Comments on: The opportunity cost of pristine wilderness is… http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/07/14/the-opportunity-cost-of-pristine-wilderness-is/ for students and teachers of AP and IB Economics Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:28:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Dylan K. http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/07/14/the-opportunity-cost-of-pristine-wilderness-is/#comment-5267 Dylan K. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:45:22 +0000 http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/07/14/the-opportunity-cost-of-pristine-wilderness-is/#comment-5267 Unfortunately, this decision by President Bush has seemed to spark other environmentalist challenging solutions to the rising gasoline prices: http://www.newsweek.com/id/146161/page/1 Mining this oil shale in the Rockies would not just carry the 'normal environmental consequences' of opening a new mining operation, but it could also damage water supplies. With the energy market so vital to our struggling economy, environmentalists are walking a fine line between anti-development and conservation. Sadly, we are beginning to believe that we have no other alternatives. We may trade in our Hummers for a Prius or make trade-offs of other desired luxuries so that we can afford our daily commutes, but the price of gasoline will probably not decrease until it is no longer such an integral part of our daily lives. A sea of vehicles with one passenger avoiding the inconvenience of public transportation, carpooling, or biking and an ever-present attraction to life in the suburbs will keep increasing prices until the quantity demanded drops. While a greater supply of oil might help stabilize the climbing prices, it will probably not bring the desired reduction that people expect. This solution will ultimately have incredible consequences and be short-lived; we will be forced to look for another solution in the very near future. Unfortunately, this decision by President Bush has seemed to spark other environmentalist challenging solutions to the rising gasoline prices: http://www.newsweek.com/id/146161/page/1
Mining this oil shale in the Rockies would not just carry the ‘normal environmental consequences’ of opening a new mining operation, but it could also damage water supplies.
With the energy market so vital to our struggling economy, environmentalists are walking a fine line between anti-development and conservation. Sadly, we are beginning to believe that we have no other alternatives.

We may trade in our Hummers for a Prius or make trade-offs of other desired luxuries so that we can afford our daily commutes, but the price of gasoline will probably not decrease until it is no longer such an integral part of our daily lives. A sea of vehicles with one passenger avoiding the inconvenience of public transportation, carpooling, or biking and an ever-present attraction to life in the suburbs will keep increasing prices until the quantity demanded drops. While a greater supply of oil might help stabilize the climbing prices, it will probably not bring the desired reduction that people expect. This solution will ultimately have incredible consequences and be short-lived; we will be forced to look for another solution in the very near future.

]]>