High Gas Prices – real or artificial? good or bad?

First, the bad news...


Richest gas company in America? Exxon Mobil reported the biggest profit in U.S. corporate history for the 2nd quarter of 2008, $11.7 billion. Total sales: $138 billion (approx. gross domestic product of Hungary).

Cheapest gas in the world? Venezuela at 12¢/gallon

Costliest gas? Eritrea (Eastern Africa) at $9.58/gallon


The good news...

Here are some things you can like about high gas prices in the U.S. (looming at $4/gallon):

1. The world seems a little bigger, doesn’t it? Travel isn’t as inexpensive or easy to accomplish. Maybe doing business in the U.S. is looking more attractive, too, with the newly risen cost of making and importing products overseas?
   
   
2. The urban center is looking better and better, isn’t it? The suburban sprawl in the middle of the 20th century was a direct (and indirect) result of the Cold War. The theory held that if more of us lived farther from the center of “target” cities, we’d have a better chance of survival and dilute the efforts of our attackers. High gas prices could bring us all living (and working) closer together again and increasing the use of public transit.
   
   
3. Four-day work week anyone? I say, yeah!!! Unforeseen benefits? From those who’ve tried it (Brevard Community College in FL), we find sick leave reduced by 50%, staff turnover dropped 44%. Perhaps workaholic Americans can actually focus their family priorities again.|
   
   
4. Less fuel consumption = less pollution = longer lives/fewer health problems = slowing global warming?
   
   
5. Everyone becomes more frugal. We have to waste less to save $$. SUV sales have dropped dramatically. Vespa scooter sales are on the rise.
   
   
6. If you’re anywhere from the age of 5 to 34, you’re more likely to die in a traffic accident. Fewer cars on the road should reduce traffic deaths.
   
   
7. If you’re now walking to work or using public transit, call your insurance company. Your car is now a “pleasure” vehicle, and this should reduce your rates.
   
   
8. Fewer cars = less wear-and-tear on critical highway infrastructure = less traffic! ‘nuf said!
   
   
9. Want to see better community relations with the police department? Require fuel savings and see the “cop on the beat” again whether walking, cycling or segway-ing, bringing the officers closer to the citizenry.
   
   
10. Less driving = more walking/biking = less obesity!

So, the BENEFITS of higher gas prices are: a cleaner environment, a better economy, tighter, more family-oriented communities, better health, less stress and saving money in other areas. Sounds good to me.

Call me "pollyana" if you will, but infectious optimism isn't all bad.

Source: Time magazine, 14 Jul 08