Why is no one trying to lower gas prices?

Question

It seems like no person is trying hard enough to find/implement alternative energy sources and inexpensive alternative fuel automobiles- why is that? If majority of congress is democratic, then why don't they try to solve the high gas price problems?

Answer 1

1.  Long term vs. short-term

     Alternative energy sources are a long-term goal.  So, there is no immediate short-term gas price reduction.

2.   Global demand has caused price increases.

3.    Devaluation of the US dollar has made it more expensive to import.

4.    OPEC is unwilling to produce more oil.

5.    Destabilization and geopolitical unrest in oil producing regions.

There's not a lot that can be done.  I think they need to make changes so that our dollar is more valuable. If that means cutting programs and pork barrel spending etc. to avoid deficit spending and instituting tariffs or what not then that would be worthwhile.   Anything that can make the US dollar worth a d**n is needed.  It helps in areas outside of oil.

Growing lots and lots more corn to reduce corn prices. This would help with food prices and reduce the cost of ethanol (the fuel additive).

Instituting tax credits etc. for developing alternative fuel sources.  Possibly giving tax credits for conversion kits that make cars use vegetable oils etc.

Answer 2

Its because most car companies are backed my oil companies.

Answer 3

There are things planned and underway that the average man will not know anything about until we get much further down the road and then when it all comes out we, the common man will shout and yell and it won't make one bit of difference because we will be reacting after the fact. The common man has excellent hind-sight

Answer 4

because we are in competition with other countries for oil. china is growing in profits and they have a new middle class who is buying cars. so gas has to go to them to.

Answer 5

cuz higher gas prices is a good thing, encourages people to drive less and save the environment, btw ethanol actually costs more and wasts more oil and pollutes more cuts down more rainforest and raises the food prices

Answer 6

Of course I wont get best answer but this is the truth, even though nobody likes hearing it.....Gas is not expensive in USA at all. In fact, its very cheap. Its keeping up with inflation just like our food and other things, but for some reason people have started this trend where its hip to talk about gas prices it seems. Gas is only $1 more now, than it was in 2006. Thats pretty cheap. We are only paying $500 more this year on gas because your average american uses 10 gallons a week. If you worked at some low paying job like Tj Maxx or Walmart or something, I would expect that you would have gotten at least a .25 cent raise. A simple .25 cent raise a year on your job (or change jobs if you are not getting this) would cover the change in gas prices. So anybody who thinks they have less money because of gas, isnt taking this into consideration and should reevaluate their spending habits because its not because of gas prices why most americans are broke these days but they love to point the finger at that.

So lets do the math:

Gas is costing you $250 more this year than it did last year overall.

If you get a .25 cent raise on your job, you should be making $480 more this year than you did last year overall.

Its not that gas prices are bad, its just that people have made it a "cool" thing to talk about it. It makes everyday ordinary people feel smart like they are talking about stock prices

Answer 7

one reason why gas is so high is because oil companies are spending all their profits on alternative fuels.  You dont need the govt to solve all your problems.  Whenever the govt gets involved, they usually tend to just muck things up.  The govt tried to set max prices on gas in the 70s, causing a scarcity cuz none of the gas stations sold as much gas, causing lines that would stretch down the street.  We could drill for oil in alaska, but the d**n tree-huggers wont let anyone, and i think now is the time to force america to either find a different fuel or use our fuel more wisely.

Answer 8

Many in our government like to bury their heads in the sand on this issue because the simple truth is, there is too much money to be made in spite of the crisis we are enduring. There are a bunch of government officials that have high stakes in the oil industry, plus the great revenue the country receives in the taxes produced in fuel sales.

It will only be mandatory to make changes when we drain the last drop of oil from all available resources.

Answer 9

Demand is high, supply is low.  This creates the high prices.  There are two ways to lower gas prices.  One is to increase the supply.  The other is to decrease the demand.  Supply is limited.  Demand is what needs to be lowered.  Buying more efficient cars, walking when possible, carpooling, and ridesharing will decrease the demand.  We the consumers need to lower our demand - this will lower the prices.