The key to lowering gas prices is demand destruction, not more supplies.

[dkf]

We have finally reached a price point where people are willing to start using less gas. The incentives need to be to change behavior and to replace everything that uses more energy than it could.

We are running out of the good stuff anyway, so its only going to get more expensive.

Everyone needs to bite the bullet. Its not going to get easier until we do.

[tedoll78]

1. Call me a pessimist,

but I think that as worldwide supplies dwindle we'll see greater desperation. We're addicted, and (to use a nasty metaphor) we're going to get to the point where we're willing to snort the cheap junk off of a public bathroom seat.

In the meantime, I'm finding ways to use less gas. Being able to make do with less will come in handy in the future.

[dkf]

2. As in other things Addiction will be punished.

It is entirely in our power to do this. We simply have to want it enough.

In the end, there is always public transportation anyway. I know a number of people who have transitioned.

[AndyA]

3. Not all areas have adequate public transportation.

If you live in a major metro area, one might have this option. But many middle- to small-sized metro areas do not have good public transportation coverage.

Speculation is also responsible, as is the government of China subsidizing gasoline to its citizens, which means there is no incentive over there to conserve.

[dkf]

4. I bet the Europeans wish we paid as much for our gas as they do for theirs.

I'm sure they look at us as huge wasters of energy.

At least the Chinese typically don't buy gas guzzling SUVs.

[AndyA]

7. You're wrong. SUV sales in China up 43% last year.

China alone is responsible for 40% of the recent increase in World demand for gasoline. More Buicks are now sold in China than in America. The Chinese love their big, gas-guzzling cars.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/27/AR2008072701911_pf.html

[tedoll78]

6. I fully agree about the punishment part.

But I don't have faith that Americans will ever want it enough.

The transition is coming, whether we want it to or not. And if things go how I think they will, it's is going to be downright ugly.

[dkf]

8. Well this is a case where how other people lives does affect you.

We need to also make it socially unacceptable to waste energy.

[PM7nj]

5. Oil just plunged to $120/barrel. nt

[scheming daemons]

9. We anarchists ALWAYS "demand destruction"..... oh, wait...

...that's not what you meant.


;-)

[polichick]

10. That's right - and caving in any way to big oil will only delay what must be done.