[Ditto]

Prices go up, they'll come down. Just not as fast as anyone would like.

I would want some odds before betting on that this time. Yes, in the past your statement would have been accurate, but with world demand growing rapidly, especially in China and India, I doubt we'll ever see $2.00 gas again. That's just the way it is I'm afrade.

But that's not necessarily a bad thing either. If price stays high, it encourages alternatives. If the right combination of alternate fuels production and distribution network can be sheltered through it's startup period by high oil prices, we just may be able to break OPEC's spine and that's a very good thing.

[singfreedom]

I agree the increased demand by China and India is going to make us look like pikers as far as our energy consumption goes--and I don't think it will ever get any better.

High prices will force us to look for alternatives, yes, but my fear is it will push us to make bad, expeditious, decisions, rather than the clean, affordable, practical, sustainable alternative energy sources we should be seeking.

Finding and using our own oil sources would give us some time to make wiser decisions and end our dependence. I don't want a hasty decision on automobile power. Can you imagine what this would do to the elderly on fixed incomes, the working poor, students, etc., who really need a car? They would buy a car, only to have the power source abruptly change on them. It could be a disaster. The same for businesses.