Tired of high gas prices? Do something about it

Carson residents were introduced this week to $3 gas, and it's not likely it's going away soon.

Even if gas prices fall again, they'll inevitably reach higher levels as the world's supply of petroleum dries up in the coming years. The best thing Nevadans can do about it is to start making changes now.

We'd like to see Congress hold oil companies accountable for their record profit-taking at the same time gas prices soar and we're forced to dig deeper and deeper to pay for it. And we'd like to see automakers held responsible for increasing gas mileage on new vehicles. But having seen the reluctance on the part of some lawmakers to demand honesty from oil company executives during hearings, we're not expecting that to happen soon.

It's time for consumers to make a statement of another kind, even though it will mean making some significant lifestyle changes. The most basic economic models our country relies on suggest If we start using less gas, prices will come down. And in the process, we'll learn we can get by using less gas.

What can Nevadans do?

Avoid unnecessary trips in your cars and trucks. Combine your chores into one trip. Form car pools with your neighbors to get to work. Get the bike out of the shed and burn calories rather than gasoline. Here's a radical solution - give public transportation a try.

AAA says the best thing you can do to cut gas consumption is to keep your vehicle tuned up and your tires fully inflated.

Next time you buy a vehicle, make gas mileage one of your top criteria.

All of those things together may get us on the right path. Already, there are signs Americans are changing their behavior, albeit slowly. The consumption of gasoline is still rising, but not as fast it was last year.