Black Gold

I was scanning the drudge report this morning and noticed a headline that read:
GAS at 12 dollars INEVITABLE
This headline was also followed by the more bizarre headline:
FARMERS USING MULES-CHEAPER THAN GAS FOR TRACTORS

I am currently teaching Grapes of Wrath and Steinbeck writes an entire chapter about tractors (machines) taking over and pushing man and his animals off the land. The more things change....

Now, on the first look it is natural to be angry or fearful about a future where gas costs ten or twelve dollars a gallon. It would cost $135 to fill up my Chevy Blazer! We know that oil is a limited resource and our addiction has supported and kept in power dictators and corrupt nation states. We all love our cars for the convenience and freedom that they provide but would life really be so bad without cars? I believe that McCain or Obama have a golden opportunity to address this issue and challenge the American people to live in a car free world by 2016. I know what you are thinking, "a world without cars, that's crazy talk, no wonder he is voting for Obama, he is so pie-in-the sky." But think about it, in 1960 Kennedy challenged us to put a man on the moon within ten years and we did it. In 1941 the United States was ranked 19th in military power, Roosevelt challenged the nation and by 1945 we were number 1! I could go on and on with examples.
So here are a few broad strokes on how this would work
1. People would bike or walk to work. (also would reduce obesity)
2. Subways would be the dominant form of transportation
3. The return of the railroad (we would finally get my dream-bullet train to Vegas)
4. The return of electric streetcars for massive big cities ie. Frisco, L.A. etc

The health benefits alone would make this idea worthwhile. Think of L.A. without the traffic and smog, more open spaces, streets and freeways can become parks and gardens, the return of wildlife, people outside talking with their neighbors, cleaner air, no TOLL ROADS IN STATE PARKS, the list goes on.

So is the price of gas a problem or an opportunity in disguise?