Yay! Gasoline is expensiver!

No conspiracy theories, no collusion behind closed doors, simply self-interest at work: here's the real reason gasoline costs are up and will stay high at least through the Presidential election.

The United States no longer controls the world oil market.

Traditionally, US Big Oil lowers prices during elections to keep oil-friendly politicians in office. That won't happen this time because different players are in charge, and they are eager to usher in a new era in US politics.

The strong plus to this is that we US citizens might choose to take this opportunity to really assess how we consume, how we relate to each other, and what sort of world we want to leave to our descendants. Our #1 export is our attitude: when the whole world sees us over-consuming, they want to, too. Can we make living within our means, spending earth's resources' interest rather than the principle, sexy and inviting to the rest of the world?