m not effected at all, Jack.

It would give me an excuse for when I forget to buy gifts for birthdays and anniversaries, sorry I just filled up the car. . Heck I could use it as an excuse to skip reunions and going to the in-laws too. Gotta look on the bright side Jack.

$4 a gallon. I thought I already gave my pay check to the gas station. I think will walk to work now.

Jack, gas at $4/gallon will devistate my familie’s budget. Exxon made $14 Billion, in profits last quarter and that is just plain obscene. It’s way past time, for congress to put a price cap, on energy products. Corporate greed is out of control and someone, in congress, with stones needs, to stand up to them.

In terms of how I drive day-to-day, not much. Just a few months ago the cost was nearly $3.50 in California, so what’s another 50 cents?

But where I expect that will have a real impact in my life and the lives of everyday Americans is in the trickle down effect regarding fuel. Namely, that if the cost of transportiation goes up, the direct cost of goods transported will also go up. Our dollar will be losing value while the cost of groceries, household items, business items, nearly everything will go up. Our GDP will fall so hard we may be discussing the possibility of a depression, let alone a recession.

I would LOVE $4.00 per gallon of gas. Today our gas here in Vancouver B.C. is $1.15 (cdn) per litre which is approx $4.35 per US gallon. Please bring on the savings!!!

It is going to have a tremendous effect on the economy and the all of the American workers. It will not only dig into your pocket book to get to work, but will effect food, clothing, healthcare……etc. How much more can the “camel” bear before the final “straw” breaks it? Corporate America is in a serious financial delemina, and they are going to make up the losses buy burdening the American people on a “major” necessity to earn a livelihood……gasoline………and every component of the economy is linked to “fuel.” I think I will get my bycycle ready………not only it is cheaper to travel, but it is a health travel mode.

Canada We are paying 3.29 a gallon in central Prov. The price is much higher out east and west. We are the biggest supplier of oil to the USA , even bigger than the arabs. We pay more than you and we have plenty to be self sufficient, but we sell to you guys. Strange how this world of ours turns. Ray

I will drive as little as possible until we bring back a non-gasoline powered car.

Minneapolis

I live in the midwest it’s not only high gas prices for us, but we are getting a double whammy. Our heating gas has sky rocketed this winter, I paid 1.80 for LP last winter and 2.20 this winter. You not only have to cut out everything except the necessities, you have to make the necessities last a little longer. I enjoy spending time with my 4 year old Beagle named Linus so that’s what I’ll be doing from now on. I sure what be out spending any money because I won’t have any to spend.

Not much. I work at home. I would hope it would start to help convince a growing number of employers this is a viable alternative to long commutes.

PS. I would still not like it, but it would be much cheaper than what I paid in the UK about 1 month back.

Jack,
Let’s put it this way… I sold my car and I am walking to work every day!
I am losing weight and I feel great! 4 or 5 or 6 dollars for me wont make any difference. I do feel sorry for the big truck owners!

If it were for a reason, (like us going green) I could understand, maybe. But with Exxon and Shell, etc, making multi billion dollar profits, well ya know they are just ripping us off! They’re nickel and diming the little guy to death! Along with higher food prices( for poison) , and everything else. I’m lucky I don’t have a big commute, I can’t imagine the impact on those that do. It’s a viscous cycle, drive farther ,to work more, to pay more bills. Is anyone really happy with that? God, this country is crying out for economic reform so badly it hurts!

No doubt the price of gasoline as it stands now is unbearable. And it the price goes up to $4.00 a gallon, it would become more unbearable not only for me, but for millions. The bottom line is —-if this country don’t do something yesterday to stop this surge in gasoline prices the entire country is going to suffer and suffer gravely. The powers that be know who is behind this matter, but no one is doing or saying nothing.

I don’t like it but what can we do? Stop buying gas or ask for a gas voucher.

Not much, I can drive for two weeks on one tank of gas in a Corolla… Since I know that gas prices aren’t going to weaken over the next decade, I purchased a car that would best take advantage of miles per gallon.

