The Back of Tuor's Head

In 1996 I paid 98¢ for a gallon of gas. In 2003 I paid $1.12. In 2005, so far, it's up to $2.09. That's over 200% of increase in less then ten years -- and it's not summer yet.

Now, I'm no sociologist, but I'd wager that the lower middle class American worker, struggling to keep his family fed and out of the street, driving a car 10 years old or older with poor gas milage and minium maintence, isn't going to take much more of this.

It is the poorest segment of society these gas prices hurt most, and bigwigs in the beltway don't quite get that. Certainly Bush doesn't -- he's on the other end of the spectrum.

Very importantly, if something doesn't get done, there will be a lot of problems in this country. Americans will get upset, and we're not talking peacefull hippie protesters. We're talking angry rednecks with guns and pickup trucks.