Then let the gas prices rise! So far, we're up to $4/gal here.
Telecommuting FTW! I know I'd hate my job less if I could telecommute full-time. My equipment at home is better than what I have to work on at the office.
Re:What if Gas Cost $100/gal?
by alaskamiller on Tuesday May 27, 2008 @12:58PM
(#201168)
Would electricity costs be relative enough for an electric car to still make sense? What about goods and products that you buy that's shipped on the massive fleet of trucks?
A sudden surge to $100 a gallon gas destroys civilization.
Rail. Ships with sails.
Humans can take a lot more shit than they are given credit for.
Re:What if Gas Cost $100/gal?
by helveticaman on Tuesday May 27, 2008 @01:36PM
(#201213)
Warren Buffet invests in trains: http://www.cnbc.com/id/20519680/
Freight ship with parachute-like sail:
http://www.shippingtimes.co.uk/images/Beluga_SkySails.jpg
Re:What if Gas Cost $100/gal?
by tlrobinson on Tuesday May 27, 2008 @03:28PM
(#201323)
Interesting idea, but that sail looks tiny for that size ship. I can't imagine it does much.
Re:What if Gas Cost $100/gal?
by nostrademons on Tuesday May 27, 2008 @06:35PM
(#201492)
The sails in the picture are being winched in. Normally, they fly like a kite, about 200 m above the ship, and tow it forwards. The winds are much stronger up there. It also looks like the kite has been partially furled - the picture on Wikipedia looks much bigger:
Re:What if Gas Cost $100/gal?
by nazgulnarsil on Tuesday May 27, 2008 @04:01PM
(#201342)
the gas savings outweighed the cost of the parachute or they wouldn't have done it. 1% savings on a ship that size is significant money.
Re:What if Gas Cost $100/gal?
by alaskamiller on Tuesday May 27, 2008 @03:11PM
(#201316)
I'm referring actually to the transportation system within the United States and the "last mile" effort required to deliver goods. As fanciful as it is to think that rails is the replacement, it's not. It's a supplement to the system.
How was this downmodded? An incredible rise in gasoline prices would surely have a profoundly major upward effect on energy pricing. The entire economic structure of American society would be utterly destroyed.
Technology isn't so great if people cannot afford or even get access to food. A more productive exercise would be to imagine that we simply had to half our personal energy use. Merely shifting away from gasoline is not the answer.
I'd use electronic means to communicate more and more and I assume others would as well. It would have to bridge the gap of distance that separates us. I'd probably get to know my neighbors a lot better as well. I'd go local for more than food. I'd have no choice.