Maybe I’d lose weight. I could afford to put gas in the car to go grocery shopping, but once there would have no money left to buy food. But as long as big oil is rolling in dough, I guess that’s all that counts.

Jack, $4.00 a gallon would prevent me from visiting friends as much as I would like!

This country is going down Jack! Osama Bin Laden is winning. We are so screwed and you are busy bashing the only candidate that could have helped! CNN has pounded Hillary Clinton Daily and she will probably loose to Obama now! Hope your happy with your choice. Soon that show Jerico may become reality. Obama hasn’t got a clue and it will drive a wedge in this country and the Republicans will have what they wanted all along.

But you guys wanted Obama! 5 dollar a gallon is close Jack and it will close this country down! you better start reporting on the DO NOTHING BUSH ADMINISTRATION!

We are a middle income family, but the increase in gas won’t affect us much. However, we haven’t ran up our credit cards with stuff we can’t afford, we aren’t driving the newest SUV on the block, and we bought a house within our means, not the exorbant amount the bank said we were pre-approved to buy. We would expect this to hit the minimum wage earners hard, but if it is seriously affecting anyone making a reasonable living, than we have worse problems than high gas prices.

It would be nice if higher gas prices would be a catalyst for solving our nation’s energy problems and making people more energy conscious, but, more than likely, people will go with ‘business as usual’. - Alexandria, VA

$3.00 a gal have hurt all of us on limited income. We retired don’t get a raise. When milk,bread,and eggs cost $12.00. Thats a lot for us old people, living in small towns. But JACK I don’t know what it will take for the young people to wake up. The parking lot at school is full of suv”s and great big pick-up trucks. I think the people from overseas will crash the (USA) this year, They hate (BUSH) so much that they will do anything to see us go under. (MAY GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY)

Jack

I could afford to pay $4.00 per gallon gas if I give up every not absolutely neccessary for my family . Begin to grow my own vegetables and work 10 days a month from home.

Dave Duncan, Stone Mountain Ga.

It would not . Being from Canada and paying a lot more makes me wonder what all the fuss is about here. And Great Britain pays double what Canadians do. Perhaps car makers will pay more attention to fuel efficient vehicles now and consumers will do more car pooling as we did in Canada. Its not like we did not know it was coming.

I hope it keeps going up higher and higher. Eventually we will be forced to get serious about alternative energy. A nice bump in the gas price would be a good motivator.

It’ll affect me if I decide to fly somewhere… I haven’t had to fill up my hybrid gas tank in a month because I take public transportation for everything but long road trips.

Well, I would say I’d be forced to take public transportation, but that’s not an option. Despite living in my state’s capital city, on a major street just 6 miles from my office, there’s no bus that stops anywhere near where I live. I’m forced to drive and sit in traffic for up to an hour each day.

So, $4 per gallon would only piss me off and make me want to move to Mexico.

Already has! My driving has been only for necessities, e.g, groceries. I’ve gained weight, feel like hell, and the only saving grace is my dog…he “exercises” me. I can’t wait for the weather to warm so I can hop on my Triumph.

Nothing Jack as long as the Bush tax cuts remain in effect, I’m an independently wealthy Republlican. Just kidding. I’m retired and we will not be able to see our grandkids as often, or take the wife out once a month, so what, we still have our freedom and can go get a job, maybe flipping burgers. Sounds like fun, want to join us. Darn, I only wish I had 50,000 shares of Exxon.

After reading this article I am feeling much less inclined to purchase the new $45k SUV I test drove last night. It’s current EPA is 15 city 19 highway (22 gallon tank) If gas were to hit $4 per gallon that would really add to the expense of this vehicle. I like having a large SUV but it may be time to re-consider whether it’s really worth the extra cost.

