The gasoline price crisis of 2008 has affected life as we have known it. Period. There isn't the slightest margin for debate.

Soccer moms are fraught with anger. They want answers. They would like to see some Saudi heads roll over this mess.

Think about this for a minute. Those of us who remember gas rationing in 1973 thought we had seen it all. Turns out that was a walk in the park compared to this insanity.

As the price for a gallon of regular flirts with $4, hardly anyone fills up any more.

You probably feel some need to take out a loan to pay for gas over the course of a year.

People purchase fuel paycheck to paycheck and then have to factor in soaring gas prices with a soaring cost of living.

It's maddening, and no letup is in sight. Any business or service you can think of is affected by gas prices. Municipalities. School districts. Police departments. Fire departments. Emergency responders. Meals on Wheels. Public works departments. Pizza delivery. Floral shops.

The list goes on and on.

In many cases, the increased costs of these services are passed on to the consumers.

This is why the stress level within families and workplaces appears to be higher than usual as household budgets snap like brittle bones.

In June 2004, gas prices soared to over $2 a gallon, and we thought that was as bad as it could get. A barrel of crude oil on NYMEX was under $25 from the mid-1980s through 2003. During 2004, the price rose to $40 a barrel, then $50. Hence, gas prices zoomed to more than $2 a gallon.

The price of a barrel increased to $138.83 on June 6, 2008, and we are painfully aware of what is happening because of it.

The 1973 crisis stemmed from a scarcity (mostly artificial) that prompted the government to ration gas, with motorists facing long lines at gas stations.

Drivers of vehicles with license plates having an odd number as the last digit, or a vanity license plate, were permitted to purchase gas only on odd-numbered days of the month.

Drivers of vehicles with even-numbered license plates were allowed to purchase fuel only on even-numbered days.

In some places, a three-color flag system was used to denote gasoline availability at service stations. A green flag denoted unrationed sale of gasoline. A yellow flag denoted restricted and rationed sales. A red flag denoted that no gasoline was available but the station was open for other services.

Believe it or not, there is some good that might come of this. If nothing else, skyrocketing gas prices provide strong incentive for automakers to invent cleaner cars and curtail the widespread use of the internal combustion engine.

This would help reduce our reliance on governments in the Middle East and eventually could serve to reduce the influence of governments and dictators propped up by oil dollars.

Mass transit is a sensible alternative. Not only would it represent a monetary savings, it could lead to less pollution, fewer traffic jams and more efficient transportation.