Gas Prices

This is an email sent to me by my brother who works for Shell Global Solutions in Houston.
First of all, the "Stick it to them" proposal has not and simply will not work, for a lot of reasons....by the way, who is "them"? Is it ME??
Secondly, there is NOT just ONE party (political or otherwise) to blame for the price of gasoline. It's just not that simple. I wish it was.
(FYI...they have been paying over ~$5.00/L for fuel in most of Europe for a long time.)

Here is a website that will give you a little better idea about where the money goes that you pay for a gallon of gasoline.

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp

Consider these points...
People in the US want (demand) higher wages, because we WANT more "stuff".
Business has been regulated and taxed to the point that the margin is almost gone, (Fed., State, Local Taxes, EPA, OSHA, etc...)
They have had to reduce operating costs in order to stay in business.
We have this "global" mentality going now ....we are ALL living on the same planet so we need to get along (this one point could be debated for hours)
US business can get things made globally (in China) so cheaply that we are exporting our businesses,
China's economy (and others) is now growing by leaps and bounds
China's growing economy is raising the standard of living for the average Chinese tremendously,
That rise has increased income --- demand for goods --- demand for cars --- demand for gasoline --- asphalt demand for roads --- thus, crude oil demand
This crude oil demand has created competition in the market place so they raise the price
The Chinese have money and want to promote their economy growth so they pay.............and so do we.
Then throw in a war or two and a hurricane or two or three or four.....which shuts down or destroys several rigs in the Gulf...(have heard this was all "Bushes fault")
Then throw in a few refinery explosions and fires which has several gasoline producing units shutdown or destroyed....(why did it happen..."Bushes fault I'm sure)
As the old saying goes, if you look in the mirror, you will see the source of the problem.

If you really want answers, go to the website below and select "videos" from the column on the left, you will then find an option to see a video called "Our Energy Challenge". It is a presentation given at Columbia University, by Dr. Smalley, who is a professor at Rice (here in Houston). It is an outstanding (in my view), approx. 1hr. presentation that I think clears up many of the questions surrounding this subject and puts things in perspective. There is simply more demand than there is supply, and that is increasing daily. A capitalistic society (which I very much support), operates on the "supply and demand" principal. That is what this is.....a supply and demand issue.

Bottom-line: We simply need to SERIOUSLY look at alternatives to fossil fuel. Can you think of a better driver than increasing the price of gasoline?

For those who will actually watch it, I hope you enjoy Dr. Smalley's presentation as much as I did.
http://smalley.rice.edu/smalley.cfm?doc_id=4862