Predictions of oil to reach $200.00 a barrel?

I'm praying us all too, but yeah..that's what I'm counting on, the only way...if things totally splat, like they very well could, we're gonna survive all this is if we all help eachother through this. I mean look at how we used to live, colonial america...everyone helped eachother, they all worked together to survive hard winters..and then in later years, wars, disease...when crisis hits, I know there will be enough of us to stand together. Crisis has a way of bringing people together, we saw that seven years ago, in New York -- the city which is known for it's roughest, rudest, most anti-social people. My fears are that there will also be plenty who'll see an easier road of hurting people, instead of helping them...and not knowing the shape of the world then..especially government or police, who'll probably more than have alot on their plates, we may also have to defend eachother. I mean we already see this happening, the copper thieves stealing the pipes out of abandoned houses (the people who fled because they couldn't pay their bills to keep living in those houses, their posessesions are being taken, their homes stripped for profit), the thieves siphoning gas out of mowers, the tanks of cars...because they could make a killing selling cheap gas which cost them nothing to steal. But again the future I'm afraid of is if things continue to get worse at the rate they're going...I give this potential future about a year, reasonably in guestimation. Which means theres some time yet, this could all be fixed and we may just avoid that chaotic nightmare. And I pray we never see that, as well. Either way, I think this may be enough to teach this country what it was forgetting: we can't be every man or woman for ourselves, as human beings we need eachother...at least to a certain extent. And hopefully, it'll have taught many more that we have to appreciate what we have while we have it. So many people throw away good food, clothes..when some are desperate for those things. And maybe it'll teach us too, not to become so dependant on things we may not have forever...think more in the long-term, rather than the short. I don't mean to sound like a fear-monger, but I'm kindof scared myself...and it is a possibility. None of us coulda predicted these fears two years ago...last year some of us, in our hearts of hearts knew that maybe in a far distant future this could happen -- but it's happening much more quickly than ANYBODY could've imagined. But I think, if we try to brainstorm..all of us, we'll be able to figure out some things which'll help us survive this. We can take alot of cues from history, and how people used to live before cars. Alot of folks are talking about starting gardens, drying and canning food and storing it for the winter...wells for water...more are running to the country. My friends are buying bikes so that they can get to work. Those who still have money are buying hyrbids, electric cars...or cars with better gas economies on them. Panicked as we may be, some of us, we'll figure something out. We have to, right? So we will.

Thank you for responding, and yes it is a worrisome burden on most of those who were already struggling before the price of oil doubled. What concerns me is the speed inwhich things seem to be happening, there is no way middle class or those with less income can possible stay afloat, or even with the pace at which these changes are occuring. I take each and try to cut back as much as possible, but see myself loosing the battle of staying afloat. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, and although this may not be of much help, you are not alone and I am sure there will be alot of us standing next to you. If we are at all to survive this, remember we are stronger in numbers no matter what the situation. Thanks, again Karen

Thanks for responding, I am trying to do the same and work at home, building it up can be a slow process, what does she do, maybe I went the wrong way, I have some residual, but nothing to brag about. Let me know if you can. Thanks, again Karen

Thank you for responding, but I can remember last year believing that the prices would finally flatten out, boy was I wrong! Now, I only hope I can afford it when I need it. Thanks, again Karen

Thank you for responding and I couldn't have said it better. I am blessed because I don't feel that I have had to suffer, and sympathize with those who have not been so lucky. There's that old saying "But for the Grace of God go I". I think even if they are making all that money, they soon(if not already)will suffer, maybe not financially, but there are other things in life just as important and if not, more. Thanks, again Karen