Yesterdays report from the University of Michigan on consumer confidence showed that confidence slipping lower than it has ever been before. This is one of the indexes wall street uses to predict the economic health of this country and which direction our economy is going. More of the leading economic prognosticators are predicting a recession than ever before. As gas prices rise causing grocerys and building supplies and every thing else that is produced and delivered to rise these prognoticators will stop predicting an impending recession and be talking depression instead. Ask grandpa and grandma the impact that had on their youth and you’ll understand how these things will effect all our lives

Like anything we have to deal with it - Did you read the article on CNN about our credit card debt - Well that is how america is making their wages stretch - Just like the war - put it on my tab

the bush administration is all about oil and fattening themselves up for the hibernation period which will follow the november elections. bush, cheney and rice have made such good friends overseas that countries either want to raise the price of oil to recover some of the money we owe them or just shut us off. where’s all the iraqi oil to help pay for the war and reparations ? it’s a proven fact that george w bush would lie if the truth worked better.

Jack,

What everyone has to realize is this. The oil companies and their political hacks don’t care how it affects any of us. The oil companies will make even more obscene profits than they are making now. That’s all they care about.

Hopefully it will have a positive effect and get all the SUV’s off the road and then I could see down the road again.

I’ll just buy me a horse. They’re more ecological, plus I can get new models without having good credit, or any for that matter.

Ahh, that Prius we bought is looking better all the time. Eat your hearts out Humvee drivers. We need to quit burning so much gas for numerous reasons: global warming, balance of payments, someday we’re going to run out. Unfortunately, the only thing that seems to make Americans conserve is price, certainly not concern for the environment or the economic absurdity of sending all our money to Middle Eastern countries. I only wish that we had a sensible energy policy: subsidize alternative energy R & D, not oil companies (and not ethanol). It would be much better if the high cost of gas were due to taxes that were used to foster and develop alternative energy sources rather than due to record oil compatny profits (who still get subsidies from our tax dollars!! Oh, but look who’s in the White House).

Take a trip over the border to Canada. Gas is already over $4.00 a gallon. In our family we have learned to purchase more fuel efficient vehicles and cut back on wasteful, repetitive trips for running errands; we carpool for work when we can and carpool for the children’s activities. It’s all about getting your ducks in a row and planning ahead. And by the way, there is still plenty of money left over for our mandatory healthcare system. Maybe another reason to look North for advice.

It means fewer visits to see my grandbabies who live less trhan 20 miles away because grandpa can’t afford the gas. Or mommy, who’s a single mother working at minimum wage, because she will not be able to spare the extra money for gas to bring them to grandpa.
Thank you OPEC, Exxon, Shell. I know what we could do without you.
Ern, Turlock,Ca.

It will obviously increase my cost of living. Its high time our government leaders get very serious about alternative energy.

Sweden has a plan to be the world’s first oil-free economy and they expect to break their dependence on fossil fuels by 2020. And they don’t plan to do it by building nuclear power stations.

America can do this too (maybe not by 2020 ) if we are willing to make the right changes and maybe a little sacrifice on the way.

What a better future we could leave our heirs.

It’s already affecting me Jack! My gas bill already went up $75 and I was cutting back because it was already too high!

Julie, NY

How would 4 bucks / gallon of gasoline affect my life?? Well about as much as a $8.00 can of beer, a $20.00 cigar and a $50.00 lap dance.
$4.00 to drive to the atomosphere that allows me to open my wallet and allow me to enjoy the finer things of life like that of my elected officals in D.C. is a bargin indeed.

My husband and I own 21 ice cream trucks that sell treats to children in the neighborhoods. Five years ago, we had a profit of $30,000 annually (with only 15 trucks). Profit has gone down steadily ever since. Last year, we broke even due to the gas costs. This year, we will probably lose the business.

Gasoline at $4.00 per gallon would be tough, but heating oil in that range would be catastrophic. Much of our driving is elective. Heating one’ s home to a reasonable temperature and providing domestic hot water is not.

We should stop harping about the cost of gasoline and stop driving monstrous SUVs and huge pick-up trucks (not used for business purposes). Our teenagers should stop driving cars to high school. These steps would easily reduce the US gasoline use by 20%.

