Do You Remember The Gas Lines In 1973? How Will People Cope When It Happens Next Time?

[ThomWV]

The days of long lines at the gas pumps is coming again. If Bush bombs Iran you can pretty much expect imported oil to dry up for us right then and there, any number of natural disasters could leave us without our black life-blood, political upheaval in South and Central America would do it too. Who knows the reason and what does it matter; a shock of an oil shortage is sure to come again.

The real question is how will people deal with it these days? It was very unpleasant when it happened 30 years ago, in places people were fighting in the streets over $0.50 gasoline (a month earlier it had been thirty five cents). Those were the days before road-rage and highway shootings. Some, in fact many, would say that it was a more civil time compared to now.

I think if we see another oil shock and gas-lines there will be killings in the streets, I think its got that bad. I also think that it will be an oil shock and the resulting lawlessness that will be what provokes the nationwide establishment of martial law for the first time in our history.

[Demeter]

1. People Have Nothing Left to Cope With

The jobs are gone, the credit is gone, bankruptcy is gone, welfare is gone, rights are gone, freedoms are gone. Most families died out back in Regan's time.

You know what they say: The most dangerous people are those that have nothing left to lose.

[liberaldemocrat7]

20. I drive an electric motorcycle.

I drive an electric motorcycle which after the battery runs down to a certain level range, I plug it in and the battery recharges.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Viento1.jpg#file

[seemunkee]

22. I suspect a lot more people will be doing that soon

[dipsydoodle]

2. Cause and effect

You won't have to look too far to lay blame and you'll wonder why he wasn't impeached.

[murloc]

3. Roadrage was common then to

It just didn't have a catchy name.

I imagine there will be fights and even murders at the pumps, but I don't see it escalating into general riots (i.e. riots wont fill your tank), plus it would be difficult to drive to a riot or demonstration because of lack of fuel.

[PDJane]

4. I honestly believe that martial law will come before that;

It won't wait for the real disaster, because I don't think this bunch will let it.

[Jim__]

5. If bush bombs Iran, long gas lines are not what I'm worried about.

If bush bombs Iran, this nation forfeits its right to exist. It will only be a matter of time.

[jeff30997]

6. Damn right!

[Clovis Sangrail]

7. I made BANK in those lines

I was a little kid with a paper route.
I used to go up and down the lines selling newspapers.

I'm sure they wouldn't be as fun for me now, but I think I'd still find them amusing as I rode past them on my bicycle. :P

[melody]

8. Bush won't bomb Iran, however we'd cope with long gas lines the same way

We'd cope with them.

And we'd be terrified to pull into a filling station that's empty because we don't want to look stupid. lol

[rucky]

9. We're such panzies.

sometimes I hope it becomes VERY uncomfortable (not the killing part)and people can have their little commuter crises, because we really need to learn to live with less.

[Zensea]

14. Hear hear

I haven't owned a car since 1989.
Ten years of that I was living in places like Boulder, Colorado; the kinds of places everyone says you need a car for with their spread out suburbs.
Since then I've been in NYC which makes it easier.
I rode my bike or walked even if it meant a little extra time.
I wish more people would follow my example but not many seem that inclined to do so and I rarely bother "preaching" about it.
People have plenty of reasons or defense mechanisms to justify their automobiles.
They don't want to give up their comfort (or to be snarky, some of the weight they might lose if they didn't drive everywhere every time).

Oh and when I have to do something that absolutely requires a car, I rent one or ask a favor of a friend.

[AndyTiedye]

19. A Lot of People DID Follow Your Example. Rents in NYC and SF are Through the Roof

If we moved into the city, someone else would have to move out.

Maybe better for us to stay in the woods and continue to telecommute.

[AndyTiedye]

18. Already Happening

Those who can afford to move closer, and those who have less are forced further out.

[blues90]

10. I worked in a gas station in 1973

I can tell you people were desperate since we could only pump $5 per car and had to keep enough fuel in the tanks so they did not lift . I had people offer me money for more fuel . We had to block the entrances with the tow truck and other cars each day and people would drive over the curb for gas .

I was never so concerned about being shot in my life , today this will be complete madness since people now are far less tolerent .
at least now they can turn off the pumps from inside and hide .

[wuushew]

11. Hopefully people will come together in van and car pools

The death of the SUV in Amerika will be nice although it will also accompany a severe economic downturn.

[AndyTiedye]

16. Carpools Only Work When Coworkers Live Near Each Other

[Desertrose]

12. I remember that they made cars that got 35-40+mpg after that

Had one myself...sweet little Plymouth Horizon...box on wheels but she got great mileage!!....and then they started making big hoggy SUV's.

Now that made NO sense ...unless you owned an oil company.

I hate to think how people will react nowdays. Yikes.

[BlooInBloo]

13. Even Americans were smart enough to largely give up the gas-guzzlers.

[AndyTiedye]

15. I See More Priuses Every Day Out Here In California

[EVDebs]

17. Repubs say $9 gal if we leave Iraq ...but if we attack Iran, now that's an identical story

Repub: Expect $9/gallon gas if we leave Iraq
http://www.drudge.com/news/98005/repub-expect-9gallon-gas-if-we-leave-iraq

however, the ever brilliant GOP wants to attack Iran ! Aha, that will guarantee us ... uh,

around $6/gallon ($100/barrel) :

"An attack on Iran -- which we don't consider to be a likely event -- could easily send crude zooming toward the $90- to $100-a-barrel neighborhood."

http://www.kiplinger.com/businessresource/forecast/archive/summer_gas_prices_less_painful_070329.html

Somehow I think that Kiplinger's is lowballin' it and the Drudge Report is hiballin' it.

In any event, why aren't we doing all we can to conserve gas, oil, and got to alternatives ASAP ? Oh, I forgot, the oil men are in charge of the WH and DOD.

Amory Lovin's book Winning The Oil Endgame,

Abstract: "This independent, peer-reviewed synthesis for American business and military leaders charts a roadmap for getting the United States completely, attractively, and profitably off oil. Our strategy integrates four technological ways to displace oil: using oil twice as efficiently, then substituting biofuels, saved natural gas, and, optionally, hydrogen. Fully applying today's best efficiency technologies in a doubled-GDP 2025 economy would save half the projected U.S. oil use at half its forecast cost per barrel. Non-oil substitutes for the remaining consumption would also cost less than oil. These comparisons conservatively assign zero value to avoiding oil's many "externalized" costs, including the costs incurred by military insecurity, rivalry with developing countries, pollution, and depletion. The vehicle improvements and other savings required needn't be as fast as those achieved after the 1979 oil shock.

The route we suggest for the transition beyond oil will expand customer choice and wealth, and will be led by business for profit. We propose novel public policies to accelerate this transition that are market-oriented without taxes and innovation-driven without mandates. A $180-billion investment over the next decade will yield $130-billion annual savings by 2025; revitalize the automotive, truck, aviation, and hydrocarbon industries; create a million jobs in both industrial and rural areas; rebalance trade; make the United States more secure, prosperous, equitable, and environmentally healthy; encourage other countries to get off oil too; and make the world more developed, fair, and peaceful."

http://www.oilendgame.com/Articles.html

shows us what ended the '73 oil shock and what can do it again. Also read the books Natural Capitalism and Plan B 2.0 by Lester Brown, online at

Plan B 2.0:
Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble
http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/PB2/Contents.htm

(The 'learning from China' part of Ch 1 is very good !)

[tritsofme]

21. There were shortages in the 70s because of price controls.

This time gas will just be very expensive, but if you can afford it you will be able to get it.