Why oil price so critial?

Why oil price so critical in the world of today?

I think its because we use it all the time, and we see the price all the time. Because of that we are very sensitive about the price change. Most of American people owns a car or two, and they drive around the cities and towns. Unlike smoking cigaretts and cigars, everyone uses gas to travel. This is free market country, and businesses can change their price whenever they want to, as long as their consumers buy their products. Same thing to oil companies. They can adjust their price of gas as long as people buy them.

Why do we concerns about price going up by few cents?

 Well, when we buy our gas, we usually buy more than one gallon, and that adds up to pretty large amount. But have thought about other goods' price?

For example, Microsoft operating system cost about $200 per copy. That is a lot of money. Even though we don't buy these softwares that often, nowadays, people use computer everywhere. And every one or two years, new software comes out and people has to upgrade their system. How much money do you think Microsoft put in to their production of software and operating system? They use most of them in developing new software, and little on actually making the CDs. To produce one Windows 2003 operating system, Microsoft pays about $1 and makes profit of $200. Of course about half of 200 goes to developers of the software, but think about it. These softwares are sold more than 10 million copies per year, and half is their profit.

My question to this is, why don't American people complain about Microsoft's price? Well, I guess they did, but not the same level as gas problem.

And other thing is, clothing. Did you know for past few years, clothing price went up by 20%? People don't notice these things that fast, only because it is not everyday product people buy and less need than gas.

 I don't know this is true or not. However this is how I feel about the situation.

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