General Discussion

HooptieWagon

(17,064 posts)

57. It would be the Greater Depression.

Mon Jul 8, 2013, 05:08 PM

Jul 2013

Food prices would soar...fuel for tracters to farm and for trucks to transport. Many places in country don't have adequate public transport. People won't have money to go out, so resturants and bars will close. Transportation costs of goods will skyrocket, caused people squezzed for money to stop buying. Housing prices in urban areas will soar, prices in suburbs will collapse. Suburbs will become the new slums. It won't be pretty at all.

btw, I'm actually in favor of raising federal gas taxes. It should be done gradually, however. Some money going to subsidize public transport, some going in to alt energy investment, and some going to infrastructure maintainence and replacement. I think a $1/ gal increase, phased in over 5 years or so would be feasable.

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Just a Question for Discussion. What if Gasoline hits $10.00 a gallon in the U.S.A? [View all] Stuart G Jul 2013 OP

It would crash the economy and wreak havoc on virtually everything. Scuba Jul 2013 #1

On the plus side, a lot of manufacturing jobs would come home. Laelth Jul 2013 #55

There'd be no manufacturing as the markets would dry up. Scuba Jul 2013 #56

I seriously doubt that. Laelth Jul 2013 #58

We had horses before oil. former9thward Jul 2013 #74

The end of our economy likely. hrmjustin Jul 2013 #2

Economic meltdown NoOneMan Jul 2013 #3

It could happen if the unrest in the Mideast errupts Stuart G Jul 2013 #7

Only due to speculation, not supply and demand NoOneMan Jul 2013 #9

Oil is a globally traded commodity NickB79 Jul 2013 #34

We can not increase ethanol production without also increasing fossil fuel usage. RC Jul 2013 #80

Oh yeah, I know NoOneMan Jul 2013 #88

For starters, we need to stop using corn. RC Jul 2013 #93

We could simply rely on America's excellent public transportation infrastructure LibAsHell Jul 2013 #4

:) abelenkpe Jul 2013 #28

"Excellent Public Transportation Infrastructure" Aerows Jul 2013 #36

People might give a shit about it loyalsister Jul 2013 #90

That's what I say! defacto7 Jul 2013 #103

Will Happen WovenGems Jul 2013 #5

Society will not simply adjust NoOneMan Jul 2013 #16

everyone would get a horse and buggy. n/t HeroInAHalfShell Jul 2013 #6

Or a bicycle and buggy n/t Aerows Jul 2013 #37

good call! HeroInAHalfShell Jul 2013 #39

Or a bicycle built for two Art_from_Ark Jul 2013 #89

In horse and buggy days, very few city folk had horses FarCenter Jul 2013 #41

You have no idea of what it costs to maintain a horse do ya. L0oniX Jul 2013 #81

I think a lot of people will not be able to afford to drive. Like me. djean111 Jul 2013 #8

drill baby, drill! piratefish08 Jul 2013 #10

It's about $9.10 in Norway, currently muriel_volestrangler Jul 2013 #11

Yes, but the taxes they pay go to social services like health care. djean111 Jul 2013 #17

And Norway is a major oil exporting country. Impressive that Norwegians handle their oil wealth pampango Jul 2013 #69

Prices for trucked goods would go up. MrSlayer Jul 2013 #12

Europe and Canada do fine with gas that expensive Recursion Jul 2013 #13

Europe and Canada have higher taxes that pay for social programs like health care. djean111 Jul 2013 #19

Yes, very regressive VATs and low income taxes Recursion Jul 2013 #21

I don't like it either, but the way it is set up, comparing gas prices is not valid. djean111 Jul 2013 #23

1) Canadian gas isn't that expensive, 2) What makes you think their standard of living is lower? NoOneMan Jul 2013 #24

People compute these things Recursion Jul 2013 #25

GDP, purchasing power, and statistical crap that doesn't equate to tangible "living" NoOneMan Jul 2013 #27

Lower than ours? Aerows Jul 2013 #38

+1000 RC Jul 2013 #83

I'm pretty sure gas prices aren't even half that anywhere in Canada Posteritatis Jul 2013 #86

I think I'm remembering when the canadian $ was weaker than it is Recursion Jul 2013 #91

Enormous damage to the economy Lurks Often Jul 2013 #14

There are not freight train tunnels or bridges across the Hudson much below Albany FarCenter Jul 2013 #42

