Stupidest Question Ever? You've probably already asked me.

 I get it virtually every day. The grocery store. The Mall. And, of course, at the gas station.

"Hey Doug...how can I get better mileage?"

I often just hang my head and chuckle as the individual typically shouts from the rear of his or her SUV.

Really? Really?

I mean, I get it. Gas prices are crazy high. Heck...I'm feeling it big time. But I drive a HUGE SUV! I deserve to be bled.

Most of us however are just too upset to apply even the least amount of rational thought to the concept of why their fuel costs are soaring. Yes, it's primarily because gas prices are skyrocketing (thanks Colonel Gaddafi).

But the harsher reality is that we drive the wrong cars in the wrong ways. We roll our big SUV's to the grocery store four times a week. We bring three kids to three different schools. We never carpool. And we, especially here in California, think mass transit is a great way to get around...if you're homeless.

What we need is a change of cars. And of consciousness.

Europeans get it. So do drivers in Asia. Heck---the WHOLE WORLD gets it...except us. Gas prices in Norway are over $7.00 a GALLON. In France,  a fill-up near the Eiffel Tower will cost you around $9.00 a gallon, and in Germany you'll cough up a jaw dropping $11.00 a gallon. Get the picture?

 So how do these folks afford to drive? Well...they don't. At least not as much. But when they do, they drive small cars. They drive turbos. They drive diesels.  And they never, ever, get emotional about that piece of metal that is parked outside their home. They don't NEED their cars. They just need a way to get from point A to point B.  See, to them, a car is ubiquitous. To us...it's an extension, a representation if you will, of ourselves. And that's the core of our problem.

So, as I see you it, we have two choices. One is to stop asking me how you can save money on gas when you really can't because you drive the wrong car, or...