I met someone yesterday who is the most optimistic person about the US economy that I have met in well over a year since all the bubbles started bursting. He was quite an intelligent individual who owns a print and copy shop and owns a masters degree in economics. No dummy. And what he said did make sense to some degree. 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 don't know if this is true. But it was nice to meet at least one sentient person who is also optimistic. If one steps back and takes a deep breath and looks at the shocking increase in gas prices then they can apply this same brand of optimism. .

There is a particularly great advantage of the lofty price of oil which should be a cause of celebration amongst the environmental organizations: it is giving many people reason to look into alternative fuel sources, this is so much the case that the high price may usher in a tidal wave of renewable fuel source projects that will, in turn, lead to a greater share of the market and perhaps the movement of alternative fuel sources into the mainstream. This would be a serious lemons to lemonade sort of scenario.

The present scenario is that the high price of energy is having some pretty bad effects -- but if it can help shift the playing field to alternative energy, this silver lining could be an epic and historic shift.

The longer gasoline prices continue to rise, the more substantial potential consumer reaction. A 10% rise in fuel prices lessens consumption by just roughly half a percent in the short term, but it lowers demand much more substantially over a the long haul

As people decide on the important things for the future, such as where to live and what is the best vehicle for them to own, they are beginning to factor the price of gas into the equation. Some are choosing smaller cars or are moving closer to their jobs to lower drive time.

The current situation concern has halted or slowed many new subdivisons, high gas prices have lessened consumption and resulted in less purchasing of, and high construction costs are restricting new coal and gas refineries.

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

But the most fascinating factor is that all this is occuring while the real workable method to reducing of gasoline usage and helping the environment through cleaner emissions is RIGHT HERE AT