When I first started driving the cab in 2002, a gallon of gas cost less than a buck-fifty. I wouldn't even save money to pay for it. I'd just grab some fives and ones and fill the tank at the end of my shift.

Nine years later, the price of gas has increased more than one hundred thirty-three percent. Instead of grabbing fives and ones, I'm putting two twenties aside from my take each day. Basically, every dime the price goes up, I spend another dollar on gas each work day.

It wasn't really a big deal for a while. A dime here, a nickel there. A dollar more this day. Fifty cents more that day. This year, things are different. Since the price of gas has shot up eighty cents since January, that's eight buck more a day. More than thirty bucks a week. We could all use thirty bucks more a week. All for the same cruddy gasoline it's always been.

The oil companies have their excuses. They've had excuses since the oil embargo in the 1970s. Libya is fighting with itself (the US doesn't get oil from Libya). The Japanese nuclear reactor had a meltdown (Japan doesn't use a lot of gasoline). Demand is up for oil (not in the US). Supply is down (completely untrue).

What is anyone doing about it? Nothing. What will anyone do about it? Nothing.

No one in a position to take on the oil companies will do anything. Every US Congressman and senator receives money from oil. Most states receive money from oil. Everyone has been paid off for a long time. Anyone who opens an investigation into price gouging by the oil companies comes back to say everything is fine (and more than likely campaign contributions to boot).

Our president's view? 'Gas prices always go up and down.' Brilliant. Keep up the good work. Thanks for not having the government shut down completely.

This price spike happened before, a little less than three years ago. There was an uproar. People vowed to get rid of their cars. Get rid of their gas guzzlers. Get rid of their addiction to oil. Some even did. People ride the bus more, although service in my town never improved. People drive less.

But this time, I don't hear the uproar. In a country beaten down by recession and job loss, it just seems like we're all more inclined to take it. It's just another way in the life isn't as easy as it used to be. Twenty bucks here. Thirty bucks there. Suddenly, there's less all the way around. Instead of protests, there's a big sigh of disappointment. Sigh.

If cars ran on milk, it would be cheaper. If they ran on electricity, it would be cheaper. Where's the new car that runs on greenhouse gasses? Nowhere. We're not even trying to fix things.

What do we do? What can we do? What will we do? Nothing.

It's just the way things are, and I thought I'd let you know.

Chris Jungle will work for gas...oh wait, he already does.