The Big Noob

So which part do you agree with, the heavy taxation on facebook usage or the $8 gas? I could see an argument made for either.

He starts out great, but his conclusions are completely nonsensical and only exacerbate the root of the problem. Government stealing money from individuals to provide subsidies that unnaturally prop up industries? Bad! Government stealing money from individuals to achieve some other arbitrary goal? Good! (What?)

I have a better idea: let capitalism be capitalism and stop intervening. The market never would have supported the subsidized sprawl into the 'burbs and it won't support waste going into the future either. Amazing, eh?

and I quote: "or a weekly newspaper column where you can tick people off."

His opinions have succeeded in ticking me off. Just the title "The Joy of $8 Gas" is ridiculous.

good article… thought i was going to hate it by the quote "Sure, $8 gas is unfair to poor people, but so is all of capitalism" but it turned out that was about the only thing i didn't really like.

I'd have to agree. The less cars/suvs on the road the better. The more pressure on our Gov't to really look at a National Mass Transit system the better.

I really want a Bullet train that runs straight through America, east-to-west, from coast-to-coast.

I tend to agree. Less cars = more better. I'd ditch my car in a heartbeat if there was better public transportation in the DFW area. Higher gas prices will push innovation as well. Where is the water powered car?! I thought this was the future.

And as bummed as I am to pay a lot for gas, it's a fair price for improving society.

So how exactly is giving more money to the government going to improve society? They take too much as it is, and waste it all besides.

Why does the author trust the same government that enacts "idiotic systems" to do anything good and productive if it had more of our money?

I'm all for public transportation and good environmental stewardship, but I have no confidence in the federal government to do either of these well. And I have little more confidence in the state governments.

It's correct to say that we have put ourselves, as the human race, into this situation—and it is not the job of anyone but ourselves to work out of it. I also completely agree that the higher gas prices will help improve the future in innovation and public transportation, and that's good, as Keegan said.

However, the article as a whole is contradictory and seems thrown together. His thoughts are solid, but when you mash them all together they end up making very little sense as a true solution, as Ryan explains above.

How can a nation that was founded to limit the impact of government taxation and subsidies now turn around and say the most obvious path to correction is to make the government find a way to correct the problem? After having said that it was the people's fault… he just makes absolutely no sense.

Why doesn't the government step out; keeping the taxes we use to build roads, and other such modern necessities, but step out overall. Independent leaders such as T. Boon Pickens will take the charge in leading a new era of advancements to solve our global energy issues. The government will only hinder and debate these needs. Look to global changes in the past, such as the civil rights movement—government will always react because they are horrible leaders as a whole.

It's a nice opinion to read, but instilling a level of blind trust in the government to somehow redeem their years of inappropriate spending seems pretty naive. But, he's the rich one, and I'm not, so obviously he has figured out something I haven't.

I agree. Gas is not yet too expensive. I see plenty of SUVs driving like sports cars. Moms in minivas idling at the bus stop. and people leaving their cars running while they run into the post office.

Higher priced gas does force many of us to reconsider our habits. and I think thats a good thing.

I didn't bother reading the article, guilty. I skimmed it though.

"If the U.S. were to slowly jack up gas taxes until we're in the $8 range, life would be better. We'd not only be safer and have reduced greenhouse-gas emissions, we'd probably be happier too."

Great! What if I live in a rural area, which for the most part I do. Sure as hell if gas was $8 I'd drive a lot less then the small amount I already do drive.

I don't live in a city, I don't have the option of public transportation. I am FORCED to drive, there is no way around it. I can't pull out my bike and go down to the grocery store, sure a few places. I guess I COULD bike down to the grocery store, but where the hell am I going to put everything? I could make multiple trips! But we're talking HOURS here, that time > then what it would cost for gas in the car.

"We spent 50 years using government money to build the freeways that led to the driving-centric, mall-rat lifestyle I grew up with, so it will surely take decades more to restructure our society into something better. And as bummed as I am to pay a lot for gas, it's a fair price for improving society. I also think government should look into some kind of heavy taxation on Facebook usage."

The tax c/g here in Florida is 51.6 for Gasoline (http://www.floridastategasprices.com/tax_info.aspx). Great, giving back to the Government! All for that. I agree COMPLETELY. But it fails horribly on the fact that fuel/oil companies are ripping us off. Have you seen their profits? Why can they do this? Well, because they can. We need it 100%, they have it. It's a damn monopoly.

Tax to the Government = Awesome! Overpriced Monopoly Fuel/Oil Companies = Extremely Bad.

The Governments need to step in.

I agree with the main point of the article. Higher priced gas = less cars on the road, people living closer to work, and an increase of locally produced goods…

When I was in England last year, the price of gas was over $7 a gallon, but all of the cars were small and gas friendly (we saw 1 ford 150 in northern Wales), and most people lived in or near cities, and walked to the neighborhood pub.

Walking to the pub? What a novel idea (buuuuuurp)!!!!

Anyways. I agree with the main point of the story. Bring on the high priced gas.

@ Keenan

Didn't the inventor conveniently die?