As the temperature begins to rise, so do gas prices.

With three of the busiest travel holidays approaching, gas prices are projected to rise even more.

A few years ago, a colleague told me that gas would never reach $4 per gallon.

Little did he know gas had already reached that mark in areas of California.

When I first began driving, I had a 1988 Toyota Camry.

Prices per gallon of unleaded gas were slightly more than $1. That was 2000.

Eight years later and now in a 1998 Toyota 4Runner with gasoline demand even higher, prices have skyrocketed to an average of $3.86 in Los Angeles County.

It is no easy task to fill up my 15.3-gallon tank. Just recently, it cost $56 for a complete fill-up.

Many times, I have considered selling my “gas guzzler” for something else.

It is not something I enjoy thinking about.

I enjoy the six-cylinder engine over the four-cylinder. I am much more content with more power, but the prices of gas are affecting that mindset.

The thing that really damages my pocket is my job.

I manage a pizzeria in Redondo Beach. Every so often, I am asked to take a delivery or pick up a shift here or there.

With inconsistent tips, delivering has more disadvantages than advantages.

More often than not, I have been forced to deliver food and have been left empty handed.

With the summer approaching, I normally try and to get out of the South Bay at least twice a month.

San Diego and Las Vegas are set destinations, but saving money for those trips can put a hindrance on things I would enjoy doing before those trips.

Vegas is a trip I refuse to make the drive to.

Over the past few years, I have found Southwest Airlines has fares that are way too cheap to pass up.

Paying slightly more than $100 is perfect for someone like myself and I don’t even need to worry about driving anywhere with a plethora of taxis circling Vegas at all hours.

But back to the topic at hand. Who is to blame for the gas crunch?

What can we, as Americans, do about it? Can we protest? Will it do anything?

The answer, in my mind, is no.

Most middle to low class Americans are unable to affect our economy in ways that can be seen.

On the evening news recently, I was informed that Americans consume 10,000 gallons of gas per second.

With the demand so high, I am amazed that the prices continue to rise.

Gas prices have an effect on every part of the economy.

Trucking lines charge more for their services, which in turn is causing local companies to increase their prices to customers.

Every inch of our economy is affected by the gas crunch.

With no decline of gas cost in sight, it would not be unlikely to see gas costing more than $4 and possibly close to $5 by Fall 2008.

This is something that must be mended, or else our economy will take an even bigger hit than what we are already experiencing.