Gas in the US is still far cheaper, even at today's rates, than most of the rest of the world. Its prices certainly have not kept pace with inflation. However, I do feel that we've been taken advantage of with the recent hurricanes. They screw us because they can.

I have two geologists I train with, both in the energy business. Both agree we have already drilled most of the easy-to-access oil and natural gas. From here, oil will get harder to drill for and thus prices will likely increase.

An advertisement in Wired magazine (August 2005) by Chevron says: "It took us 125 years to use the first trillion barrels of oil. We'll use the next trillion in 30."

We need to pump some serious money into research & development on alternative energy sources. Solar and wind-generated electricity are around, but not much market penetration. Nuclear makes sense to some degree, if we exclude the radioactive waste and potention terrorist threat. Bio-diesel is around (Willie Nelson's tour bus runs on it), but again there is little to no consumer availability. Same can be said for compressed natural gas (CNG). Toyota has done well with its hybrid technology, so well that the rumors are it will be available in every one its vehicles in before 2010.