We are spoiled beyond belief in this wonderful country!

Just another nail in the coffin, buddy. Like most people I know, my income has not changed much in the last seven years. But everything else has. Insurance premiums, property tax, food, heat bills, etc, etc. Although my family is better off than many, we are still stretched to the limit. Sometimes beyond the limit. We are finally taking Suzie Orman’s advice, and only buying what is absolutely necessary. The middle class has been blamed for not saving enough, and then for not spending enough. The thing that is really frustrating is that it did not have to be this way. We did not have to go to war, we did not have to give tax cuts and billions in subsidies to corporate America. The Neo-cons chose this path for us and we let them. While the” watchdog “media was keeping track of celebrity meltdowns.

I see a lot of people are paying $90 a pop to fill their SUVs, they have *5* cars in their household, and think gasoline is as readily available as water in the Pacific. Well, I HOPE AND PRAY that $4 a gallon gasoline will make people think twice about buying an SUV and having 5 cars in their household. I guarantee if they drove a vehicle that got more than 15 MPG, then $5 per gallon wouldnt be so bad. Folks, we are paying $5 because the oil companies know we will pay it. People, take a good hard look at yourselves, sell your SUVs, start a carpool, and ride the train if you can. WAKE UP!

It will affect everyone’s wallet because inflation will rear its ugly head due to rising shipping costs that are passed onto the consumer at the retail level. But, the falling dollar is a huge problem that ties into this as well. One hope is that our European friends will come here and spend their Euros on our “cheap” goods. The war in Iraq has affected us far beyond the thousands of people who have died - huge debt, weak dollar, higher oil prices. Just another example of Nero fiddling while Rome burns. We are truly the pigs of the planet.

Thousand Oaks Ca

Well people don’t want another Clinton in the white house but they want a muslin in there, and when Obama puts his hand over his heart during the National Athem then and only then I might vote for him maybe.

It would not surprise me one bit! Could even get worse than that. Personally,the price of groceries would go up because of trucking.Also clothing,home heating,airline tickets and you name it. Soon our dollar will be like Germany’s fiat money after WWII. In 1993 one Euro was worth 90 cents. Today the Euro is $1.40something to our one dollar. Foreclosures,repossessions of cars,etc. America is already in a recession and coming close to a depression. Well,anyway Jack, I guess I’ll have to travel less,keep the house cooler,and practice portion control while living the American Dream!

If someone would invent an engine that ran on hot air,we would never run out of fuel from all the stuff coming out of Washington,D.C.

Not much. I drive a fuel-efficient car and have chosen to live near where I work and shop and I commute by bicycle. What driving I do is infrequent, only what’s necessary and usually on the highway. Ask the same of someone who bought an SUV, a house in that new subdivision five miles out of town and doesn’t think twice about running into town just to pick up a gallon of milk.

For all you complaining about even higher prices in other countries you need to look at your monetary value compared to the US. Our dollar is weak and continues to drop. Did you forget about exchange rates? Next time you buy a magazine look at the bar code where the price is. The price for that magazine is usually a lot more in Canada then in the US because you have a different currency!!!!

The combination of high gas prices sucking up all of our discretionary income and the oil companies reporting earnings higher than any company in history, could cause a major political shift. For the first time, I understand why some countries turn to Socialism. When companies have so little reguard for the people and such a negative effect on the lives of ordinary citizens, maybe it’s time to show these companies who runs this country. Of course I jest, the oil companies know they run the country. With their money and influence, they can do anything they want.

This would affect me greatly. I am a Sales Rep., so I drive all day long. I don’t think my company will be in a hurry to raise my mileage expense, so it looks like it is going to cost me to go to work.

This is horrible, and are supposed to be the greatest country in the world?????????? Whatever!!!!!

Jack, I guess will use an old form of transportation: my feet! Hey, walking, is one of the best forms of exercise. There are many places that are close to my house; such as, the supermarket, a conveinent store, and the drug store.

Although gas prices will break my budget, at least I can get something positive out of it…..losing weight!

