My dad has had this figured out for at least a year.  He said that they would continually increase the price of gas and then drop it until it was about $1.80 a gallon, then they would do the same thing again until it was over $2 and stayed that way.  They are going to keep doing this.  I don't see an end in sight.  We are paying $2.17 as of yesterday.  I know that that is considered cheap according to some parts of the country, but it is ridiculous.  I can conceivably see people having to quit their jobs because they can't afford the gas.  I live in a really small town.  The nearest "big town" is a half hour away and it only has 29,000 people.  Some of the teenagers drive there to work at McDonalds.  If you get paid minimum wage and you have to drive all that way, are you making any money?  There aren't very many jobs where we live, you have to get out of the county or farm.  Period.  We also have touristy restaurants in our area that cater to people from St. Louis that drive 80 miles to come eat there.  I can see a big impact on their business if this continues.  It's really sad considering that Mobile is now the most money making company.  Go figure. 

My dad, who I think is very wise, can see an end in sight.  He says that the gas companies got greedy and also raised the price of diesel at the same time.  The trucking companies are going to come to a day when they are all going to pull over and park their trucks and say "Hey, we can't afford to stay in business."  Since that would effect the national economy, the president will have to step in and do something about it.  Right now there are 5 major oil companies.  That's it.  They have bought all the little companies out that would undercut them on price and they basically have a monopoly on the market.  I'm hoping that this day comes sooner, rather than later.  I just wish there was some way I could get hold of a major trucking company and get something started.  I'm a pot stirrer, I'll admit it.  When it comes to these gas prices, we all should be.