How to Survive High Gas Prices, and How the Presidential Candidates Plan to Help

Gas prices are at an all time high around the country and North Carolina is no exception. Owners and managers of gas stations are reporting a spike in drive offs at the pump like never before.

Both Senators John McCain and Hillary Clinton have proposed lifting the gas tax we pay for three months to save us money. Unfortunately that isn't enough. Consumers need more than just a few extra dollars added to their bank accounts. Over the course of three months, the average driver will save anywhere from $40-80 dollars. That may seem like a decent chunk of change, but what affects will this have on the actual price of oil?

Senator Barack Obama is not in support of the gas tax because he believes that in lifting the gas tax there isn't anything in preventing oil companies to hike their prices up. Oil companies having been raking in big money, reporting profits larger than ever, while the average citizen is struggling to pay their bills.

Although many of us could use the extra money that can be saved with suspending the gas tax, it is not worth it to me if gas prices just keeping getting higher. By imposing stricter regulations on oil companies, maybe we can get the solutions we want. Are gas prices ever going to stabilize or are they just going to keep getting higher?

In order for America to stop relying on foreign oil to fuel our tanks we will need to come up with stricter penalties and taxes for big oil companies, put some money into research and development of fuel alternatives that work, and stop giving all the big tax cuts to snakes who get richer while the average citizen is getting poorer and poorer. When hybrid cars were coming on to the scene, Americans who bought a hybrid car got a tax break for investing in something to better the environment and cut down on the use of fuel. After a few years of giving that tax break, the government decided that they had done enough and stopped. Many people bought hybrid cars at the time because the tax cut made it possible for them to own one. Now people who could afford to get them if they were given a tax credit are still driving around their old junky car that barely gets 14 miles to the gallon. That's my situation. I knew the government wouldn't be helping me out any, so my car is sitting outside right now gathering pollen because I refuse to drive it anywhere until I have enough to take it to the car lot and trade it in for a hybrid car.

Here are some things that we can do to help ourselves out, instead of waiting on the government to do it for us.

Stop driving to the store that is a block away. The weather is getting nicer and you could use the exercise anyway.

Carpool to work if you have to go. Better yet, if you can work from home, don't even bother going in. If you hate the job you go to every day, go ahead and quit. You'll save gas by not making that trip there and back.

Instead of driving somewhere that it isn't possible to walk, break out your old bike. Channel memories of being a kid with the wind blowing through your hair. Tempt fate a little and let go of the handlebars every now and then. It will make you feel invincible.

Lastly, don't let gas prices get you down. If you don't like them, don't buy the product. Really stick it to the man with your stubborn rebellion and stop giving them your hard earned money.