If you want oil prices to go down, there is one solution: DRILL, DRILL, AND DRILL SOME MORE. That's it. End of story. People will never willingly "drive less" than they do already. Not to mention it isn't just about the autos. Oil is everywhere. It is used in every production facility in the world. Just about everything you buy, own, or inherit, has a trace of oil to it.
The fact is, North America is sitting on a HUGE oil reserve, but nobody can get leases to drill anywhere. Why? We're "protecting our resources". And if we do try, some enviro-friendly "group" screams bloody murder. For example: Just recently SUWA (Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance), the Natural Resources Defense Counsil and the Wilderness Society, managed to get all the leases pulled on one of the biggest petroleum finds in the last 30 years (in the North America). This means the B.L.M.'s hands are tied, and the oil will never be realized because people like to camp in the desert.
Off-shore drilling possibilities are endless, but who wants to swim in the ocean with 60 oil platforms staring them in the face? Not to mention the environmental impact, and the fact it costs an average of $100 million USD just to get a rig set up.
This is evident everywhere. The middle east is sitting on an estimated 80-90% of the world's oil reserves (estimated, because that is the only region that will not release data to let everyone know exactly HOW MUCH they're sitting on). So until we can all agree on a viable solution as to where we can, and can't drill, barrel prices will continue to rise.
Western Australia and Southern Africa are currenltly experiencing a petroleum/natural gas boom, as well as parts of Eastern Europe. But again, the bureaucratic bullshit that encompasses oil exploration is slowing things to a crawl.
Personally, I doubt technology will ever catch up with the world's dependence on the black stuff. And to propose stopping Nascar (which I hate) or any race car, will make a difference, is an excercise in stupidity (no offense). FYI, the CART Indycar series runs on methonal, which gets .0000000000005 miles to the gallon.
So if you really want prices to come down, become a geophyisicist or geologist, and get out there and find some more oil. Until then, smile, remember that ignorance is bliss, and bring some astro-lube to the gas station with you, because you're going to continue to take it up the ass like the rest of us...
