Hasn't unleaded outpaced diesel in cost? Plus you can put biodiesel in for $2.79/gal and be cleaner than either. I'm not positive on this one, but I think the output per mile is lower with diesel than in unleaded. If it's not now, it will be next year when the sulfur levels are lowered. I'm hoping we get a four-door 70mpg VW Polo TDI. or the 120mpg diesel Smart Car.

I don't know about that driver, Ben.

I'm still saying there's no price gouging.:00 AMericans drove 25% more miles this year. That's why the gas companies made more money. People just don't want to take responsibility for thier own shit.

25% more miles driven would hardly triple the retail price of gas in five years. it's definately a factor, but no stronger than:00 AMerican foreign policy and domestic policy

ben - i was thinking, maybe the bus driver was wondering why you were looking at him. i noticed that sometimes when i see somebody looking in the mirror at me, i look up a few times to see if they still are or not. just a thought.

no, your not getting it. Draw two charts. One with the number of miles driven and one with the oil company profits. They'll be almost exactly the same. The profits are related directly to how much we've been purchasing. The rising costs are related to rising costs of production, extraction and transportation. All the talk about gouging is just so that the politicians can get peoples eyes off the real problems. Don't fall for it!!!

But if rising costs of production, shipping, etc. correlate with the rising costs of gas (and it would seem surprising to me that people would be buying MORE gas as prices go up), an oil company would not be making record profits for the third or fourth time in two years. And I'm not saying that oil companies are the ONLY problem. But they sure as hell ain't helping.

Do you have any links to the data? I can't find any newer than 2003.

There was an article in the last APA trade journal that had the miles driven info. When I get some more time I can post it for you. I also remember seeing an article from Planetizen awhile ago, but good luck sifting through that. It was also on CNN for about 30 second a couple of months ago.

Ben - If you sell more of something each year, your profits will be bigger each year. What is difficult to understand about that?:

Year one:

without the specific numbers in front of me, it makes sense that that is a prime cause, but i can't believe it's the only cause. it makes sense to me that the last 6 years of average miles per gallon in the US dropping would have at least the same impact as more miles driven, and that's something that can be concretely blamed on the government. that factor is especially magnified when you factor in life cycle - it's not just that cars average a few mpg less than they did in 1998, they're replacing the small cars from the 80s. even the socially considerate people who skip SUVs replace their 1986 honda civic or vw golf with a 2006 civic or golf, their mpg is going to drop from 43 to 38 (civic) or 34 to 31 (31). Miles driven is one important factor, but I think it's greatly magnified.

How much oil is used by autos, trucks, and buses and how much is used by homes, business, and factories? What about trains and ships?

Haven't you ever seen Thomas the Tank Engine? Trains run on coal, stupid!

I would also think that, in the wake of rising costs, there is a sizeable number of consumers who are driving less. I certainly drive less than I used to and I'm sure that there are a number of other people who fit into that category.

I guess my aggravation is more with the auto industry for marketing fuel efficiency, etc. towards SUV purchasing. It's not surprising, but it's annoying how people are being told they can still drive unnecessarily large cars and be environmentally conscious. They can do good without making a sacrifice. I realize that this is playing the blame game but, let's face it, most people are too stupid to come to these kinds of conclusions on their own. Whoa, THAT wasn't elitist!

no, of course it's not the only cause, but it's the most obvious that no one wants to accept. It's much easier to think that the big bad companies are trying to screw:00 AMerica.

airplanes and factories also use a significant portion of our oil (don't forget concrete and plastic are oil too), but cars are the easiest to change personal habits.

oh oh oh I heard on NPR that the 15 pounds the average:00 AMerican has gained in weight in the last 10 years have added something like 50 million dollars to the annual fuel costs of the airlines

Also I was thinking about this today, and I'd refine my position to be that a combination of lower mpg, more miles (for many reasons, more people, bad urban planning, etc) and (mainly) a decline in supply (peak oil much?) have driven demand so that prices have gotten up to the 2.80-3.50 range, but, in the case of yesterday's 30 cent/gal hike, it's hard to see anything but price gouging using unrest in teh middle east aka israel and the usa being completly moronic in different situations as an excuse. i mean, it's not like the miles driven in the usa suddenly jumped so much that a sudden 30 cent raise was necessary.

yeah, i'd agree. I think the price is mostly based on external factors while the profit is based mostly on consumption.

shut up and ride your damn bikes.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Voice of Reason. Thx Raquel!

I'm still waiting for someone to answer the only actual QUESTION in my blog and that one is regarding cold audiences in Minneapolis.

Where is the outrage when General Fund money goes to get the MOA owners out of debt (not to mention build it). That's the money that cuts into public works (education). There's no outcry when the state pays for part of museums and gives money to the arts. Sorry to say it, but you've been duped, Rachel.

And over a building that will run off the grid with steam power from next door.

I:00 AM outraged at the MOA! HEAR MY OUTCRY! Ryan, EVERYONE loves the arts and museums. plus i think it's stupid that they need to build newer ones. but much less stupid than new outdoor stadiums in one of the coldest snowiest states. What about off the grid? the new stadium? hah! i suppose i should applaude leonardo dicaprio for his off the gridness too right?! no thanks. sorry to say it, but what the hell is duped? still love you ryan. love ben more though. (cause he makes me feel right.)