When my dad started driving, the cost of gas was $0.16 a gallon. When I started driving, the cost of gas was $0.89 a gallon. Today, 20 years later, the cost of gas is between $3.50 – $4.00 plus, depending on where you live, with a national average of $3.66 a gallon. So what has changed?

This article does a great job of summing up the reason, read here.  But the bigger question is not why, but what are we going to do about it? The reality comes down to two things, 1) oil speculators and 2) alternative sources of fuel.

Until there is additional restrictions placed on the oil speculators, the price of gas is going to be in a state of influx and more importantly, will remain high. And fuel alternatives have been in the works for years, bu the demand has not reached the point for car companies to build a mass quantity of cars that will run on fuel alternatives. Hybrids have not taken off as economists expected. Natural gas is an interesting alternative, which has a lot of potential, however, there are not enough natural gas stations, which causes a problem. And then there is always the always unpopular idea of drilling in the Anwr in Alaska. This would take time to get setup and running, but read here the benefits.

Bottom line, something has to be done. Regardless of what your political beliefs are, an alternative has to be created, because higher gas prices are and will continue to have an effect on our cost of goods. Which in return, means less money in your pocket and less for your family.