Look at the whole picture of inflation. Being young I have justa few years to compare. I can tell you that fuel was certainly cheaper for me 10 years ago. The net is what folks have to look at. Taxes have risen, prices for goods have adjusted up and down, but the real kicker is we are having to pay for things that we didn't even have to ask for in the past. Take health insurance as one point. 10 years ago when we bargained a contract health insurance was a moot point. The company was going to give us good health insurance at a good price. It was rarely ever an issue. Now it is a huge issue! Used to be a raise was a little more on your paycheck, now it's less after they take it back in taxes, dues, insurance, taxes, insurance. Yeah I know I listed those two twice. We are the strongest most technologically advanced nation in the world. I think everyone would have been on Ws side if he would have just said our livelyhoods depend on oil, we need it and we are going to go get it. We need less government, less taxes, less interference period.
Now I don't doubt that in 5 years deisel prices will avg. $7 a gallon. Because states will be taxing. Localities will be taxing it. Feds will be taxing it. There will be usage taxes. Highway taxes. Environmental taxes. Then of course the oil companies owned and controlled by overseas intrests will have to continue to produce those record profits!