[jdmartin]

Rationing is not going to happen unless there's truly not enough gas to go around, period. On the market, we'll purchase our oil at the expense of Namibia or Zimbabwe. Third world countries will be left out first. Sure, gas will be expensive (probably at least $4 here), but people will still pay. Some conservation can be done in the US; most people's driving is inelastic, as it consists of commuting to and from work in places where public transportation is non-existent. Carpooling may gain greater commonality, but I seriously doubt it would have any real effect on anything.

When/if rationing happens we will be in a depression, because when they start limiting people's gasoline consumption public sentiment will be in the toilet, not to mention their spending money and the job market.

[worrier]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')nd I see a lot of rich driving around those cripple ships when they should be taking the bus too.

[evilgenius]

During a depression is the most likely time. I don't see rationing happening in the US for economic reasons, though. I see it for political reasons. How else can the US go fascist unless there is a fairly substantial base supporting it. "Join us and you get so many additional coupons per month." It goes rapidly downhill from there.

[FairMaiden]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')On the market, we'll purchase our oil at the expense of Namibia or Zimbabwe

[rwwff]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('FairMaiden', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')On the market, we'll purchase our oil at the expense of Namibia or Zimbabwe