Just about the worst thing you could do at this point with gas prices would be to artifically lower the price. That would artificially spike demand and you would use more fuel and you would potentially have shortages. Plus, for the regions that would run out first, the artifically lower prices would reduce any incentive for someone to ship fuel from regions where excess existed. Basic economics. Also, for the conservationists, naturally high gas prices are the best thing we have - if high prices reflect real demand, then we actually have a chance that entrepeneurs will invest seriously in other fuels and vehicles (such as biodiesel, ethanol, nuclear energy to provide electricity to power hydrogen fuel cells etc. etc.), which is exactly what we need to reduce greenhouse emissions. Isn't that what Al Gore wants?