I don't know what the solutions are, but while they seem to be absorbed well so far by the economy (even helping better off consumers make wiser choices for the environment), gas prices are really hurting the rural poor.
Low income people and workers in general in America have gotten a raw deal for a long time, with decades of decreased investment in public schools and other public services they need (like public transport, which many more would like to switch to now, and even basic infrastructure like roads and bridges). And now they are stuck with old gas guzzlers and no other way to get to the scarce jobs they can find.
Check out
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/09/business/09gas.html?hp
One possible solution for some, could be goloco.com
This is a new form of carpooling or ride sharing that is designed to take advantage of social networking (its already available as a tool on facebook.com, as well as through its own website) and also allow for the sharing of the cost (which could really catch on with these gas prices!). The idea is that rides are offered via existing social networks, like facebook connections, work colleagues, church congregations, not complete strangers, and the cost is payed on the web via paypal.
The idea is to increase Person Miles Per Galon, so even if the vehicle doesn't get good mileage, adding passengers reduces carbon emissions and costs per person right away.
How to get this into the hands of people who may become jobless because they ran out of gas on the side of the road, I don't know. It seems hard with the scarcity of Internet access among the same demographic groups and locations, but maybe employers could access it for their employees?
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