Paying $4 a gal, well, what choice do we have but to pay it. How out of touch all of those people who sit in Washington really are. Think about it, how many of them even pump their own gas to know what the current prices are.

Back home in Belgium, I pay 1.5 euro a liter!
1 gallon = 3.78 liter = 5.67€.
That’s 8.5$ a gallon, almost triple of what I’m paying now in the US.

So stop the bitching already!

Robin, Belgian living in Minneapolis, MN.

Just take my pay check now!

Cambridge, MA

It affects where I choose to work. The jobs I accept now must be 50% closer than they were a year ago. Energy costs are a killer. This country must get serious about alternative energy sources. Detroit must also be dragged, kicking and screaming, into energy alternative solutions. If not, foreign competitors will put them out of business forever.

Jack, what else can you do but pay it? I mean, the short sighted politicians in Washington, who are on the take from big oil, knew this day was going to come over 30 years ago and did nothing about it then, so we can now pay their ignorance now. Perhaps we can send President Bush back over to Saudi Arabia and have him beg then for cheaper oil. Or we can get off our duffs and walk to Washington and demand accountability from our government.

Jack,
It would dramatically change my lifestyle since my income is NOT goping up accordingly. I would travel less, buy less, and try to hold down costs for heat and electric all which will escalate with the cost of oil.

Jack
Honestly, as a retired couple, on a fixed income, my husband and I would go out less, travel less, and just stay home.

While I believe we definitely have to cut consumption, $4 a gallon would be crippling. We live in Pasadena, TX next to Houston and have no access to public transportation. Houston’s is marginal at best.

Numbers: My wife and I live 7 miles from work, work at the same place, own one small SUV that gets 20+MPG and a motorcycle with 40+. We still spent about $250 last month on gasoline and we are not heavy drivers.

Rising prices make even the rare out of town trip cring-worthy. We are careful to consolidate trips, use cruise control, maintain our vehicles, and not make too many frivolous drives. (if you consider meeting friends for dinner frivolous) I don’t know how people that must drive farther and who need more than one vehicle can do it.

We’ve adjusted conditions our variables about as much as possible over the last few years to save money on gas, both for financial and environmental reasons. With the recent rise of the last 6 months we are flat stuck. I know we are better off than many parts of the country as well.

How will it effect my life? I guess I’ll be buying shoes by the dozen now.

Is anyone ever planning to retire? I mean come on… Gas, food, medical bills…. I’m making small changes like eating out less and taking my lunch to work more and driving a little slower to work in the morning. Still, I see these bubba’s driving small cruise ship sized vehicles much faster than I’m driving. I guess they have 2 jobs…

4 dollars nationwide average? It’s $3.59 now. Well living here on the north coast of california we pay 50 cents above the national average. So I guess the question is what will 4.50 cents a gallon mean. More belt tightening I guess. I will be down to a size zero soon.

The $4 / gallon gas prices wil affect my life by paying more for gas and transportation, as it will for most Americans. But at the same time, what else will motivate the American people to put down the chips, get off the couch and do something about it? The rest of the world, places like Europe and Canada, pay much more, and therefore forces them to find ways to conserve and look for alternative fuels. In the U.S., with the prices remaining relatively low, we continue to buy huge gas guzzling SUVs and don’t hold our government officials accountable for increasing fuel conservation tactics and funding alternative fuels. Jack, it’s simple economics 101 if we want things to change…

can ya say depression!!! honest people had better bolt, chain, lockup anything of value cause theft is gonna go through the roof. get ready to barter with anything you dont really need. this could be the end of the dollar as this country ends up in bankruptcy, but we the middle class will survive somehow, but it is gonna be fun watching the rich go down. hope it was worth all of the greed!!!!!!

HI Jack we here in Canada would love to pay $4 per gallon as we are now paying $5.31 albeit our gallon is larger and measured in litres @ $1.18 and rising. We also have regulated gas pricing but the oil companies can move them around a bit and raise them or lower them once a week…..silly I know but hey Jack that’s how oil companies operate. Oh by the way Jack some companies will not accept American money, because the gas companies could loose on the exchange rate, these clowns do not miss a trick.

