chizang beats sullivan!

Andrew Sullivan writes about the stupidity of government intevention as regards gas prices. Money quote:

In truth, these high gas prices are an obvious function of demand and supply, and, as such, they are one of the best things to happen in a long time. I hope they go much higher. Soon. If they don’t, the government should force them higher with a big fat gas tax. Only higher oil prices will actually jump-start the new, greener technologies we all say we want (and our planet desperately needs).

[...]

A conservative government would simply say: we have no control over global oil prices; consumers reap what they sow; companies should be left alone; and if your wallet is empty because of all that gas in your SUV, you’ve learned a useful lesson in self-government.

Hey, what a great idea! In the interest of tooting my own horn, however, let me point out this post I wrote on August 29, 2005, entitled world’s smallest violin. My moneyquote:

I’m sorry, but I’m rooting for higher gas prices. The only way you’ll effect change amongst the unwashed masses is to hit them in the only place it counts — their wallets. Maybe once gas hits $5 a gallon, we’ll stop seeing single occupancy giant pickup trucks and SUVs tooling around town. Maybe we’ll start seeing viable public transportation initiatives, or more bicyclists. Maybe we won’t need to maintain a strategic interest in the Middle East, and can let that area of the world fester and rot as seems to be their desire anyhow.

Take that, Andrew! I beat you by almost 9 months, staying true to Jeff Vyduna’s observation that I’m about 6 months ahead of the curve. ;)

Here’s to the $hundred-barrel.