It would be a godsend AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #15

It would not be a godsend Marrah_G Jul 2013 #44

Doubling gas prices will not kill off the poor AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #47

It will take quite a while for any of that to trickle down to the working poor Marrah_G Jul 2013 #48

So lets destroy the planet long term AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #49

Because wanting to eat is so selfish Marrah_G Jul 2013 #50

The poor wont die if gas prices go up AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #52

You are not spoiled or a wimp because you want food and shelter for your family. tritsofme Jul 2013 #77

Americans are incapable of seeing the forest AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #84

I bet you were a Y2K guy. tritsofme Jul 2013 #95

So, climate change is the new Y2K? AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #97

You don't dispute it... tritsofme Jul 2013 #98

"the world is ending in 5 years" AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #99

"in the throes of a global emergency stranded..." tritsofme Jul 2013 #100

"within 5-10 years we will be in the throes of a global emergency" AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #102

Tell that to people who heat their homes with oil. Motown_Johnny Jul 2013 #67

Tell that to the masses that will abandon large swaths of the earth AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #68

That doesn't mean people won't freeze to death if Motown_Johnny Jul 2013 #71

But if we burn the fuel.... AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #85

I won't argue that, it is unquestionably true, Motown_Johnny Jul 2013 #87

Yeah, fuck everyone so long as you get to feel good about idiot Repubs being upset. flvegan Jul 2013 #75

Lower carbon emissions. JaneyVee Jul 2013 #18

My electric bike will have turned out to be an excellent investment Fumesucker Jul 2013 #20

Which make/model do you have ? n/t PoliticAverse Jul 2013 #53

It's a bit of a do it yourself setup Fumesucker Jul 2013 #61

Nice, thanks. n/t PoliticAverse Jul 2013 #64

I kind of did it myself, a bit from here, a piece from there Fumesucker Jul 2013 #60

It would be bad for one of my kids. hunter Jul 2013 #22

"If"? arcane1 Jul 2013 #26

It should be our goal FreeJoe Jul 2013 #29

Frivolous driving will stop. People will finally start thinking responsibly. Gregorian Jul 2013 #30

You will breathe a sigh of relief Marrah_G Jul 2013 #43

You are wrong. darkangel218 Jul 2013 #45

The planet is more important than a few suffering people. Sorry to be so blunt. Gregorian Jul 2013 #59

"The planet" can handle anything we give it. KentuckyWoman Jul 2013 #94

That requires people to think. Apophis Jul 2013 #72

a depression way beyond the scale of the 1930`s.... madrchsod Jul 2013 #31

Just give it time. I remember 32 cents a gallon for regular (leaded). EdwardSmith74 Jul 2013 #32

More likely to hit 2 dollars than 10. arely staircase Jul 2013 #33

Please whatever god, make the gasoline expensive just like in Europe! darkangel218 Jul 2013 #35

Big oil will make more profits egold2604 Jul 2013 #40

It would do the same thing the first run-up to $4 did: crash the economy. kestrel91316 Jul 2013 #46

So, $4 gasoline crashed the economy? AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #54

and what if bread starts costing $40 a loaf? Pretzel_Warrior Jul 2013 #51

It would be the Greater Depression. HooptieWagon Jul 2013 #57

For starters customerserviceguy Jul 2013 #62

here in L.A. the flames would be seen for miles olddots Jul 2013 #63

Then you'll know what its like in Europe. dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #65

Only if we get universal health care, which is one of the things that makes gas higher in Europe. djean111 Jul 2013 #76

In 1 year.. it would be a disaster but it really isn't possible. Motown_Johnny Jul 2013 #66

I guess I'd be riding my motorcycle a lot more PD Turk Jul 2013 #70

If gasoline were truly sold on the free market instead of speculated on the Cleita Jul 2013 #73

Lady Blah Blah will scream "DRILL BABY DRILL" and the Clear Channel stations muntrv Jul 2013 #78

People making less than 90K a year would learn about alternative transportation burnodo Jul 2013 #79

Bicycle sales will skyrocket demwing Jul 2013 #82

Think "Mad Max". ntt rrneck Jul 2013 #92

$10.00 gas would be OK, if they would just CANCEL Honey Boo Boo ! NM_Birder Jul 2013 #96

Simple answer: economic devistation that would make the great depression look pleasant Demo_Chris Jul 2013 #101

Fuel efficient vehicles would sell like hotcakes. roamer65 Jul 2013 #104

It would cost me 20 bucks a day instead of 7... ileus Jul 2013 #105