David
Dartmouth NS

I’ll move to a tropical island and ride my bike.

If Obama & Clinton want to renegotiate the NAFTA agreement they might want think about where the majority of US oil imports come from. Negotiating is a two way street.

Not a lot. I live in a town that is often listed as the highest in the nation. We have already adapted. I walk to the store when the weather is nice. We drive efficient cars. We’ll just carpool and combine more errands. Get a bicycle if you don’t like it. Americans are just a bunch of whiners.

I bet the gas-guzzling SUV owners are going to be pissed. Ha!

I bought a diesel truck because at the time fuel was $.25 less than gas. The truck isn’t even out of warranty and now diesel is $ .60 more than gas and in my area quickly approching the $4.00 mark. This means the motorhome and skiboat will be parked more than it is run. Imagine, it takes $ 20 just to cut my lawn.

Yes Jack I could quit my job because I could not aford to drive back and forth, fast food dont pay that much. I admit it would give me more time to watch you….but then who would pay the bills, oh well guess I can find something else to give up… let me get back to you on that , it may take me awhile to figure out what else I can give up…..

Jack,

It means I’m going to have to cut down on the leisurely drives and cut in other areas. That seems to be a no brainer. The really unfortunate thing is that the oil company’s have us in a vice and there is nothing we can do about it

Jack:

The answer is easy. With all of the technology that exists today, I would bet 50% of us could work from home. Think of the impact that would have. The oil, insurance, and automotive industries would all colapse because of the sharp decrease in demand. Rush hour would be a thing of the past. The average American would then have a lot of extra cash to spend on Chinese imports.

I am retired and drive a ‘07 Toyota Yaris…..less than $15,000 well equipped. I get 38-40 mpg and sometimes over 40 on long trips. I purchased it because my son lives 400 miles away. I’ll still visit once a month even if gas is expensive as long as it is available. I may curb my local driving even at 40 mpg.

Jack,
The high price of gas makes me wonder how much money President Bush and evil Dick, plus thier family members and friends with oil stock holdings, are going to pocket… Oh I don’t drive.

C.I., New York

Please, Jack, explain to me why I have to continue struggling with my finances and tightening my budget so I can afford to put gas in my car and food on my table while Congress spends my tax dollars to investigate drug use in a silly sport. I would think they have better ways to spend their substantial budget, like forcing the oil companies to lower gas prices. Then again maybe Congress doesn’t want to tick off their sugar daddies

Gas is 14 cents a gallon in Caracas, Venezuela. I kid you not. Let’s nationalize OUR oil industry!

I’d be disappointed if it only goes to $4 a gallon. It needs to go to at least $5 a gallon for this country and our leaders to finally wake up, organize a sincere and massive effort to get us off of foreign oil (like Brazil did), capitalize on truly great alternative energy options (solar, wind, hydrogen - forget ethanol!), and rid ourselves once and for all of foreign dependency for our energy needs, not to mention the billions of dollars we send overseas - much of it to people who don’t like us and some of whom actively plot against us!

On second thought, I want to see it go to $6 a gallon or more - because I believe we need that kind of “pain” to move to true action and beyond the hot-air, alternative energy PR baloney we’re hearing from our politicians today!

My car is already a compact. I guess I will have to cut out all the trips to the inlaws, please inform David from Natchez.

I would give my eye teeth to get fuel for only $4 per gallon! The weakness of the dollar is compounding an already higher base price, so that I am up to about $7.50 per gallon!

Quit your belly aching and take the freaking bus! Trade in that gas guzzling SUV and get a Hybrid! Share a ride with someone else! Park the car and walk or get a bike!

Give me a break. $4 is a half-price sale!

Paying through the nose in central Europe.

