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Do you not realize that higher gas prices is NOT causing people to conserve - its causing them to cut back on other things? Because people are spending so much for gas, they aren't shopping in the malls, eating in the restaurants, etc. Like it or not, we have a consumer economy and most people live in suburbs. One can argue about the sustainability of such an economy, but its not going to change overnight. If gas prices hold at these levels, we are less than a year away from severe economic crisis. Watch the retail sector fall like dominoes and then we will be talking 30%+ unemployment. Does that sound good to you liberal elitists? How about starving people? When the retail sector goes, the entire financial system will soon follow. You think the housing problem is bad today? Our manufacturing is gone. Without the retail and financial sector, our economy fails.
Quit living in an idealistic world where you can just pour water on America and make it Europe! It doesn't work that way. The only way we will progress from our current oil economy to a more sustainable one is gradually as new technology becomes more feasible. Trying to force Americans to change by causing an economic collapse of the current system will spell the end of America, NOT the beginning of a brighter future of renewable energy.
Trying to force Americans to change by causing an economic collapse of the current system will spell the end of America, NOT the beginning of a brighter future of renewable energy.
That's the agenda. To knock the only world superpower down a notch. It has been for quite some time now.
Do you not realize that higher gas prices is NOT causing people to conserve - its causing them to cut back on other things? Because people are spending so much for gas, they aren't shopping in the malls, eating in the restaurants, etc. Like it or not, we have a consumer economy and most people live in suburbs. One can argue about the sustainability of such an economy, but its not going to change overnight. If gas prices hold at these levels, we are less than a year away from severe economic crisis. Watch the retail sector fall like dominoes and then we will be talking 30%+ unemployment. Does that sound good to you liberal elitists? How about starving people? When the retail sector goes, the entire financial system will soon follow. You think the housing problem is bad today? Our manufacturing is gone. Without the retail and financial sector, our economy fails.
Quit living in an idealistic world where you can just pour water on America and make it Europe! It doesn't work that way. The only way we will progress from our current oil economy to a more sustainable one is gradually as new technology becomes more feasible. Trying to force Americans to change by causing an economic collapse of the current system will spell the end of America, NOT the beginning of a brighter future of renewable energy.
Where are you getting your information?
Everything I have read indicates people ARE driving less, even buying less gas at a time. I'm one of them.
People are conserving but there is only so much they can conserve. People still need to go to work, get food, etc..
After a family reaches the maximum of what they can feasably conserve, then they will start cutting into other things.
It is a trickle down effect as people stop purchasing consumer items, those facories start slowing down, lay offs occur and yet more is added to the wheel.
This in turns affects everything like financial markets, etc..
Everything I have read indicates people ARE driving less, even buying less gas at a time. I'm one of them.
Sure, demand is down, but people are cutting other luxuries a lot heavier than they are cutting their fuel consumption. For instance, people are still not willing to give up their McMansion 50 miles from their jobs. Even if they wanted to, they probably couldn't sell them in this housing market. Many have cut until they are unable to cut anymore, and some are even having to give up health insurance in order to afford gas, and thats just at $4/gallon. If we start talking $8/gallon gas like some liberal elitists say they want, this country wouldn't be able to function, PERIOD. And don't bring a Europe comparison into this because comparing the US and Europe is like comparing apples and oranges.
Do you not realize that higher gas prices is NOT causing people to conserve - its causing them to cut back on other things? Because people are spending so much for gas, they aren't shopping in the malls, eating in the restaurants, etc. Like it or not, we have a consumer economy and most people live in suburbs. One can argue about the sustainability of such an economy, but its not going to change overnight. If gas prices hold at these levels, we are less than a year away from severe economic crisis. Watch the retail sector fall like dominoes and then we will be talking 30%+ unemployment. Does that sound good to you liberal elitists? How about starving people? When the retail sector goes, the entire financial system will soon follow. You think the housing problem is bad today? Our manufacturing is gone. Without the retail and financial sector, our economy fails.
Quit living in an idealistic world where you can just pour water on America and make it Europe! It doesn't work that way. The only way we will progress from our current oil economy to a more sustainable one is gradually as new technology becomes more feasible. Trying to force Americans to change by causing an economic collapse of the current system will spell the end of America, NOT the beginning of a brighter future of renewable energy.
You're very misguided if you're blaming "liberal elitists" for wanting to "destroy the country" based on the fact that retail spending is down. You go on to accuse this mythical group of trying to force something on everyone else. Since when does this evil group make the decisions? What website describes their celebration of the destruction of America's economy? You are calling the wrong people your enemies and that is more dangerous to the country, in my opinion.
But I understand your concern. In viewing the road ahead, the bumps look pretty big. Our economy has been a house of cards for quite some time and the efforts of our government have only managed to stave off the inevitable. Blame all you want, our whole economic system is based on the wrong values. It is doomed to fail. What good is a country for which 2/3rds of its economy is based on consumer spending? Where's the intrinsic value in that?
Believe it or not, I am contributing to the decline of this unfair and imbalanced system. I have almost everything I need and I don't need to keep buying new this and new that. I don't need a big screen TV or a new car or new clothes. Why put pressure on me and everyone else to spend when we currently have a NEGATIVE savings rate? Let everyone stop spending, let the the chips fall where they MUST and get this crap over with.
From the ashes and ruins may we unite to create a better system, one that hasn't been done before, one that places real value where it belongs, attaches meaning to our labors, and guarantees the basics for everyone. Or is that too elitist for you?
Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
16,259 posts, read 24,761,129 times
Reputation: 3587
Quote:
Originally Posted by bchris02
Do you not realize that higher gas prices is NOT causing people to conserve - its causing them to cut back on other things? Because people are spending so much for gas, they aren't shopping in the malls, eating in the restaurants, etc. Like it or not, we have a consumer economy and most people live in suburbs. One can argue about the sustainability of such an economy, but its not going to change overnight. If gas prices hold at these levels, we are less than a year away from severe economic crisis. Watch the retail sector fall like dominoes and then we will be talking 30%+ unemployment. Does that sound good to you liberal elitists? How about starving people? When the retail sector goes, the entire financial system will soon follow. You think the housing problem is bad today? Our manufacturing is gone. Without the retail and financial sector, our economy fails.
Quit living in an idealistic world where you can just pour water on America and make it Europe! It doesn't work that way. The only way we will progress from our current oil economy to a more sustainable one is gradually as new technology becomes more feasible. Trying to force Americans to change by causing an economic collapse of the current system will spell the end of America, NOT the beginning of a brighter future of renewable energy.
All this is good for America. Not bad. And even at $4 we have it pretty good. It is much higher in Europe and even Canada. They would love to have $4! And their economies are not collapsing and they don't have 30% unemployment. And they have cleaner air too!
What is a "liberal elitist" anyway? I am a LIBERAL for the most part and I am not "elite". Pretty far from it.
All this is good for America. Not bad. And even at $4 we have it pretty good. It is much higher in Europe and even Canada. They would love to have $4! And their economies are not collapsing and they don't have 30% unemployment. And they have cleaner air too!
What is a "liberal elitist" anyway? I am a LIBERAL for the most part and I am not "elite". Pretty far from it.
Where are you getting 30% unemployment rates from?
Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
16,259 posts, read 24,761,129 times
Reputation: 3587
Quote:
Originally Posted by Synopsis
Where are you getting 30% unemployment rates from?
The original post states that 30% unemployment will happen from high gas prices.
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