I have such a small life these days that I’ve gone largely unscathed by the ever-increasing gas prices. Most weeks, I put less than 20 miles on my minivan, and a “big driving” week might reach 60 miles. Since I absolutely hate to drive, I tend to group my errands and run them on one or two days per week, in a circular route, just to be efficiently done with them. In other words, my weekly gas expenditures cost less than my weekly martinis.

Of course, there is that 2,000+ mile summer road trip we’re taking in June. We’ve begun setting aside cash to cover the cost of gas, because the only thing that sucks more than paying $2.90 per gallon at the pump is paying that plus 14.99% interest.

Meanwhile, my local news channel’s morning show is running yet another story about people opting to take the bus to work to save a buck, as well as people who’ve taken more drastic steps like finding jobs closer to home to cut down on their commutes. Today another channel aired a story reminding us that Americans still pay less per gallon than citizens of most other countries, but I haven’t heard any stories comparing average daily work commutes here and abroad. (I’m guessing that with our country’s space and sprawl, we drive far more than others do, with the result that we’re still spending more on gas each week than those who pay more per gallon.)

So I read the news of President Bush’s plan to investigate possible price-gouging by gas companies with mixed feelings. Sure, I wonder whether the oil companies are lining their large pockets with ill-gained profits. But what if they are? A finding of price gouging may stop such practices — if they are, indeed, occuring. Then what? Fines? Sanctions? Penalties? Whose pockets do those go into? Not yours, and not mine — of that I’m certain.

Nope, even if a government investigation reveals oil company manipulation of the gas prices, you and I still get to pay… only this time we’ll get to pay twice: once at the pump, and a second time with our taxes funding the investigation.

Frankly, I’d rather see a more grass-roots solution: a day or two in which folks simply refused to drive anywhere — to work, to the store, to take their kids to school, anywhere — just to remind the oil companies of what can happen when inefficiency, poor planning and greed conspire to beat down their best customers.

Because there is, after all, nothing like a good object lesson to teach what seems otherwise impossible to learn.