I was reading an interesting article last week. It was by Chris Pummer on The Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch website. The writer gives eight reasons why higher gas prices would be good for the United States.
At first, I was appalled at such a concept. But after reading his logic, I tend to agree. Here are four of the eight reasons (the next four will come tomorrow). Read these carefully and then tell us what you think about this idea.
1. The Death of the Internal Combustion Engine
According to the columnist, today’s engines aren’t much different from the ones they used over 100 years ago. But with new technologies and everything else that automakers have come up with, we should be able to move away from gas-powered engines and into something new and more efficient. When that happens, we can depend less on the oil companies.
2. Economic Improvements
If our gas cost $8 a gallon, car manufacturers would be running around trying to find a less expensive alternative. That’s because people would be looking for alternatives or they would just stay home. This could create more manufacturing jobs and funding for more efficient products.
3. Less Dependence on the Middle East
Other than oil, does the United States benefit from having a relationship with the Middle East? Our partnership with that region in exchange for oil has only created more problems for our nation and the world. If we had $8 fuel prices, it might force us to find other places to drill and reduce our independence on nations that hate us.
4. Who Would Listen to Meanies?
People like Hugo Chavez and Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have an inflated sense of importance on the world stage because of their newly-found oil wealth. If the United States and other major countries didn’t do business with these types of people, we could reduce their influence and importance in the world.
We haven’t seen $8 fuel prices yet, but some experts say it’s on the horizon. Has there ever been a better time to get a new fuel-efficient vehicle from your local Buick dealer. Until they come out with fuel alternatives, we can’t get around paying the prices at the pump. But you can make the most of each drop that you buy.
