Solution to the oil dependency problem. (1 Viewer)

[alphamale]

First, big government taxes is a non-starter - it just enriches the government - the problem at hand is not how to suck more money out of people to feed the government.

I propose import quotas, that gradually decrease. Maybe start with the current level and decrease the amount allowed in by 4% a year. There will be no "shock", but an ever-increasing cost of oil, and hence gasoline, in the country. Smugglers will be burned alive in their own oil. The gradually open-ended increase in gas will force consumers to conserve, and will provide the predictability that car makers need to guarantee sales for new technology cars. Note: it's not low prices, but rather high prices that are needed. I'm a genius. :mrgreen:

 

[Iriemon]

First, big government taxes is a non-starter - it just enriches the government - the problem at hand is not how to suck more money out of people to feed the government.

I propose import quotas, that gradually decrease. Maybe start with the current level and decrease the amount allowed in by 4% a year. There will be no "shock", but an ever-increasing cost of oil, and hence gasoline, in the country. Smugglers will be burned alive in their own oil. The gradually open-ended increase in gas will force consumers to conserve, and will provide the predictability that car makers need to guarantee sales for new technology cars. Note: it's not low prices, but rather high prices that are needed. I'm a genius. :mrgreen:

That is not a bad idea. It is a cousin to the idea of putting a tax on gas. It has the effect of raising fuel prices, which will stimulate conservation and development of Alternative energy.

The main difference is that the windfall of higher prices would go to oil companies as opposed to the Govt in the form of revenues. Increased revenues to oil companies would induce the development of alternate energy, because oil companies profit more when there is greater demand for oil. And given the fact we have 1/2 trillion annual deficits and 8 trillion in debt, the revenues would be better served towards revenues to the Govt as opposed to the oil interests, IMO.

 

[WW3Politician]

Even if you kept the current import level, gas prices would still rise sharply over time because of the constant growth of both the United States and China. So really, the government doesn't need to do anything to "correct" the oil dependency, as it works itself out when oil becomes rare enough to justify actually researching alternative means of fuel for transport (or social strategies such as urbanized living)