There are a lot of economists and political practitioners out there saying higher gas prices are fine (usually conservative), higher gas taxes are fine (usually liberal), public transportation is the answer, and “get over it” America.  I’ve noticed most of these people: A, have money, so what do they care; B, live in nice cushy places like New York, Washington, London, or even San Francisco, compact places with adequate rail service and other Public Trans.  And don’t get me started on the whiners who say Europe pays more….Europe is compact and has excellent rail service (compared to the U.S.).  I am the last person who could be accused of anti-intellectualism.  But nothing peeves my pet more than ivory tower know-it-alls in urban areas (the Westerner in me adds “back East”) saying everything is fine, while lower and middle income folks in rural areas pinch their pennies.  I’d like to see George Will try living out West without his credit cards.

I agree…I’m moving from Dallas, a city with pretty decent public transportation to Grand Prairie, a city next to Dallas that has no public transportation.  When I worked in downtown Dallas, I used DART to get to work instead of driving.  I loved it, put up with much less stress than when I did occasionally drive (not to mention that parking in downtown is expensive), and wish I had the opportunity in Grand Prairie.  Oh well.

I agree.  We all need to recall that much of metropolitan Europe was destroyed in two world wars….their planners had it easy:  they were able to begin from the ground up.  Also, after the wars, most Europeans were desperately poor, including in the UK.  The population simply did not have the money to purchase autos and fuel; mass transit was very, very politically popular and was strongly supported by the people.  They willingly taxed themselves, and saw excellent results. 

On the other hand, the prosperity that the US enjoyed after the wars led to our embrace of the private automobile, with our suburban neighborhoods and lack of transit.  Nowadays, it costs billions simply to purchase the right of way for a transit system.

Makes one shake one’s head!