new york has been so much cheaper and better than new jersey in so many ways, i often find myself caught by the old “but how about you gas prices?” line by poor jealous jersey folk.. and although all that time i was by buying my gas in jersey anways, the tables have finally turned. i love to slam jersey whenever i can, but the real point is what everyone is talking ’bout: gas! in ny and nj alike i am seeing regular going anywhere from 3.25-3.50 a gallon now… this is just complete madness. if we could fuel cars with anger, prices would go right down again. i suppose after that bitch katrina slam danced her way out of the gulf of mexico it should come as no suprise- after all america’s oil production was at it’s peak in 1970. nevertheless, the amount of money it costs me to get to work these days has me asking for a nasty cold just to stay home.

i am always really hoping for a giant american revolt agaisnt the government- that makes for some real interesting television; however, i read this article that offers some promise (or lack thereof- it’s almost saying 2 different things):

A week of uncertain energy prices awaits motorists after record high prices for gasoline throughout the long Labor Day weekend.

The AAA motor club reported Monday that the nationwide average for a gallon of gasoline was $3.05, although prices were much higher in most major metropolitan areas.

But prices could start dropping as soon as this week.

“I think there will more or less be a return to normal. We are finding more (oil) rigs coming back, refineries are coming back, pipelines are coming back. It would appear the worst is behind us,” said Peter Beutel, an oil analyst with Cameron Hanover in New Canaan, Conn.

Power was restored to three-quarters of the storm-tattered Gulf Coast region over the weekend, allowing pipelines to increase the flow of oil and gasoline, especially to the East Coast, which has seen spot shortages and runs on gasoline stations.

The Bush administration has opened emergency oil stockpiles, and European allies late last week pledged to send 30 million barrels of oil and gasoline from their emergency supplies to the United States to help bridge short-term supply disruptions.

Offsetting that good news, the federal Minerals Management Service said Monday that offshore oil production in the Gulf of Mexico had returned to only 32 percent of its normal capacity.

The Energy Department confirmed over the holiday weekend that a ConocoPhillips refinery in Belle Chase, La., and a ChevronTexaco refinery in Pascagoula, Miss., suffered major hurricane damage. Combined, they have a capacity of refining 572,000 barrels of crude oil a day into gasoline and other products. And the biggest refinery in the Hurricane Katrina-affected area, ExxonMobil’s plant in Baton Rouge, La., is running below capacity.

Still, crude oil prices fell almost $2 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) on Friday, ahead of the three-day weekend. In London, where contracts for future delivery of oil are also traded, crude oil prices returned to pre-Katrina levels Monday, falling by $1.26. That’s a good omen for the resumption of oil trading Tuesday on the Nymex.

Several important refineries in the areas hit hardest by Katrina returned to operation over the holiday weekend or planned to restart during the week. The reduced levels of refining are a major reason gasoline prices are so high.

For months, U.S. refineries have been running at full throttle to keep up with U.S. demand for gasoline.

After Katrina’s landfall, gasoline wholesalers began rationing supplies to service stations. Some stations ran out of fuel as customers in Florida, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia and elsewhere rushed to fill up.

Even if gasoline supplies recover, high global demand and tight supply mean world oil and gasoline prices are likely to remain vulnerable for many months. The most immediate threat is the potential for more hurricanes until the storm season ends in November.

“I think that’s going to keep (gasoline and oil) prices from dropping dramatically,” said Beutel, the oil analyst.

all joking aside- and average of $40 to fill my tank is just insane… most people in the country are now limited to their to and from work commute. something needs to happen! arg!

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