Keep OIL at $60/barrell even if it drops

[iconoclastNYC]

With taxation....make the taxation variable to keep the price of oil nearly constant...put that revenue towards research into oil alternatives, or towards an increase in the earned income tax credit to help low-income americans whom the high energy prices hurt the most.

If the price of oil drops back down to earth this research into fuel cells and better batteries will dry up. It seems like a lot of this technology has been sitting on the shelf since the 70s oil crisis. It takes high oil prices to make investors gamble on these technologies so the governement should take a market-based approach to solving this problem and keep oil prices artificially high if the supply situation is resolved.

And if you even out the ups and downs it will help people budget better.

Yeah no chance at this happening, but its a good idea I think.

[TheModernTerrorist]

1. amen

IMO, it could be even higher, to encourage conservation and FORCE people to find alternatives, and hey, maybe it'll keep companies like Greyhound, Amtrak, and the airlines from goin under... shouldn't THAT have been at least ONE of the appropriate actions to take, instead of just subsidizing them?

[malmapus]

4. Iunno about airlines they burn alot of fuel

Would have to be a major change in the infrastructure and cutting flights back to where they can be in the green again, but alot of the major airlines just won't go there and miss out on their major hubs.

[iconoclastNYC]

5. they are paying high fuel costs now

The idea is to not let it get back to being cheap.

they can raise fares to cover the cost of higher fuel. it eventually comes down to this with the airline industry.

by keeping the price of oil artificially high/stable the government would insultate the economy from the negative effects of unstable fuel prices and encourage alternative energy 'exploration' (innovation)

[heidler1]

2. If the Dems. promote raising oil prices for the future greater good

it will kill us at the polls. This thing will have to play out in a supply driven way. Building better/cheaper mass transit will work and developing more efficient cars will take a lot of perfecting, but will gradually be accepted.

[iconoclastNYC]

6. Better mass transit is not feasble in most parts of the country

because of urban sprawl. mass transit makes sense only where there is high population concentration. and that is sadly limited to the old cities.

plus people will not give up thier cars and most people associate mass transit with sitting next to someone who smells bad.

[ComerPerro]

3. Oh, good. Then Democrats can be blamed for gas prices

Because of our desire to raise taxes.

That's how Republicans do things.

[iconoclastNYC]

8. Republicans can hurt us with anything we stand for

We fund head start and they call us tax and spend.

This isn't raising taxes until the price of oil drops. To the consumer they are still paying the same amount. They wouldn't notice anythign except less price spikes.

[BiggJawn]

7. Self Delete

I don't feel like feeding the Trolls today.

[iconoclastNYC]

9. Good thing you edited.

And to answer your question that you so cowardly self-deleted, i've been living on my own since 18, so I know a thing or two about the real world.

[BiggJawn]

15. Well, on second thought...

Maybe I should have let it stand.

OK, so you've been on your own and "know a thing or two"...

So why do you come up (you're not the first, BTW) with this CRAP about how high oil prices are a Good Thing, like some ignorant punk who DOES still live in his mom's basement and has no clue what things cost?

OK, there, I said it. Let the flaming begin.

The problem with all these "It would be COOL if gas hit $10 because then people would CONSERVE" idiotic ideas is that they consistently REFUSE to acknowledge the bind these wonderful schemes would put the Working Poor in.

As has been pointed out by others, would this hurt the Rich? Fuck no, they don't give a shit how much it cost to feed their H-2's. They could spend $200 a week on gas and it still would not impact them with anywhere near the same effect a $50 fill-up would strap people not as "fortunate".

You so-called "Liberals" who think the way to a better world is to tighten the screws on the Rich, hoping that one day they feel it, all the while IGNORING the poor that your schemes would crush the living breath out of really piss me off.

Ok, your turn.

[DocSavage]

10. Who does

high oil prices inpact the most? Is it the millionairs? Nope, it is the person that is getting by pay check to pay check. Not only does it cost more at the pump it cost more at stop and shop, penny's, Barnes and Nobles. Taxes go up to cover the cost of fuel for busses, police and fire, heating schools. Keeping the price high artificially by taxing the difference would be a daily if not hourly calculation throwing the revenue stream in to a mess. What happens if the price goes above 60 bucks, does the govt all of a sudden go without this tax money?

[iconoclastNYC]

11. Yes....over 60 and the tax is recinded.

The idea is to stablize prices and keep the price of oil high so people will conserve and alternatives can compete and replace the need for oil.

[rman]

13. i think it'll go over 60 pretty soon

i expect it to peak over 60 a few times in the coming months, and get stuck over 60 within a year. it has peaked over 58 once already.

[Egalitariat]

12. A state-run oil monopoly? Complete with price gouging as its

stated business strategy?

What would stop us from doing the same thing with other businesses in order to raise revenues?

[rman]

14. The extent of "gouging" would depend on the actual price

Other businesses aren't 'running out' as the oil industry is - the revenues oif this "gouging" would be used to invest in alternatives. You can call it gouging, but it really isn't.