Comments on: We want cheap gas, and we want it NOW! http://moraliablog.com/2008/06/we-want-cheap-gas-and-we-want-it-now/ Parenting and culture, religion and politics, and anything else that strikes my fancy Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:42:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Brigette Russell http://moraliablog.com/2008/06/we-want-cheap-gas-and-we-want-it-now/#comment-472 Brigette Russell Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:37:52 +0000 http://moraliablog.com/?p=64#comment-472 If we can become energy independent, then let the Saudis do what they like and it won't affect us. That energy independence should include both greater oil production and alternative energy sources. Decreasing demand would also be great, but so far we've failed miserably at achieving this -- until $4/gallon gas, that is. Just shows you that the only way to lower demand is through the free market -- lower supply means higher prices means lots of complaining but also less driving, and hence less demand. The problem with expecting government policies to fix the energy problem is that we have "Government by Opinion Poll" in this country, and the vast majority of the men and women in Congress will do and say anything to keep their cushy jobs in Washington, and that means flip-flopping to follow the opinion polls. And since our electorate is for the most part appallingly ill-informed about energy issues, this means schizophrenic poll results and hence schizophrenic policy decisions. If we can become energy independent, then let the Saudis do what they like and it won’t affect us. That energy independence should include both greater oil production and alternative energy sources. Decreasing demand would also be great, but so far we’ve failed miserably at achieving this — until $4/gallon gas, that is. Just shows you that the only way to lower demand is through the free market — lower supply means higher prices means lots of complaining but also less driving, and hence less demand.

The problem with expecting government policies to fix the energy problem is that we have “Government by Opinion Poll” in this country, and the vast majority of the men and women in Congress will do and say anything to keep their cushy jobs in Washington, and that means flip-flopping to follow the opinion polls. And since our electorate is for the most part appallingly ill-informed about energy issues, this means schizophrenic poll results and hence schizophrenic policy decisions.

]]> By: Fred http://moraliablog.com/2008/06/we-want-cheap-gas-and-we-want-it-now/#comment-469 Fred Fri, 01 Aug 2008 05:04:32 +0000 http://moraliablog.com/?p=64#comment-469 There is no way of knowing if it would have made a difference. The price of a oil is based on a global market. Who is to say that the Saudi would just drop their output to match our gains. The best bet would to lower our need of oil in general. There is no way of knowing if it would have made a difference. The price of a oil is based on a global market. Who is to say that the Saudi would just drop their output to match our gains. The best bet would to lower our need of oil in general.

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