We don't use gasoline today solely because it's a byproduct that we'd have to dump anyway.
Even if it were, it wouldn't be in significant quantity to the amount required by the number of vehicles on the road. Industry could still use it to run various types of machinery.

I simply focus on the mainstream fuel issue because oil IS better utilized in producing durable products as opposed to just engine exhaust. Why should we continue to use it for fuel when there are alternative ways of running vehicles, and useful things to create with petroleum? $4.00+ per gallon is impacting many areas. I never said the extraction of oil would cease if we stopped using it for fuel. I didn't even imply it. At least some plastics can be recycled. Spent gasoline has no recycle potential. It's a waste of petroleum to ignore alternative fuel options.

Oh, and did I mention that black is now white, and up is now down?

I'd be interested to know if the "artist" included awareness of the fact that ALL (excepting the needle) components of the photos - including the containers - are products of petroleum.

Do people really believe that petroleum extraction would cease if/when an alternative fuel is developed? As is typical of most people who "know only enough to be dangerous," their primary focus is entirely on the FUEL side. Approximately 45% of every barrel of oil becomes gasoline, leaving 55% in other products which - and this is probably unique to any product man makes or uses - are ALL used. Crude oil is used practically 100%, without any "waste product."

One would have to be incredibly naive to think that a 45% reduction in end-product use would result in an equal reduction in extraction and processing. We'd simply find another use for that component - and why shouldn't we? Recall that the gasoline component itself was once considered "waste product" and unsellable, and simply dumped.

I'll take the bad that comes along with the massive good, thank you very much.

The people aren't "addicted" to petroleum. Our society, culture and geography IS structured towards travel, commuting and owning one's own vehicle-however- we don't particularly care whether our cars run on gasoline, hydrogen, Red Bull or chicken soup-- as long as we can get around. By now, it's pretty well established that alternatives to oil exist for running vehicles (DUH!). The reason we continue to burn petroleum is because the energy companies have so much control.

We're not addicted to oil. We need to get to work, school, the grocery store, etc. Don't blame the people's need to travel, on addiction to oil. We'll travel with whatever energy/fuel source is most available.

The oil companies are addicted to profit, greed, power and control. The people should be free to travel and choose modes of travel, and types of fuel. That freedom is in question here.

This is the real issue. Alternative energy technology has been withheld and doled out in tiny drippings, whilst oil continues to gush in exchange for profits at the pump.

I'm not "addicted" to paying $4.00+ per gallon. Nobody is. Give us choices!

I think it's silly to liken consumption of a product that afford us such benefits, even something as simple as getting around every day, to an addiction. That's just plain progressive/liberal propaganda trying to get people to hate oil companies.

I would say that no one ever talks about how lesser off we'd be if we hadn't learned to drill for oil successfully. No one ever mentions that we should be grateful for it.