The upside to higher gas prices

[Melalvai]

I know a guy who often says he hopes gas goes up to $8 or $10 per gallon so that people will walk and bike more and get more fit. When the parking lot here was shut down to be replaced with a new building, employees were griping nonstop about the new parking assignments being so far away, but after a couple months I started hearing people say they'd lost weight from walking so far. In addition to walking to & from their car, they choose to walk across campus to whatever building they have to go to instead of drive, because it's nearly as far to their car as it is to that building.

I don't care too much about the rest of the world. If $10/gal gas would induce my husband to get fit, I'm all for it. If an expensive gym membership would do the trick, I'm all for that too!

[Mr. Bloom]

I know a guy who often says he hopes gas goes up to $8 or $10 per gallon so that people will walk and bike more and get more fit.

I continue to believe that our oil dependence is the biggest threat to our national security. While I wish the increase was a bit slower, I think ultimately that it is the best thing to happen for our economic future. I hate to say it though...the current high prices are going to cause some really short term pain.

...and you're right, it may curb rising health care costs as well.