[DGthe3]

I never cease to be amazed at the capacity for Americans to freak out over 'high' gas prices.

Get used to the idea that gas isn't cheap. Seriously, get used to it. Accept it and keep living your life. Paying 4 or 5 bucks for a gallon of go-go juice isn't the end of the world. In fact, there are billions of people around the world who'd like to be paying a $4/gal for gas right now, let alone when gas prices go up this summer. In Canada we've been paying over $4/gal for regular for quite a while, and it hasn't really hurt us. In fact, some economists are saying that we have recovered.

Those prices don't mean that it suddenly becomes impossible, or even difficult, for the average person to own a less efficient vehicle. There are tons of performance cars, pickup trucks, and big SUV's running around up here. As a percentage, we probably do drive cars that are a bit more practical, but the gap isn't terribly big.

And to anyone thinking about trading in for a new car (I know none of you are serious, but this is a great opportunity to say it) the hit you take on trading in a high-value car you are making payments on for a new more efficient car is way more than the cost of the extra gas you're going to burn.