Why do environmentalists seem so giddy about high fuel prices?

Question

I understand their veiwpoint- forcing us to drive less, and all buy smaller cars=less pollution. However I think that this is misguided at best.

Our economy is based more on the price of fuel than gold. Here's why. Fuel is what creates everything we as consumers use, even food(we use farm equipment, irrigation pumps, and sometimes petroleum based fertelizers to grow crops). Many electric plants make their electricity by burning diesel, oil, or coal. It takes over $1,400 to fuel a semi-truck today. This is what delivers your goods to the store.

High fuel prices are going to be the cause of inflation worse than our nation has ever seen. It's already showing up in the stores. If our America goes bankrupt, then so does the green agenda you people have worked many years on creating. We all lose. How is that a good thing?

If high fuel prices are good, then please explain, as I am missing the point.

Answer 1

How many have you talked to that have been "giddy" about the high fuel prices.

No one knows more about our reliance on oil for all aspects of our lives and economy than the environmentalists. This is why we urge a shift towards more sustainable practices of agriculture and industrial production, because when you are as dependent on one resource as we are, disruptions in the whole system are much easier to cause and will have much more dramatic effects.

Sure, we are happy that people are driving less, and using public transit, biking and walking more. But we also realize that the entire industrial production system of food and goods is fueled by petroleum. Which is why we are happy about the first step of driving less, but also talk about buying local, being less materialistic, and practicing conservation in more areas than just driving while at the same time supporting alternative means of energy production and more sustainable ways of transporting goods and people.

Answer 2

its good for someone just not Americans.  it takes the better part of a 10.00 bill just to eat at McDonalds now, that crazy.  My wife tried to get a job she worked for 2 days before we realized it was cheaper for her to stay home than to go to work.  With the additional baby sitting fees, extra gas (mainly the gas) she would make like 20.00 bucks a week after all said and done.  I am seeing that more and more here in the south where most jobs are spread out, either ppl are moving closer to work or just not working and letting uncle sam pay, but then again that's not much better.  In my opinion America is already bankrupt we just don't know it yet.  I don't think anything will be done to correct Americas enconomy in the next 20yrs or better.

Answer 3

They are always giddy about some cause.  Ignore it.

Answer 4

environmentalists don't usually look at the whole picture. its a "victory" for them but you're right, it's going to cause more harm than good. when stuff starts getting even worse than it currently is all of the people caring about the environment are going to abandon their "cause" because they have more important things to do such as finding a job or putting food on the table.

Answer 5

I think that it could be good because it opens more people's eyes to fuel crisis. We rely on it way too much and have to pay whatever they demand. So this high price could lead to more push for other fuels or electric cars and that would lower the price to deliver food as well. Im not totally sure what will happen or what they think will happen as a result of high prices but something will~!

Answer 6

nobody's giddy about high fuel prices.

however, you might realize that fuel prices all over europe are higher than they are here.

and if i remember correctly, the value of the euro is rising against the value of the dollar.

so high fuel prices obviously don't doom an economy.

but to your question, "If high fuel prices are good, then please explain"

we import oil from places that support terrorism.

wouldn't you think it better if we didn't send them money?

if we all drove cars that got a minimum of 50 mpg, we wouldn't be sending them money.

wouldn't you think that would be a good idea?j

what will high gas prices do?

one would hope that eventually, you, and everyone else, will be smart enough to realize that a high mileage car will save you money.

and get one.

and that would stop sending money to osama bin laden.

wouldn't that be a good thing?

Answer 7

1. Because high fuel prices motivate people to conserve and use less fuel.  Less fuel used = less demand.  Less demand results in lower fuel prices.

2. Because high fuel prices motivate manufacturers to build more fuel-efficient cars, and create alternative-powered vehicles.

.

Answer 8

Environmentalists have been screaming for years that oil is a dead-end street; it is not a sustainable energy source.  Nobody is giddy, but wake up and realize that you are now staring at what environmentalist have been trying to warn you about, trying to avoid the economic hardships that you are talking about.  Don't blame environmentalists for a lack of oil, and don't think the US has enough available if we drilled everywhere -- we don't.  The economic hardships we now face are due to over-trust in the Arabs and oil companies.  Has the US and Western Civ diversified into multiple sustainable energy sources, we would not have the shortage now, would not be economically dependent on countries we don't want to depend on, and would not have the oil-related environmental problems.