Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

"Taurus26" wrote in message

The thing is it is quite a while ago and I for one haven’t a clue as
to the cost of fuel was when I was paid about au $11.00 in 1959. But
the Fuel Companies would know! Wouldn’t they be trumpeting it from the
rooftops if the cost of fuel was substantially less today?

Tough point to get across. People just remember that it is higher today
than last week. I'm not sure big oil would be seen in a favorable light in
any case.

That plus it doesn't matter...in actuality it isn't "big oil" setting
the price as much as it is speculation-driven markets that are the
factor. Of course, the conditions to support such market forces are
those of increasing worldwide demand in conjunction w/ inflexible
production increases (especially in the US both in production and
refining) and fears of instability in many of the major production areas
of the world.

The other factor is that petroleum has a finite source - doesn’t this
mean that cost will increase exponentially the further we get into
this Century?

The oil is free. The cost of getting is is what fluctuates and increases as
the "easy' well are dried up and we have to find new, harder to reach,
sources. Supply and demand also are big factors. I'm sure the cost will
increase considerably down the road though.

To a small extent of the total the cost of exploration and production
are increasing yes. As noted, most of the driving forces for recent
price increases are on the demand side coupled w/ the world situation.
In actuality, I expect a significant reduction after a few years or so
as production is finally ramped up as I expect the constricting
regulations to be finally relaxed.

Isn’t it logical that we should be using smaller H.P. vehicles with
more efficient engines? Perhaps a greater fee on registration as the
H.P. is increased?

Makes sense. There is a "gas guzzler" tax in place, but that is usually for
expensive luxury cars, not the every day working man's car. If the cost of a
$75,000 Jaguar increases by $1200, it is not a big deal to the person that
can easily afford that kind of car. It probably should be tightened up so
the big pickups and SUVs are hit with it.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml
Trucks are exempt right now. I can see that for the tradesman that really
needs a truck to haul his material, but for hte mom taking junior to
kindergarten in a Navigator, different scenario.

Well, it's been shown to be more economically advantageous to let market
forces be the driving factor for the most part. It will be very
interesting to observe the effect of an artificial cap on retail
gasoline prices in HI--I'm expecting they will soon be finding that
they're going to be waiting in line and rationing as a result, a la the
'70s.

When Mom gets tired of spending the $$ for the vehicle she's currently
driving she'll either quite driving so much or get a different vehicle,
or both. Government won't need to do anything except stay out of the
way. The problem is that regulation and activists have prevented
enhanced production on both the exploration and the refining side for so
long that it there hasn't been any increase in total refining capacity
in nearly 30 years (that's generalization, I'd have to go look up actual
data, but it's valid generalization).

More research should be done on other fuels, hybrids, solar power etc.

As if there isn't? When it becomes economically competitive other forms
will come into play. Increasing use of biofuels will ease a small
fraction in the short term...