Nathan Young's (barcncpt44)

If you ask me how to solve our high gas prices, the answer is simple, we MUST do many things to solve this problem, here's how to do it.

1. WE must drill:  Just having the notion that we will drill for more oil will bring down the prices to around the $100 level and bring down prices, not only we must drill we must also get oil shale, and various things.  I do not support drilling in AWNR but that's another story. I do not think this is what you want to see if you go to gulf shores!

2. Lower the speed limit:  I think we need to go back to an national speed limit of 65 on freeways and 4-lanes and 55 everywhere else where permitted.  Every mph you drive over 60 reduces your fuel mileage in your care.  We have to be proactive in this and work as a country, and not be divided.

3. Use more trains:  We need to develop more trains and high speed trains.  Think about it, trains run very clean and much more cleaner than trucks.  We can develop an train infrastructure for freight and people that rivals europe's system.

4.Increase fuel mileage in cars: We need our government to increase standards in our cars so much that you get 35-50 mpg.  It would help big time.

5.Increase our dollar:  Why is our dollar tied to oil?  Until we stop the madness of all of these imports coming in and we increase our dollar, oil will remain high.

6.More mass transit:  We need this country to fund more mass transit!  More buses and light rail that run clean is great for us.  If we did that people would use a good mass transit system and not drive, lower gas demand means lower gas prices; plus it is a win-win for our environment and global warming.

7.Produce things locally:  Why are shipping things like fruits, veggies, and goods from California?  Why do we encourage local businesses to produce things and local farmers produce our corps for stores and markets, it would save a bundle on gas and lower demand.

8.Stop sprawl: We need to encourage people to stop living so far out form where you work and shop and have people move closer to cities.  People would use mass transit, drive less, and lower gas demand.

9.Develop pederstrian friendly cities:  We need to build more bike lanes and sidewalks so people are encouraged to ride a bike or walk instead of driving a car.  We also need to develop towns that have businesses, homes and other things together within walking distance.

10.Better building, infrastructure design:  If we designed our roads better with minimal stopping and idling we would reduce demand, we need to design buildings so  they use a lot less energy.

11.More nuclear and clean coal.  We need to build power plants that run cleanly.  Clean coal and nuclear are great sources to do this.

12.Tax breaks:  We need to give tax breaks for people who use mass transit, walk, ride a bike, moped, or scooter; or carpool, anyhting that stops people from driving by themselves.

13. Alternatives:  We need to fund alternaties because face it, oil will not last forever.  Ethanol that does not use food like corn.  hydrogen and natural gas are great alternatives for fossil fuels.

14.A Gas Tax holiday will not work:  If we took the gas tax away how we will pay for our roads?  This would only save about $30 bucks and would encourage people to drive more which would drive up gas prices and make the prices higher even with the gas tax applied to the price of gas.  This would not work!

15.Encourge people to be environmentally friendly:  Encourage people to grow gardens, replace bulbs, dry clothes outside, etc.  It would use less oil and drive down demand.

If we did all of these things, the price of oil would drop and america would be totally different. have a good day! -Nathan Young