Cost of Gas is On the Rise Again

I remember when I was growing up, gas was only $1.50 cents per gallon on average, of coarse this was close to 20 to 30 years ago, when I was around 8 or 9. Man you could fill your tank, and it seems like you could drive for days.

    Then as I got older and became a family man, prices rose a little, but now as much as it seems today. At the time I was married to my first wife, and living in North Carolina, I would take my wife and we would visit her family in Georgia. I would take 95 south all the way, and there was this little mom and pop, gas station right across the South Carolina and Georgia border that we'd always stop at where gas was always cheaper than all the other stations around.

   Well that has long since past and I would assume that with the current economy that station is out of business now along with a lot of other mom and pop stations.

   What I do not understand is that if we are the richest, as well as most technological nation in the world then, aren't we smart enough to start using our own petroleum that we are gathering, that way we can begin to support our selves rather than others.

     It is estimated that back in 2010 the U.S. was consuming close to 19,150,000 barrels a day according to CIA-The World Fact, and it seems to me if we are utilizing so much, then we should not have to pay the most for it. What do you think?

   According to the EIA (Energy Information Administration) "About 49% of the petroleum consumed in the US was imported. But now where did it explain were the other 51% comes from. Aim I missing something here?

   Now I do understand The Law Of Supply and Demand, the greater the supply the lower the demand, and vice versa. But since we are the ones that are demand more, should we have to pay the highest price, and if so the since the other countries are demanding less, why are they paying less? 

  We have came a long way in the last 30 years that I can remember, with things like the Internet, cell phone, hybrid cars, and war drones, etc. Why is that since we are suppose to be the most Technologically advance country in the world figure out how to lower our Dam Gas Prices?