[stovt001]

Why I actually like $4 gas:

Yes, you read that right. No, it isn't some teaser to get you to read something unrelated. I really mean that. I kinda like $4 gas. First, I want to say I think it is a fair price to pay. We're paying far less than most of the rest of the world as it is. Given the ramp up in demand from developing countries and the weak dollar pitted against maxed out supplies, gas prices have rightfully increased. Actually, when you think of it in terms of spending $4 to ship two tons of metal and your precious human cargo 20-30 miles, it really isn't a bad deal at all. It is simple economics and no, no one is gouging you. You are not a victim. This is just the way the world works, and I actually think this one may be working in our favor. Here's why:

1) Less cars on the road. Yesterday I did my regular commute home from work during rush hour. Usually I loathe Friday evening commutes, as the 57 is usually jammed solid with cars going up to take the 210 to the 15 to get to Los Vegas. I expected it to be even worse this week as it was the beginning of the traditionally driving-intensive Memorial Day weekend. However, it seems gas prices put an end to many people's Holiday sin city trip plans, and it was smooth sailing nearly the entire way home. I hate sitting in traffic going nowhere, so it felt wonderful to just cruise on home. I'll pay $0.14 a mile for that privlege, thank you.

2) Less SUVs. I really don't know what the exact percentage is of people who buy SUVs and actually need its capacities. Statistics usually lie anyway. I do know though that the majority of SUVs on the road are bought for the sole purpose of transporing one single person to and from work each day (like my dad). As far as I know, there are three reasons this happened: people like the power, high, upright driving position, and other characteristics of SUV driving (my dad), because they were the popular driving fashion at the time, because they "need" room for 7 people and massive cargo as soon as they have their first kid (please, overreact much?), and, because everyone else has one, you need one because anything smaller is just a death sentence in the event of an accident with someone else's SUV. Yes, that's right, the SUV fad was partly a safety arms race, because bigger is safer. Well, now SUVs are not fashionable, there are plenty of other vehicle types that offer plenty of passenger and cargo room, and since no one else is driving them, you don't need to either to be safe. Now the only reason to get one is if you actually need something to tow, haul, or go offroading. Or if you're like my dad and just really like that SUV driving experience. Just as we no longer fear death by nuclear holocaust, we have less reason to fear death by SUV driven by cell-phone talking, cappuchino swilling driver. Yay!

3) Less smog. OK global warming is complete crap. Just accept that you've all been duped by some chubby washed up politician and move on with your lives. But you know what is real? Smog darn it. Smog you can actually see. It sucks, but its actually getting better. When I was in elementary school the sky was definitely more brown than it is now, and there were even days when we couldn't play outside because the air wasn't safe. Things have gotten a lot better as technology has improved our smog control systems, and if gas prices keep reducing how much people drive their cars, we'll see even more improvement.

4) More mass transit. OK maybe this is just a hope, but if gas prices keep climbing maybe we'll get more serious about public transportation. I liked public transit even before gas prices climbed. Taking the metro in to LA or Pasadena is way better than dealing with the crazy drivers, insane traffic, and sky high parking rates. If I can take light rail somewhere, I usually will. Sadly, LA's light rail system is pretty pathetic. I'm hoping gas prices will give it a nice shot in the arm and I can take it even more places. My fingers are crossed.

5) More innovation. Necessity is the mother of all invention, and invention has slacked off a bit lately. I mean 100 years ago a day didn't go by when some random guy invented something that revolutionized your life. Today, innovation is about limited to fitting another blade on your razor. (Now introducing the Mach 16, by Gillette. 16 blades means you can shave your entire face in just one swipe. Only $55 for a replacement set of blades....). Maybe not anymore. I see a revolution on the horizon, and perhaps it has started already. Sure we had duds. Yes corn based ethanol kinda did very bad things to our food commodities market. But those are just awkward first steps. Edison's proverbial first 99 failed light bulbs. Screw hybrids with their piddly 40 mpg. We're talking exciting stuff here. Purely electric cars going a full day's commute on a simple electrical charge. Ethanol made from garbage and some type of grass you don't eat. Hydrogen fuel cells? There's stuff on the horizon we haven't even heard of yet I'm sure. Mark my words, $4+ gas is going to start a tidal wave of great inventions, and it is going to be a very exciting time to be alive. Mankind has always been able to rise above the challenges that face us, and this will be no different.

Everybody sing it with me:

There's a great big beautiful tomorrow
Shining at the end of every day
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow
And it's just a dream away