That’s how much I just paid for gas at the Fred Meyer on Chinden Blvd. And, like my brother-in-law Scott said to me last week during our family Christmas party, “Bet you didn’t think you’d ever get excited about $3 gas“. Well, I am excited, and here’s why.
I’ve been saying all through the economic debacle of the last 4 years, gas dropping into the $2 range (preferably closer to the $2 mark), would be the best thing that could happen to us economically. Not tax cuts, not trillion dollar money injections into the economy, not wishful thinking. No, the best thing would be a drop in the cost of energy. (Which is why I was so “for” Romney in the election – he wanted to create an American energy surplus).
Now, before anyone labels me as an “evil energy pig”, let me say – I do more environmentally than anyone I know. I’ve recycled and reused for years – before it ever became fashionable – and I save hundreds of gallons of gas each year by commuting by bicycle. That’s right – I cycle hundreds of miles each year during favorable weather (I would do it during colder weather as well if it weren’t for the stooooopid EPA, but that’s a story for another post).
My wish for cheap gas is NOT about me and my personal expenses (though it does help), but rather for the economy as a whole. Tourism would increase. Cost of manufacturing and transportation of goods would decrease. Retail costs would decrease. It would be a long lasting shot in the economy’s arm – far more effective than any government stimulus or tax cut (the Bush tax cuts should remain in effect so as to not counteract the lower energy costs).
The odd thing, to me at least, is that this has been overlooked by all of Obama’s “brilliant” economic advisers. Or, perhaps, ignored because it doesn’t fit their specific anti-free-market paradigm.
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