sterling013,

At least BOTH posts ended up here, LOL.

I've reached similar conclusions on oil and oil prices. I tried to keep an open mind and have done a lot of research. Two of the biggest factors in recent oil price increases are inflation and increased worldwide demand. During the current administration prices for the things we need most - energy, housing, food, education, healthcare, etc., have realistically gone up by 50% or more on average. It's only the things from China and other low-cost labor countries that keep the manipulated CPI low. Oil consumption has increased by 10% during the past 7 years. China is quietly securing oil rights around the globe.

If there were a viable alternative to petroleum fuel right now we would be using it. Battery operated cars have been around for more than 100 years, and the technology still isn't to the point where most consumers would use it. Ethanol is a complete joke, except when mixed with a Coke. But good old petroleum is still relatively cheap and reasonably plentiful. People won't be able to complain about big oil when supplies dwindle some day. Maybe they'll blame Big Solar or Big Wind then. Of course, Big Solar might just be BP so the same company would still be under attack. Even if Big Oil agreed to eliminate their profits entirely, the price of gas would go down maybe $0.15/gal which still wouldn't make people happy.