Readers sound off on oil, gas prices

The news this week of rising oil and gasoline prices and the Senate approval of new drilling in Alaska has flooded MSNBC.com's inbox with reader mail. Some blame greedy oil companies, others say American consumers are the culprit. And many have ideas about how to solve the problem -- from hauling oil company executives in front of Congress to getting rid of stoplights.

I lived through the 1970 oil crises also, actually the oil was available then, some countries had just decided to restrict it, the crises now is the need for oil will out pace supply, which is sort of scary.  It may come down to the fact of cutting out a few unnecessary trips (short or long), actually making fences out of wood or other available products - other then vinyl, cutting down on water sports, water vehicles can gobble up gasoline extremely fast in a short period of time or other methods such as not driving gas hog vehicles just to put on a good show  (this excludes necessary vehicles for construction & hulling of goods and services).
          Ron S. -- Honeyville, Utah

Bull****, Americans are getting rip off. The government needs to step in and crack the whip on these companies. Get the stock piles up so they can lower the prices. Automakers are not helping the cause either. People need to park their cars and ride mopeds and tell oil companies to stick there oil were it's made them rich.
          John H. – Atlanta, Ga.

The bottom line is that big business, etc. want a $2.00 per gallon on average for gasoline and a $1.50 - $1.75 for home heating oil. If it went to $5.00 a gallon it would matter and big business knows that consumers are still going to drive and will make concessions in other areas to offset the higher fuel prices. My opinion is let it go as high as it wants to stabilize itself. Tired of listening to people complain.
          Ethan J.

EYE ON ENERGY Gas prices jump to record, could go higher Oil 'peak' not seen coming any time soon Can Saudi Arabia keep its oil promises? OPEC members pledge to pump more oil Have higher gas prices changed your habits?

… What is it going to take for this country to adopt a renewable resource that we have more than the ability to generate locally? Here in Minnesota we have vehicles that run on 85% ethanol.  That's 85 percent!  We already require 10 percent ethanol to be sold by all stations and our governor is working on legislation to increase that to 20 percent. No, it won't solve all our problems, but I would have to believe it would make a significant dent.  What am I missing here.?
         Randy G. -- Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Why are gas prices continuing to rise? In order for 'King Bush" and his rich oil buddies (like good ol' Ken Lay and don't forget the so-called V.P. Cheney) to make millions/billions more.  They talk about production but what has really changed in the last few years to all of a sudden make production such a hot issue and for prices to rise so drastically?  
          Sheldon M.

The ANWR with reportedly 10 billion (barrels) of oil potential should remain closed for future generations.  At some point the world's oil supply will be drastically reduced.  We need to keep purchasing oil from the other parts of the world and save that for later.
          Pete -- Dallas, Tex.

Is it just a coincidence that we currently have a former "Oil Man" in the White House, and oil prices are at all time highs?  Seems to me the Government wants to bleed as much revenue out of the consumer as they can before we elect a President concerned about the environment, enough to force car manufacturers to find another way.
        Sid -- Chicago, Ill.

Concerning the gasoline price problem, my biggest gripe is that the auto manufacturers don't make an I-6 available for vans like they used to.  My old I-6 got mileages in the low twenties while the current V-8s and V-10s only get 15 or so mpg.  The I-6 could pull the trailer just as good as my V-10.
          Jim M. -- Quarryville, Pa.

MORE FROM OIL & ENERGY

Oil & Energy Section Front

Oil industry profits expected to fall sharply Price of gas down 10 cents in the last two weeks Pickens’ green drive hits a roadblock U.S. mulls limiting speculative oil trades Economic news doesn’t help oil prices Rogue broker blamed for oil spike Iraqi oil licensing round runs into trouble Average cost of gas stays flat last two weeks Up for bid at Iraq oil auction: Uncertainty Chinese make largest overseas acquisition ever Oil & Energy Section Front   Add Oil & Energy headlines to your news reader: