[davec67]

As far as I can see the government could if it wished put controls in place to dramatically reduce oil usage. How much do you think could be reduced this way and what is the likelihood of the US government doing anything before TSHTF, and of course what is the chance the us population as a whole would accept anything like this

Some things that seem obvious

1) ration gas - each family or individual gets so much a week and thats it. Businesses get a different quota based on need

2) reduce the work week to 4 days - enforce a mandatory telecommunte option (doesn't seem very viable for shop workers)

3) limit # of cars per family - one car per family thats it - no more.

4) make downtown areas car free - enforce public transport where there is any.

5) mandatory yearly car inspections, severe penalties for gas limiting malfunctions (like under inflated tires etc)

[Ludi]

what is the likelihood of the US government doing anything before TSHTF

Extremely low to zero likelihood the US government will do any of these things. They want to be re-elected.

[MikeInHouston]

The Gov't is not likely to react untill the time is well past.

Reducing the speed limit to 50mph would be the first thing I would do.

Market forces will do more than the Gov't.

[BigTex]

Price Controls = Shortages

Shortages = Civil Unrest

Always remember this.

[Kingcoal]

Well, things like that have to get through Congress first and that ain't easy. Some of those measures would be challenged in court, etc. However, things like these should be on the radar in the near future.

[socrates1fan]

The US in economic crisis today probably won't be able to assist much.
We have wasted billions that could have been used to rebuild the public transportation system on a war(but that is a different debate.).
Most local governments already know any time of federal funding for public transportation, landmark restoration, road maintenance, schools, etc is pretty much either incredably hard to get or impossible.
Many governments have decided to do things their own way.
Many towns in this region have been trying to get federal funding for the bus systems but haven't gotten a penny so now they are addressing it with others in the community.
Local government and its importance will increase rapidly in the next decade.

[hironegro]

I don’t think any mainstream politician can make a cogent argument about government anti-market intervention, when in the last 30 years our country has been on a pro market.

[sittinguy]

I think 1 car is no good, how bout 4 per person, I like that.

How bout just let the price keep going up, it will work itseff out

I'm not looking forward to seeing all those fat people riding scooters though

[americandream]

The Gov't is not likely to react untill the time is well past.

Reducing the speed limit to 50mph would be the first thing I would do.

Market forces will do more than the Gov't.

Are these the same invisible but "rational" forces you leave your family and household to run themselves by?

Are these the same forces that extol us to buy todays latest widget, only to be discarded tomorrow for the newest model. Are you people really so stupid over there?

[Alanintx]

High prices are rationing. So check than off the list, job done.

[Denny]

The cost of importing oil, steadily going up is also a huge impact on the nation's balance of payments. So, for that end, I could see the government getting involved to reduce demand even more than the natural market forces would. That is the principal reason that European countries have always taxed oil so much, it was traditionally completely an imported product. It still is for most European countries. We also have to realize that any sign of an economic downturn would also reduce U.S. inflows from most export sales, dividends and the like.

That is, if the U.S.A. ever cares about balancing - it seems for the past long time its been living in a Disney World, where the bills magically vaporize, the creditors just keep moving up the credit limit.

[Muckingfess]

I think 1 car is no good, how bout 4 per person, I like that.

How bout just let the price keep going up, it will work itseff out

I'm not looking forward to seeing all those fat people riding scooters though

I'd rather see them riding scooters than driving a Hummer that gets 12 mpg.

[Tyler_JC]

As higher oil prices filter their way through the pipeline (so to speak), Americans will see a reduction in their standard of living.

Imports of consumer goods will fall, sales of US assets to foreign investors will increase, the trade deficit will fix itself.

You cannot consume more than you produce in the long term. It's a fundamental law of economics.

Government intervention in the form of gas rationing and price controls is foolish and after the experience of the 1970s, I doubt Congress would make the same mistake again.

The Market will set the price of energy and we're going to have to learn to deal with that.

[VMarcHart]

What is the likelihood of the US government doing anything before TSHTF?

Extremely low to zero likelihood the US government will do any of these things. They want to be re-elected.

Exact-o-mundo. Not in an election year, especially this one.

[SoylentGreen]

If Americans put it to a Vote, 50 MPH or Nuke Iran..........Tehran would be glass

[jdumars]

If Americans put it to a Vote, 50 MPH or Nuke Iran..........Tehran would be glass

I'm not sure what this has to do with anything.

[Hermes]

Hey JDumars:

I imagine what SoylentGreen was trying to say (which was also going through my mind) is that it's far more likely that the government will attack an oil producing foreign nation than lower the speed limit to 50mpg... or do any one of the other rationing measures.

I know it's not fair to say (which do you choose? Answer: none of the above).