Bring it on! Why higher prices at the pump are a good thing.

How can paying $2.91 for a gallon of gas be a good thing? Well, if it increases Americans' use of public transportation, stimulates interest in, and consequently fuels research for alternative fuels and modes of transportation, and lessens the middle east's grasp on our proverbial balls, all while helping to end pollution (and global warming?), that's how.

In a world of supply and demand, OPEC nations are only beginning to recognize our insatiable demand for fuel. They control the supply with the inelastic demand curve (is that right, econ people?). That is, regardless of the price, we will continue to buy oil.

For example, in Venezuela, gas at the pump on March 24 averaged only $0.12 per gallon. In Iran, it was $0.33. Here in the United States, we've lived for a long time under the illusion that we are NOT Iran's, Iraq's, Saudi Arabia's, and other OPEC nations', bitch. We kicked some ass in Bush War I and all was well. When I was 16, I paid $0.70 per gallon.

Only in Venezuela...


Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said last week, "The global oil price has not reached its real value yet. The products derived from crude oil are sold at prices dozens of times higher than those charged by oil-producing countries." He went on to say later, "The increase of the oil price and growth of oil income is very good and we hope that the oil prices reach their real levels." That's reassuring - the head of the world's 4th largest crude exporter loves higher prices and hopes the trend remains the same.

With oil prices at record highs, and oil companies recording record profits, maybe this is the time we seriously consider alternatives and begin work to seriously develop alternative energy and transportation. The benefits are endless - national autonomy in a more real sense, pollution levels dropping in 1st world countries more quickly, allowing for the benefit of such technology to be passed along to developing and undeveloped countries before the situation gets even worse, and lower fuel costs in the long run for you and me.

Washington DC has experienced some of their heaviest public transit days in the past week. The same can be said across the country. Salt Lake City has shown a 50% increase in ridership this year alone.

In Colorado, lawmakers briefly considered suspending the state's mandatory $0.22 per gallon tax used to fund highway repairs, but relented after realizing that such a move, even for only three months, would cost nearly $100 million.

As for me, well, I don't know how I'll deal with higher prices. I too, must drive to work everyday. I fill my car almost once a week, and it's not getting any easier. However, when I purchased my car last summer, fuel economy factored heavily into my decision. Tax incentives for more fuel efficient vehicles, for both producers and consumers, will help to stimulate change. There are things we can do to help our own fuel economy. Check it out: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/drive.shtml

Finally, check the link on the right side of this blog to find the lowest gas prices in your area.

I don't have the answer to our energy needs, but we can all do the little things to make the transition a bit easier. No one thinks it's going to get better before it gets worse, but in the longterm, I can handle higher fuel prices now if it means no oil later.