Why high gas prices are a good thing

I really believe that all things to work together for our good (Romans 8:28). It doesn’t always make sense how they will and do, but that doesn’t change the fact that they will. As I have practiced focusing on the truth of that it makes it easier to look that the bright side of challenging situations - gas prices.

Sure, there are ways to save money on gas, but even the best gas saving techniques aren’t keeping up with the rising prices. But I got encouraged when I found this article pointing out a few of the possible benefits. The author mentioned 8 reasons why Americans will be benefited by the higher prices.

1. RIP for the internal-combustion engine
2. Economic stimulus
3. Wither the Middle East’s clout
4. Deflating oil potentates
5. Mass-transit development
6. An antidote to sprawl
7. Restoration of financial discipline
8. Easing global tensions

My thoughts about his list:

1. He is absolutely right about this. It just doesn’t make sense that we can make this much progress in the computer industry in 20 years and yet we are still using basically the same engines in our cars for the last hundred years. When problems get large enough, people work harder to find answers.

3. Wouldn’t it be great not to depend on the middle east for oil? It just seems that not much good has come out of our dependence on the middle east? I don’t know much about our reasons for not drilling in Alaska (there is a lot of oil up there) other than it is a protected wilderness - does anyone know more about it that they can share in the comments?

5. My hometown of St. Louis has historically been lagging behind most other cities in this area. Recently they have made some advancements, but they are still a long way from cities like New York. Even still, I have seen many people switch to public transportation in light of the high prices and I fully expect the trend to continue.

6. This is another trend that has been prevalent in St. Louis. We are a very suburbanized city. The last figures I heard (a couple years ago) was something like a population of 2.5 million with only 200,000 actually living in the city limits. I will say that over the last few years the urban-living trend has brought a lot more people back to the city. Even when the trendy-ness of urban living dies off I think gas prices could keep this trend going in full force.

7. I can look back at some financially difficult times in my life and see that I learned some very important lessons. I learned how to live on a lot less money. It can be difficult adjusting and adapting, but once you do you have the confidence of knowing that you can make it on $xx,xxx. Just like going through boot-camp, it stretches you beyond what you thought you were capable of. Yes, this really is looking at the bright side of the challenge, but it is true.