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. 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 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 soaring price of oil that environmentalists should be celebrating: it is making alternative energy much more attractive, this is so much the case that the soaring price may open the door, finally for a tidal wave of alternative fuel source projects that will, consequently, lead to a greater share of the market and perhaps the mainstreaming of alternative energy. This would be a great consequence.

The present scenario is that the high price of energy is having some pretty bad effects -- but if a movement towards saner energy solutions results, this silver lining may end up being an amazing turning point in history.

The longer gas prices continue to rise, the more substantial potential consumer reaction. A rise of ten percent in gas prices reduces consumption by just 0.6% in the short term, but it lowers demand more significantly over a longer period of time

As individuals make major spending decisions, such as where they want to reside and what type of car they want, they are starting to consider in the cost of fuel. Some are opting for smaller cars or are moving closer to their jobs to lessen gas consumption.

The current situation "crisis" has halted or impeded many new subdivisons, high fuel prices have lessened consumption and restrained purchasing of gas-guzzlers, and increasing construction costs are restraining new coal and gas plants.

Meanwhile, economic incentives are creating a frenzy of new clean energy construction.

But the truly fascinating thing is that all this is occuring while the real remedy for to reducing of gas consumption and helping the environment through cleaner emissions is RIGHT HERE AT