April 22, 2008 - Tuesday...nothing particular happened today so I'm going to talk about oil a little bit. On one hand, I don't like paying higher prices for gas for my car. However, lucky for me I started looking at my expenses and tightening my belt about a year ago so I am prepared for the gas prices we face right now. But I want to talk about how this whole oil prices going through the roof thing might play out. Let's say that the price of oil keeps going up...and up...and up. Let's put gas at $15 a gallon in todays dollars. A few things are going to happen that I think will be great, and only a few bad things will happen. At this price, people won't be able to drive long distances without making the decision that it is a good investment of their money to go there. This will help reverse the trend of exurban, suburban, and rural sprawl. Populations will gravitate towards the cities where public transportation is readily available (or will be readily available as the demand starts to kick up from increased population in these areas). Prices for homes will go up in urban areas such as the one I live in due to increased demand, helping out my home value. Less people will be on the road in their personal vehicles because they will be financially forced into using public transportation. This will ease congestion on roads, even as we see increased population in cities. By reducing the amount of people on the roads in private cars, this will force the increase of foot traffic and bike traffic. These types of activities tend to keep people in a smaller area where they are more likely to rely on small businesses that they can walk to. Bus ridership will increase, which will lead to more people talking to and getting to know their neighbors. Communities will grow like they used to in the 50's, when people knew each other, supported small businesses, ate at the local restaurant, drank at the local bar, shopped at the local stores. People will spend more time at home. With more time at home they will have more time to devote to their families, to their houses and yards, and to their neighbors. All these things are good.