"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
The point is not to "collapse" the economy. The point is to force people
to change their driving and car purchase habits. That would do it,
according to economists.

Yeah, I've heard that, too. And I disagree.

Americans love big, consumptive vehicles (boats, airplanes, and motorhomes
as well as cars). All those fuel prices will do is put some people in the
poor house, shut down some small ma-pa businesses, convince Daimler-Chrysler
to import the Smart Car, and tank the economy while causing inflation and
interest rates to rise. But the total fuel burned in this country won't
change much, if at all.

Ethanol is a great alternative fuel, and almost inexhaustible. But Big Oil
has seen to it that it will never be readily accepted, at least as long as
the flow of crude is unimpeded, despite the cost.

Max