5 reasons to love high gas prices
FP mag comes up with 5 reasons to love high gas prices. They are:
- mass transit boom
- lower obesity rates
- fewer accidents
- shorter commutes
- higher interest in bio-fuels
They left out one more important reason: decreased desire to drive visually obstructing SUVs. Really, how did they miss that one?
Seriously, the high gas prices are good for us in the long run. Finding alternatives and augmenting efficiency are things that we’ve put off for too long, and I’m not a big fan of bad regimes getting billions in oil revenue indefinitely. That said, it’s the market that should come up with innovate replacements to our oil addiction, not the bureaucrats in Washington.
UPDATE 6-23:
Forgot to add yet another important (positive) side effect of high gas prices: reduced carbon footprint. I.e., gas prices go up, conservation goes up to compensate (to save $). People drive less, Al Gore is happy (not that that last item is crucial in the slighest).
June 23rd, 2008 at 7:20 am
The others probably will be right, but I don’t see the connection to ‘lower obesity rates.’ Healthy food is generally more expensive than cheaper food already. Further, many people compensate for increased stress by eating more.
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Dan:
I wondered about that one too. I mean, do people really walk that much more when gas prices are high? More research is obviously needed…