I managed to find somebody yesterday who is optimistic about the US economy! . He owns a print shop and has a masters degree in economic studies. His viewpoint did make sense. He forecasted that the devaluation of the dollar is a blessing which will lead to more exporting from the US being possible and that this will lead in the next year or two to a new boom in manufacturing in the USA. I hope he is right. I am not so sure. But it was at least good to meet someone who has an optimistic viewpoint about the American economy and where it is headed. And this kind of viewpoint really applies to other things too including the price of gas.

There is a particularly great advantage of the high price of oil which should be a cause of celebration amongst the environmental organizations: it is giving many people reason to look into other fuel sources, this is so much the case that the high price may open the door, finally for a major wave of alternative energy projects that will, consequently, lead to a greater share of the market and perhaps the mainstreaming of alternative energy. This would be a great thing.

In the current scene the high price of energy is having some pretty bad effects -- but if a shift to renewable energy sources results, this silver lining could be an epic and historic shift.

The longer fuel prices remain at prices most people consider unacceptable, the greater the potential consumer drift. A 10% rise in gasoline prices lowers consumption by just roughly half a percent in the short term, but it lowers demand more significantly over a the long haul

As folks make major spending decisions, such as where they want to reside and what type of car they want, they are beginning to consider in the cost of fuel. Some are choosing smaller cars or are moving closer to their jobs to cut down on drive time.

The recent concern has delayed or slowed many new subdivisons, high gas prices have lowered consumption and restrained purchasing of gas-guzzlers, and high construction costs are restraining new coal and gas plants.

At the same time, economic incentives are creating a frenzy of new renewable energy construction.

But the most amazing factor is that all that is going on while the real remedy for to reducing of fuel consumption and helping the environment through cleaner emissions is RIGHT HERE AT