[SeaGypsy]

Unfortunately whe wisdom of hindsight says that the USA should have been taxing hell out of fuels while the booms were on. Then as the crunch came there would have been some flexibilty in the system and control of prices.

Now that the economy is falling to bits, the Government can't reduce taxes on fuels and thereby reduce the cost of living; nor can it increase taxes on a population living with falling real wages.

Catch 22.

[SeaGypsy]

Mods, this thread just disappeared from active topics?

[americandream]

My dear Watson, these facts aren't as elementary as we may think they are or else we would not have these ludicrous assertions of "socialism" in the midst of (another) bailout of the already well off (who incidentally use these same public monies to acquire themselves rather elaborate health care the rest of us are begrudged under the misnomer, "personal responsibility".)

Alas, it is our lot to bear the banner of FREEDOM!!!!!!

The problem with this picture is that the "we" who would like to institute these changes are invariably outside looking in.

the best way to avoid peak-oil collapse is to redirect American might to the disassembly of suburbia. Use the gas tax and government mandate to drill light rail lines through suburbia, and develop intercity electric freight and high speed passenger rail lines.

Maybe then we can address the real issue: a dispersed auto-dependent living arrangement that will fail soon. How about tax incentives and zoning changes to recycle and reuse redundant energy -inefficient structures into concentrated community centers, leaving open land for agriculture. crazy stuff

No sh@t Sherlock. But they told me to be positive So I will be, and damned the negativity (even if it is more fun )