What I don’t get is why everyone is so focused on bailouts vs. engineering our way out of this situation.

My personal solution to high oil prices was to engineer my life so I didn’t need to drive as much and then buy some petroleum futures (amongst other things) with the savings. High gas prices are money in the bank for me.

No reason anyone else can’t do the same. Sell your house and your car, rent an apartment and become an oil speculator.

Same thing with the exurbs and IE. Let the market find a solution.