Is driving REALLY necessary?

Today on my way home from work the cost of gas was 20 cents per gallon higher than it was yesterday - and yesterday in a period of 6 hours, prices were raised 30 cents per gallon! So - we have witnessed the cost of gas go up 50 cents per gallon (20%) in a 24 hour period! And I have seen on the news that it is worse in other places, and that it is likely to continue to get worse. Instantaneously the suffering in the south is trickling to all of us. As we watch in disbelief, and our country is reminded of its powerlessness to protect its people from the wrath of a storm, must we also be punished by the greed of those who are exploiting the event for their own gain? What price will they pay for their next tanker of gas? Where will they get it? How long does a tanker last??? Are they all suddenly empty? Let's pay when the time comes. Don't we anyway?

Dubbya was heard on the news saying 'it is time for the American people to conserve - please don't buy gas if you don't need it". This is a clear representation of the utter lack of ability this man has to relate to common American people - who I am still bewildered- voted for him! If I were to begin to predict what will happen next - it will be that at these prices, nobody will be able to afford to go to work - we will be ambivalent to leaving our homes and driving anywhere at all.