Keep Gas Prices High
By Cassie

I know, I know. That sounds like blasphemy, but it really can bring about solutions not the least of which would be ending our dependence on oil and therefore foreign powers (eg: war!).  How do high gas prices work to decrease our dependence on oil and what other benefits can be derived? I can think of at least three ways.

1) High gas prices drive up the price of everything that is shipped in, and that is a good thing because we think before we ship. Why are we shipping in water for instance (in the form of bottles of water, watermelons, pop, oranges, beer and so many other things)? We may actually go back to a simpler and more sustainable way of life if we shipped/trucked fewer things in/out. The things that are shipped in should be things we can’t produce locally, and only then, it should be a rare treat to see oranges and bananas in Colorado (or fresh cranberries in Puerto Rico). If we are going to ship things, they should be dry goods like spices or coffee.  People could learn how to make bread from local mills (for example) and buy locally produced furniture and toys instead of shopping at Wal-Mart where probably 70% of its products come from China (that’s a long way and a lot of fuel to get here).

 The phrase, “think global, live local” sums it up.  When we live, eat and buy in and from our local area, we not only support our local area (farmers, businesses, community), but also help to stop the exploitation of other areas across the globe (think: sweatshops, child labor, slavory). I am trying to turn into a locavore. Yes, a little loca too 🙂

2) High gas prices also make you think about your travel. That is also a good thing. Maybe people will use scooters more or -gasp- bicycles and FEET! This can help us combat our obesity epidemic (if you haven’t seen the CDC report, Colorado is the last hold-out, but still tremendous high level of overweight/obesity http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/trend/maps/) Maybe we will build our cities so that they are connected and people want to go (walking/biking) to a flourishing downtown. Maybe SUVs won’t be the big monster gas-guzzling bullies that they are anymore as people downsize their vehicles.

3) High gas prices also make you think about our energy infrastructure and what we can do about it. We have had electric car technology (and electric trolleys) for nearly a century. We have also had CAFE standards that the auto makers conveniently forget about and pass the fine costs on to the consumer. We have mass-transit solutions (although this might require a change in the individualistic mind-set). We have had solar energy capabilities including being able to beam down energy (no it’s not science fiction) from space solar power.

When we start thinking about this, we start to realize the amount of control the oil companies wield over America. Exxon-Mobil alone makes more money (profits) in a quarter than the annual GDP of many developing nations –combined! No wonder we have been so slow to change our energy policies. Oh, that and we have an oil man in the highest position of the land. Hmmmm.

Listen, I don’t like paying more for energy than anyone else, and in fact, I am known for being rather frugal, but if this is the only way to get out from under Big Oil’s thumb, keep on a-rising. It’s certainly given me more incentive to ride my bike! And no, giving us a “tax holiday” (average in US for state and federal is only 47 cents/gallon) or drilling up the wildlife reserves is NOT the answer. Actually, a gas tax could help. We could tax gas until it is obsolete and give the money back to the people in the form of incentives for solar energy on their houses (to power their own electric cars!), or for free bicycle programs, help in creating active community environments, tax rebates for hybrid and other energy solutions, business incentives for work from home programs and not just use the taxes to build bigger roads for bigger cars with bigger seats.

Here’s an article about harvesting the sun’s power from space: 

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