My guess would be it won’t affect most people here in the great state of Texas. A booming metro area the roads are always full.
As for me and my family we will suffer, but when this whole economy collapses ( as it’s sure to do) we will have nothing left to lose. So, bring it on!

Jack, has the news media been unfair,? Hell NO! Hillary jumped into the Presidential Race early after being courted by every news organization that had a camera and mike. Then when she made her move she was on TV morning, noon and night getting full coverage and shot to the top of every poll know to mankind. Heck Jack she was beginning to talk about being President in her soupy silly ways, then. “Along came Jones”….well Obama and as y’all say there is a new Sheriff in Town and the town’s foke came out of hiding feeling a sense of joy and excitement. And dat old pal is not the fault of the news media. Hillary may have seen a light at the end of the tunnel too soon, because on closer inspection it was a train, the Barack Obama Express!

Jack; $4/gal gasoline? Drive less. Cut necessities. Watch oil corp. profits soar and gape at the multi-million dollar bonuses the oil CEOs grant themselves. Watch the oil PACs fund their minions in the federal government. Envy the top 10% of our population who own 90+% of the wealth as they enjoy the best money has to offer: health care, education, financial security, grand homes, etc.
But 4 is not the top. We will see $10/gal.

People don’t have a clue. Waging a war, without raising taxes. Inflation will help pay for Bush’s war. Inflation robs Social Security. An 8% inflation rate, while SS gets 2.3% COLA is stealing from retired people.

Did you know that beer was once and on average a penny a glass, yes, inflation is a funny thing isn’t it.

I own a penny from 1919, and I wonder who’s work was it that first earned that copper penny? And now about those air miles…

In the 1800’s to adjust for inflation they just reduced the amount of silver a coin contained, or they just make the coins smaller in total metal weight, but now, and with national currency markets, global exchange rates, complied interest calculations, and morgage premiums… I know that the air is getting thicker and hotter but the overall amount present in this earth hasn’t changed; its just with more people we each have a smaller portion to exploit to its ruin, and its getting harder to find those unspoiled reaches to exploit these days, but at least their is still China with to many people to ever reach equality with the west they can still offers national-by-populous discounts for all the useless X-mas knick-knackery we consume.

It is true that the amount of gasoline easily accessed from the face of the earth is diminishing at an exhausting rate, but that will just press alternative means of delivery, transportation, and revolutionize lifestyles, or it will cripple us.

But as we all know Might is right, so the rancher with the gun will still own his lands until the day someone pulls that gun from his cold hand and takes the posession of it from him.

Greed verse the sanctity of the earth, and greed will always win.

Yet it seems with all this carbon in the air, and with vast and deserted open spaces on the many equatorial zones, with a bit of inginuity and a little time, effort, supplies, and patients, and lastly with a bit of desalinated ocean one could return a bit of life to the earth paying the debt we owe the compound life interest which was over millions of years placed in oil instead of building yet another palace we will never visit, or building a new city without an oil-alternative supporting industry.

It will hurt. In MN they just overrode the governor’s veto FINALLY (he had also vetoed a bill last year that would have raised taxes I believe on people making more than $200,000 a year - with Bush cutting out aid to the states and states cutting out aid to the counties, we end up with huge increases in property taxes!!) and for the 1st time in 20 years, our gas tax will be increased. Yes it will hurt, but I try hard to be smart about driving (grouping errands, etc) and you must remember the bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis last year? The gas tax will go to improving our roads and bridges.
I am not retired, but I have not had a raise in 5 years and in fact, I make less than I did 2 years ago. And all my other expenses keep going up (besides property taxes, my heating bills have killed me this season). But I favored this tax because something must be done about the roads and bridges.
Of course, didn’t Bush say we would end up with cheap oil if we invaded Iraq? He wouldn’t lie.

Gas prices at $4.00 a gallon will not affect me much. I have 3 vehicles and decided to use the one that gets the best miledge. MASS TRANSIT!

