I guess we should go semi-socialist like France, Italy, Britain and other EU countries that have proved that the way to control people, while keeping them down, is to create artificially high energy costs.
When you mold a society to be dependent on something then decide to bump the prices, you are acting like the average drug dealer - get 'em hooked and then reel 'em in. I happen to be financially responsible and can afford the current prices, along with having to foot the bill to repair my house and replace my "stuff" from losses due to Katrina. I can also afford to go out to dinner and hit the movies, if so inclined. That doesn't mean that there are many who can't afford the extra, unnecessary burden. Some folks don't have enough "luxury" items in their budgets to cut back on.
The basic necessities need to be readily available until such time as there is enough other infrastructure in place (more government controls for transportation, etc.) to alleviate the need that has become our "norm". Cheap and available energy is one of the things that allowed us to be the freest, strongest nation on God's Green Earth. Let the greedy decide to take advantage of that need and we become their servants. About the only thing you and I are apt to agree on is that the Congress is insane to try to socialize the oil profits by turning them into "Windfall Profit Taxes". I don't call for government control, but energy is one of those necessary commodities that needs some oversight to keep yet another entity from having excessive control over peoples' lives/quality of living.
"Some folks don't have enough "luxury" items in their budgets to cut back on."
What luxury items don't the poor have?
http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?id=3720
http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?id=3143
Just another lib philosophy - no matter how small a minority, the majority must alter its behavior to accomodate it.