US gas prices were better years ago when India and China were using carts and bicycles. I remember when gas went over 30 cents a gal. I thought that was horrible.
The way I see it, this mess started when you lime juicers got out of India and China. Especially India... those poor folks haven't had a decent infrastructure since the Brits lefts. They're still trying to get by with roads and hospitals England built. You need to get your tails back in there and fix things - you Brits were great at Imperialism.
I know I'm the pot calling the kettle black - we Americans should get back in Central and South America too and clean those places up (Been a little busy in the Middle East here lately). If England and America would snap out of this politically correct funk we've drifted into, and go back to helping (running) these 3rd world countries, everybody would be better off. They would have better economies, modern infrastructure, and stable governments. We would have lower gas prices and better hotels when traveling.
Of course, you all know I am in favor of drilling in Alaska and off the Gulf Coast - then telling OPEC to go jump in the lake.