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5 upsides of $4 gas


  3. iknew
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Nobody wants to hear this, but like oat bran or the Stairmaster, $4 gas may actually be good for you.

Not today, necessarily. There's no doubt that skyrocketing gas prices are crimping family budgets across America and putting consumers in a foul mood about the economy. People are curtailing vacations, eating out less, and going without to help cover those $60 and $80 fill-ups.

But down the road (if we don't run out of gas getting there), expensive fuel today could yield benefits tomorrow



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This could be a good thing if it's done right. DI thyink people neeed to start being more aware as to what's going on on the other side of the pump and not just at the pump. What do you think? Can you think of any other benefits?
iknew

7 responses // 5 upsides of $4 gas

  • Quiet you, your optimism is making me feel ill.
    natedawson
  • I can think of one upside as well...people choosing to walk or ride bicycles for the majority of short trips they make. Their health will improve, and the nation's high rates of obesity and heart disease from sedentary living will decline. That's a good thing for all of us, because it will bring down the cost of healthcare that we all, as taxpayers, pay for.

    So if your trip is under 3 miles, get a bicycle! With panniers to carry your groceries...
    Treatz
  • I too believe that in the long run this will be a good thing. What else but high prices will force some to try alternatives to gas?
    shroomfairy
  • Every change is good. and bad. The problem is, though, this time the Average Joe is 100% stuck on the bad side of this change. And that's how it will stay.

    Until the next change comes along. Whatever that is and whenever that happens: Then our Average Joe (and Jill) can scramble again to get to the good side of the equation.
    jahbini
  • America is a country that won't do anything till there is a crisis....

    One thing that could be positive is maybe we will stop supporting GM, Ford and Chysler.

    These companies are one reason we waste so much oil. Their designs have been ridiculous for decades.

    GM has been busy selling Americans on HUMMER and got rid of the EV1 electric car.

    Dodge/ Chrysler just released muscle cars into the 2008 market

    Fords website has 18 cars and trucks only one that gets 35 mpg and only seven that get above 25 mpg

    These companies have spent millions in advertising to get Americans to drive exspensive gas guzzlers.

    While other companies worldwide work to introduce cars that run on air, bio fuels, water, hydrogen and electric hybrids.

    Why? Because the rest of the world has been paying more for fuel than we do for years...most of the planet wishes they could get 4 dollar a gallon gas.
    rodajones
    1 response to this
  • It just shows that the Western consumer will not demand change unless their is a financial reason for it. There is no altruism. They'll buy 8mpg trucks and use them as commuter cars, they'll buy and throw away single use water bottles, they'll happily buy and eat flavourless, nutrition-deficient foods until they can no longer afford their consumables. Only at that point will they start "caring" about the environment, pollution, and health.

    Now that we've all started caring and being so altruistic, what can we do with this new passion and desire to better our world?
    Elligirl

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