Inflation is a scary thing. And gas going up a dollar in the last year should be a huge red flag. But it isn’t because Washington uses different math than the rest of the world. It is common sense if gas and groceries, and health care are rising at ridiculous rates, and we are lucky if we get a 2% raise (which IS the average here in Cleveland) that we can not keep up with these costs of living. Especially since this discrepancy has been occurring for over 20 years. Also keep in mind most people complaining are spending way to much because self-indulgence is out of control. However, I am complaining about not being able to keep up with inflation from the point of view of someone who is trying to control spending, buying a 4 cylinder Honda, trying to save, etc. The problem I have is that costs have gotten so out of hand, I can hardly save anything, let alone try to pay down some credit card debt.

Jack,

It would get me in better shape because I would start riding my bicycle to work. This time of year that would not be bad, but in the summer months when it is over 110 degrees in the desert, my co workers may not like it.

Jack,

Tax all these companies that have moving billboards that just burn up millions upon millions of gallons of gas each year. Cancel all non-essential congressional and executive travel, that is paid by tax-payer dollars; or make the leaders pay for it out of their own pockets.

Essentially, this do-nothing government we have in office is laughing all the way to the bank, which they’ve probably taken their profits and bought additional shares in energuy or gold to maximize their profits. Their foreign policy stances are driving the American public into the poor house quicker than Lindsay Lohan rehab visits.

It’s only a matter of time before I start drinking the gasoline since we cut our home expenses already to the bare minimum…buckets to reuse water, burn sewage and trash for heat, 20 pairs of $3.99 sneakers to walk everywhere, five sets of replacement wheels and two jars of grease for the radio flyer, an axe to cut firewood….back to the Stone Age.

If it were 4./gallon, it would take me two to three hours of work to earn enough to pay for a tank, (10 gallons)..right now, it takes me a little over an hour…so I would be working for less money, and probably spending less on going out to movies, buying clothing, and probably making more food at home…ouch.

Jack I drive a Cadillac Escalade, a Hummer H3 , a Winnebago Motor Coach… Gas Prices are the last thing on my list… just remember the Dinosaurs died for our civilization to live and be happy.

Vinnie Boom Batz , Sandy Hook NJ

I’ve long thought that Americans have it too good (born and raised in NY -by the way). Gas has always been very expensive elsewhere. While I make a great salary, don’t buy on credit unless I can cover it when the bill comes in, drive a 4 year old vehicle, love my job, and have a short commute (7 miles)- I would prefer to commute by bike (mass transit is not available until I am half way to work). Unfortunately, I have a professional position and would need a shower, but my employer is not making that possible- I’ve asked.
When gas is $4/gallon and more people need (not want) to commute by bike, then I might be able to find a shower nearby.
I have already prepared to turn an old bike into my grocery store/ errand runner. When the drivers realize that bicycles aren’t going away and are likely to be more prevalent on the roads so SHARE THE ROAD, then I’ll be in heaven!!

If we can look into cleaner/natural fuel, I will pay more than 4 bucks.
Unitl then, I will just have to cut costs other places to fill my tank.
-
Denise
Louisville, KY

I`m so poor, that`s like asking how the cost of Polo Ponies will affect me. When you already don`t have any extra money, it really dosn`t matter how much extra, extra money you don`t have.

How would gas prices of 4.00pg (or more) affect my life? Where should I start, Jack? As a Disabled Veteran on a fixed income it ain’t hard to do the math. Whatever “disposable” income I have will be spent paying another 50.00 a month for Propane to cook the food that will cost me another 2.00 per pound…over 5.00 a gallon for a glass of milk to wash it down…I’ll have to grow my own vegetables, never turn a light on during the day…mow my property once a month….and request my appoinments at the VA Hospital be changed to once every 6 months because I can’t afford the 60.00 that gets me the 1/2 tank of fuel to get there and back! Maybe I won’t be able to afford new tires so my vehicle will pass inspection this year….or paint anything…or buy new “skivvies” or socks!! Or be able to save anything toward the 4 tons of coal I will need for next winter!! I guess I’ll just “Suck it Up” and get by like Americans always do!