Dream on, you say? Maybe. But that’s only because we are not willing to give up the lifestyle that gasoline affords.

Simply, if people stopped buying, prices would go down.

Yes, I know, we need our vehicles to get to work, health-care appointments and to fulfill previous commitments. But we can still do all that.

Let’s face it. Many of us have cars that are too big and we drive them a lot more than we need to. We don’t need all these gas-guzzling SUVs. Even regular cars use too much gas, because vehicle fuel economy standards haven’t changed since the energy crisis of 30 years ago.

Surveys show that about 20 percent of car trips are less than one mile and almost 50 percent are less than three miles. Those distances could easily be walked or biked by most people.

What if we saved or gave up just a few gallons of gas a week? That would be something and if we all did it, we’re talking about millions of gallons of gas a week that wasn’t being burned — and therefore not being sold and profited on.

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As news stories reported gas prices climbing through the $2.50s last week, many other stories documented how angry and frustrated people were. But they continued filling their tanks as if it were business as usual.

It is business as usual, however, for the oil companies whose candidate was elected president less than five years ago when gas prices were half what they are today. What were voters thinking?

There were plenty of warnings back in 2000 during the election campaign that Bush’s connections to oil would lead to bigger profits, fewer environmental restrictions and more areas for drilling.

Well, you get what you vote for.

According to Wenonah Hauter, director of Public Citizen’s Critical Mass Energy and Environment Program, "Since Bush became president, the largest five oil companies operating in the U.S. — ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco, ConocoPhillips, BP and Shell — have enjoyed profits of $254 billion, with ExxonMobil leading the way with profits of $89 billion.

"Clearly," Hauter continues, "there is a direct correlation between record prices paid by consumers and record profits enjoyed by oil companies. For example, the profit margin for U.S. oil refiners has shot up 79 percent from 1999 (the year Exxon and Mobil merged) to 2004. But rather than hold these price-gougers responsible, the energy bill signed by Bush this month gives $6 billion in tax breaks and subsidies to oil companies."

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Unfortunately, it’s too late to do anything about the president. We mistakenly elected him once and then in a moment of national embarrassment we did it again. Now we’re stuck with him for three more years.

But we can try to do something about oil prices. Gasoline isn’t food, but with our thirst for it you’d think it was just as important. Throughout history food has been the major reason people have rioted or revolted against their leaders — usually because the leaders had a lot to do with the populace’s hunger pains.

Obviously, we are not going to take to the streets with violence over gasoline prices, though the higher and longer they climb the more low-income people are going to feel the pinch.

The peaceful way to get back at the politicians and the oil companies is to get a hold on what we can control — demand and consumption.

It’s no accident that we’re so addicted to our energy-guzzling lifestyles just when the prices are skyrocketing. The oil tycoons know we’re hooked and that they can get away with spiking prices and lining their pockets.

That means we have to try a little harder. Weaning is never easy, whatever it’s from. Remember, if each person just does a little bit, the overall impact could be huge.

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Cary Brunswick is managing editor of The Daily Star. He can be reached at (607) 432-1000, ext. 217, or cary@thedailystar.com.