The price of oil is breaking records in costs and profits simultaneously as Americans have wakened to new lies and excuses for profiteering gone mad. As the American automobile industry plunges downward on all fronts, nobody seems to be able to figure out why more people are not rushing to the dealership for a shiny new version of the same old thing.

Automobile manufacturers have taken their first half-hearted, stumbling step away from their marriage with the oil industry, while still hoping that reciting gasoline mileage numbers will keep consumers in love with being raped at the pump. For those who can afford the luxury of a new car purchase, the first and best choice is to select a model that takes them as far away from oil as possible. People need to send this signal loud and clear to any transportation manufacturer who will respond...get moving on alternatives to oil, once and for all. Cars have always been priced, taxed, and considered at all levels to be a luxury. It is time to demand more adequate measures to fulfill the necessity of transportation without paying luxury prices for the means of getting where we need to be. It is much less expensive to provide luxurious seating to be used by many than it is to build a luxurious ride to accommodate a few. Building more practical transportation for daily commuting and other necessary travel needs, does not have to skimp on quality and comfort compared with travel by car.

Since the price of new cars greatly exceeds what it used to cost to buy a luxurious new home, it is time for the oppressed majority of average people to start looking elsewhere for gratifying investment of discretionary income. Until more viable alternatives begin to surface, there are several things people can do to start making a difference, and impact fuel prices.

1. Fuel is a commodity affected by time. The longer gasoline stays in the ground at a station, the more incentive a vendor will have to lower the price to make way for the next delivery. Sudden decreases in anticipated vending rates will cause prices to drop.

2. Vendors also depend on peripheral purchases to make a profit; buying only fuel will pressure the vendor to drop fuel prices as an incentive to gain more peripheral business.

3. There are many layers of profit in moving oil from the ground to the gas tank, and these layers can be affected by millions of dollars in a single day. If consumers act in concert over several days to consciously impact fuel sales, oil companies will notice.

4. In earlier times, fuel price fluctuations were considered drastic if they moved up or down by two or three cents in a week's time. In the current climate, prices increase significantly in a single day, but may take weeks to drop back downward by a few cents. This tactic is merely a move by oil companies to condition consumers to paying higher prices regularly. One way to hit back is to pick a constant amount you are willing to pay each time you refuel, regardless of price fluctuations. In other words, suppose you pay $2.80 (dream on) for a gallon of gas, and it normally takes 10 gallons to fill the tank. This means the price of a tank would be $28.00. On your next visit to the station, you find the price of gas has gone up to $3.10. You can encourage the oil companies to keep squeezing more money from your pocket by paying the $31.00 it would take to put 10 gallons into your tank, or you can buy $28.00 worth, and hope the price drops by the time you return. In this example, if consumers were to take a concerted action to stabilize how much they are willing to pay for fuel, the volume of fuel sold would suddenly drop, and the profits would not increase for a week. Multiply millions of dollars by seven days, and you have some punch there.

5. Another way to kick back on big oil is to consciously and suddenly change a few simple driving routines to reduce consumption. None of these actions have to be hugely sacrificial if lots of people are doing it all at once. You might walk to one or two nearby destinations rather than drive. You might decide to go out one or two less times per week. You may find an opportunity to move closer to where you work, form a carpool with neighbors, or combine several short trips into one. There is no need to rack your brain thinking of every possible avenue of self deprivation, just get determined to recognize for yourself some sudden moves you can make to have a positive impact on your own tank of fuel.

6. Spread the word on tactics that work for you, and encourage others to do something different to use a little less gasoline. Oil companies have decided it is time to take the gloves off and cheat people for as much as they want. If you have to buy more gas, take some time to find out where you can get it at the lowest possible price.

News media sends a constant stream of conflicting information when it comes to oil profits. When the media announces another wave of price increases, they also include the lame justifications and excuses that go along with the lies. Make no mistake; the big winners are not the oil company share holders, as oil companies race to buy back their stocks in the wake of record profit margins. The wealth of a nation is passing through the pockets of an ever-decreasing number of controlling people, and not making it out the other side. Perhaps it would be wise to remember that no matter how much a filthy man tries to bathe himself with money, he still does not come out clean in the end.