I have resisted the urge to discuss the gas prices in the United States for several reasons. One of which is every one is talking about it. It is over done. But today I am compelled to write about it and give my take on the current fuel problem.

Yesterday morning when I drove past the 7-11 on my way to the train station the price per gallon of regular unleaded fuel was $3.63. That was five cents up from the previous day. Last night on my way home I drove past the very same 7-11 and saw gas had gone up 16 cents to $3.79. That is the highest it has been in my area. I about wrecked my truck.

The price of gas doesn't really affect me as much as the next guy due to the fact I take a train to and from work. This doesn't preclude me from being disgusted by the outrageous cost of fuel. My friends from Europe will no doubt tell me to stop whining as their gas has always been much higher. While that may be true, here in America we have enjoyed low gas prices for quite some time and when the cost goes up radically it hurts us. So my European friends, I will whine all I want.

There are several contributing factors to the skyrocketing price of gas. The price per barrel of oil is expected to hit $126. The cause of this is because of the weak dollar. Why is the dollar weak and how does that relate to oil prices? The dollar is weakening due to the Fed cutting interest rates to help the current mortgage crisis. When the dollar is weak, oil becomes attractive. Also the demand for oil isn't lessening even though companies like AAA are reporting fewer drivers on the road and I can tell by the increase of commuters on the train. Also, there have been several terrorist related attacks on oil supply lines.

The United States so far has not done anything to help stave off the rise in cost. The U.S. does have oil reserves, although not much. Currently we could sustain ourselves for about three years. That is not a very long time. On the flip side we have the largest known deposits of oil shale. This oil shale could sustain us for 110 years. The problem with this is there is no significant production from oil shale. So it isn't really worth mentioning. There is also a report that came out this year stating there is 3 to 4.5 billion gallon of oil hiding beneath Montana and North Dakota. Fine and dandy but that only represents about seven months of supply.

We also have what is known as the strategic oil reserves. This accounts for 727 million barrels of crude oil. This reserve is only used in a crisis situation. Most recently it was used during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This supply would sustain us for about 37 days.

If you exclude the oil shale we have about three years worth of supply. So we depend on foreign oil. This is cool and all but many countries that supply oil do not like us in the least bit. The U.S. needs to start drilling for more oil. We have the resources but we have regulations keeping us from drilling due to environmental concerns. We could be drilling off the coast of Florida and California. Alaska is also a huge oil resource we can't touch. These state and federal laws need to be lifted so we can start drilling for new oil.

I am not suggesting we do this so we don't have to worry about foreign oil. What I would like to see is the government to use this as a method of buying us more time so we can pursue alternatives to oil. We are on the right track but it isn't happening fast enough. Yes, we have very fuel efficient cars but the cost of these cars is going up due to the increased demand for them because of the cost of fuel. However, the cost of trucks and SUV's are dropping.

I understand the environmental concerns as well but we have the technology to do it safely. I also understand the concern of having to look at an oil rig while your chilling on the beach in Florida or California. If that is the case why is it cool for the Gulf of Mexico where we are currently drilling? Don't they want to have a pristine view of the ocean?

Instead of drilling for more oil our elected officials are calling for a suspension of taxes on gas for the summer months when demand is at its highest. That should save us about 23 cents a gallon for three months. But what happens when that is over? I'll tell you, we will be in the same situation we are in now. Demand will increase because of the lower cost and the demand will still be there when summer is over and we will be hit with a huge increase in cost. This will do nothing to solve our problem. Granted, I would enjoy the cheaper cost but the outcome will not be worth it.

We need to lose our dependency on foreign oil and the only way we are going to do that is by creating our own and pursuing alternatives. I know this will not take place overnight and it will be several years but there are things we can do in the meantime to help us out. It is time for our government to pull their heads out of their asses.