Why doesn't the government start rationing gas and electricity?

Question

We are running out of gas so why take other country's gas. Surely we should all go back to burning wood to keep warm and it should be made compulsory for us all to go solar.

Answer 1

While I agree with some of your outcomes (adjusting building codes to require the implementation of solar panels for instance), some of your methods aren't workable. It would require a large imposition of the federal government to control electricity and oil distrobution in such a way as to have rationing. Plus, rationing leads to black market activities. So much the better to use a progressive tax on gas, oil, and electricvity use, provide incentives for green energy and conservation, and impose a carbon tax, noted by the Economist (magazine) as the most efficient way to curb greenhouse gas pollution.

Answer 2

Gas rationing was tried in the crisis in the early 70s. Gas prices skyrocketed and lines at the pumps went for blocks. Also, we aren't taking other countrys' gas, we pay for it on the open market just like anyone else. Third, we produce and export a great deal of food for the petroleum that we use so limiting use would be taking food out of the mouths of people who aren't or are only barely meeting their food needs. We could reduce the use of some electricity which would help save coal but hydroelectricity (used commonly in the west) cannot be saved. It is a use it or lose it proposition.

Wood burning is actually dirtier than propane or electric heat and huge swaths of the north would definitely be deforested to provide that heat. That won't be popular even among people who don't consider themselves environmentalists.

I do like solar and encourage people to use it, but it is less reliable the further north you go. Wind power has great potential, but it is also unreliable in many areas (or not sufficient to produce energy). In a free market like ours, the best thing is for a government to encourage people to use these alternatives and encourage research in making them more efficient.

Answer 3

The government does not want a population which is not dependent on some of it's services. It would have nothing to use as a stick to beat you with if you required no gas or electricity from centralised power stations.

The government would make itself redundant if it allowed this to happen. This would explain why all forms of solar, wind power, hydro electricity, are generally beyond being economic. Not only that they are all generally not available for sale to the public.

Imagine the chaos in the country if nobody needed to pay anything to anybody! The government would become redundant, and would not serve any purpose or person.

There would be anarchy if this happened.....

Answer 4

The less we have Government tells us what to do the better off we will be. We are not running out of gas or oil any time soon. maybe in 200 years. The Oceans produce oil all the time. Electricity can be produced easily with wind and water. Even coal fired plants. This Country has 100's of years at the Current coal usage. Solar at this time is still very expensive about $20k to $30k to make your home totally solar

Answer 5

It's going to run out at some point so I don't think slowing it will make a difference. As for burning logs, I can see the smog now.
And the number of trees you'd have to cut down to supply 60,000,000 people with wood to burn.
Solar is expensive and England isn't the best country to get power from the sun, wind power is an option but still very expensive.

Answer 6

Better yet, why is our government suppressing alternative energy source developement and implementation?

ANSWER: Because the oil barrons who contribute so much $$$ to our politicians haven't made enough billions off of us yet, and want to squeeze those last few pennies out while they can.

BIG BUSINESS = LOBBYISTS = CONTROL of our government.

Our government could really care less what WE want. It's all for show, and just to shut us up. Our form of capitalism verges on the extremely unethical. Greed governs our politics. Most Americans are either couch potatoes too apathetic to care, or drama-addicts too mislead by the media and politicians to even know what the REAL issues are.

Nobody has business saying anything until we all get off our butts and start MAKING it happen, instead of waiting for them to do it. Our leaders are not dictators. But if we follow the leaders, we follow THEIR path. It's time we Americans, once again, forge our own. OUR needs are not being met.

Answer 7

No, we should not ration how much WE get, but our government should put a cap on how much oil companies,etc., can receive by way of OBSCENE prices while we the people have to bend over and take it. I can see you don't understand how oil companies work. Let me explain then. THEY scream "We are running out of oil/gas!" So we the people run out to fill-up, creating a panic so that they can raise prices and buy another condo on the Riviera.

Answer 8

There's plenty of gas. I get my gas for free. I sleep with the guy at the gas station.

But, yes, I think solar should be mandatory.

Answer 9

Why don't you just ration gas and electricity yourself? Buy a hybrid, buy all new energy efficient appliances, put solar panels on your roof, invest in a wind turbine, buy RD36 insulation for your home etc etc....
You have a choice, make it for yourself..."the land of the free" sound at all familiar?

Answer 10

Well, we don't have a communist or socialist government. That's why they don't ration our gas and electricity. This is a free market society. It wouldn't look very good for our officials who have to be re-elected on a regular basis to start taking away our freedoms.