Well, if gas were to triple or quadruple in price - instead of doing the
obvious thing - we'd just make even more efficient engines, and consumption
would stay the same or continue to increase.

Instead, if engines became horribly inefficient, (extremely heavy, very
dirty, very thirsty) - we'd find another technology to provide motive power.

It is for the reasons above we abandoned steam engines - think about it. ;>)

(It is Friday, after all)

Marshall Ruskin

>Fossil fuels will only last another 50-100 years.
>Future generations will look back on 20th/21st Century America with
>disdain as the wasters of a precious and limited resource for the most
>selfish reasons.
>The best thing that could happen is for the price of gasoline in the USA
>to triple or quadruple. That would ensure only those who need to use it
>(ok, or can afford to) do, and it would also spur the use of alternative
>energy and mass transportation.
>Notice I did not even mention Global Warming, which will undoubtedly
>cause the eventual extinction of humankind on this planet.
>