Gas Prices
Did you ever wonder why gas is $5/gallon in Europe and most of the rest of the world? Europe is so small. Entire countries are the size of states here in the US. What I drive to go to the cabin up north, I could have driven in 4 different countries in Europe. Sure, they have limited resources but I think they keep gas prices high to limit the use of gas purposely. Plus,they need the tax revenue.
Just rereading that, I sound like an idiot to myself. I grew up out in the country. I would say the closest interstate was 20-30 miles away. No bus service, no taxi's, no subway. Just to get to the grocery store was 10 miles round trip. If we wanted to go somewhere, it was at least 20 miles one way. I think keeping gas cheap makes it easier to get places, do things and spend money. It fuels the economy. Well, at least an economy that can afford to keep the gas cheap and keep business going.
Look at a map of the US. Look at the size of population centers 40 years ago and look at them today. Then look at the large cities that lost population to the suburbs. Then look at all the people who still are 20 miles away from nowhere. The government has subsidized Amtrak for its whole life. Airlines are dropping like flies. (no pun intended) We need to tighten up our belt and suck it up for awhile.
When I was growing up, we would jump in the car and just cruise forever. We could fly to Florida for $99 round trip and almost drive for that much. Times are catching up. No more joy riding, no more cheap travel. Competition is fierce.
Gas should be $3+/gallon. Shit, I would pay 4 or 5 and I have to drive 80 miles a day for work. The assholes that pass me doing 85 or leave rubber from the stop light would no longer be driving the SUV. They would slow down and drive like human beings because even at $2.69, gas is cheap. Look at the way most people drive! It hasn't slowed down The Motor City a bit.
My car gets 30+mpg, because I have a long commute to work. Would the house in the suburb or wherever be so expensive if it cost as much as a house payment to get to work? No. Would everyone be driving the SUV if the gas bill was as much as the payment? No. Would we all utilize subsidized public transportation if it saved us enough to have the extras. Yes. Would train and air travel become profitable if it wasn't so cheap to do? Yes. Would it be bad for the economy? Yes
I am not saying that we need a recession/depression to get people to realize how good we have it in this country, but please. We need gas at $4/gallon for a good five years to wake some people up. Let's get our priorities back in order. You can still do all you want at $4/gallon, you just will have to choose. Maybe pick someone up on the way to work, take the bus once a week, drive or take the train instead of fly, live closer to work, etc... Nothing we all can't live without! It beats living 20 people to a house and scrounging for food. We still have it a million times better than 90% of the world!!!!!!!
