But who is paying the money?
Take a look, who is doing better now then pre Bush II?

Weapons makers
Mercenaries (outsourced contractors, sorry)
Drug companies
Bankers
Oh! and one other...

Oil companies--their profits are up, and everyone is happy--if you have oil
stock!

The silver lining is that this is the crisis that will at last start the US
changing our energy policies.

I might say big deal, 10 or 20 bucks a week more for fuel--and lets be
honest that's all it is if you do not drive too much (12-15,000 miles a
year)
it's still enough to hurt a bit and gee its one factor leading to my buying
a used Volvo for 2-3000 bucks rather then a new whaever to 30 large that I
might not want 8 or 10 years down the road, but which will be a big loss if
new technology renders low MPG cars less desirable.

The 06 330i is said to get in the 30's on the road.  With some minor
sacrifice I think Tokyo, Germany, Korea and the minor producers like Detroit
can get 15-20% more MPG's.  Tires to roll easier rather then to impress
kids, less torque and HP, more cylinder deactivation (since engines are most
efficent going flat out a 4 cyl might be able to lose 2 cyl during 60 MPH
flat road steady state cruise, and a 6 surely could lose 3!

It's going to take 30 years for wind, solar, biomass etc to make much of
adent, but they will in time--GE does not invest in markets going nowhere!