70% of Americans are honked off by higher gas prices

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-gaspoll07.html

WASHINGTON -- High pump prices are pinching the pocketbooks of seven in 10 Americans, a financial hardship that more middle- and higher-income drivers say they are starting to feel, an AP-Ipsos poll found.

With gasoline prices topping $3 a gallon for regular unleaded in many areas, people say they are driving less, cutting short vacations and curtailing their use of heating and air conditioning.

"Now, I'm just going to work and coming home -- not doing anything else," said Kathleen Roberts, who makes a daily, 100-mile round trip from York, Pa., to her teaching job in Baltimore.

The number of people who expect rising gas prices to cause financial problems in the months ahead rose from 51 percent a year ago to 70 percent now, AP polling shows. This increase has been dramatic among people who earn more than $50,000.

[Webster Green]

1. There's that pesky 30% again...

High gas prices? No problem, as long as they get to lick a little chimp butt.

[stevedeshazer]

2. The other 30% must not drive

And turning off your car's heater does nothing for mileage...but A/C does.

[Erika]

3. Our standard of living going down,down, down

Via the Republicans and Bush

[TheFarseer]

4. How the hell can you stand commuting 100 miles

even if gas were a nickel? There's no way I would do that. If she drives a Suburban, I'm going to puke.

[Ilsa]

5. I hate having to pay for it also. But I also see this as an

opportunity for people to get realistic about how much fuel they use. Most people won't conserve at $1.50 a gallon. One poll done two years ago indicated that people wouldn't change their driving habits until gas cost about $3.50 a gallon.

I hate that this affects the poor more than most if they have to commute using inefficient older vehicles or if they don't have mass transportation available to them.

[lovuian]

6. Get ready we haven't seen $4.00 gas yet and rationing

thats coming...

[Selatius]

7. The 30 percent who don't feel it are probably rich or pro-Bush

Or both.

[meisje]

8. or they work from home

[Captain Hilts]

9. Don't drive 70+mph. nt