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Comment by evandijk70 | Hacker News Reader

Are you taking $5/gallon? That is still way lower than the prices in Europe have been for years. Society still functions here and has not transitioned to green alternatives. Anything below $10/gallon is not an 'emergency' and insufficiently high to force a transition if people do not want it.

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Prices in Italy are currently at the equivalent of 8.3$/gallon, so I think that even your 10$/gallon threshold is too optimistic (keep also in mind that if the prices of everything rise together, and so does labor compensation, it might be hidden away in the inflation).

Maybe 20$/gallon would be what it takes for a quick transition?

The transition point in the USA is probably lower because we drive more miles and have an existing fleet of less efficient, older, larger cars.

Yeah I think symbolically that would have good chance of triggering political action before the election.

And yes it's not even that high relatively! I would love to see an analysis taking into account cost of global warming just that we are already feeling.

I read an article earlier today analyzing cost per mile driven in real dollars.

We're actually a good amount lower than 2007 recession. And way lower than 80s.

But people don't see that. They see $5 and $80 to fill up a giant pickup truck.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-price-of-gasoline-isnt...

> Yeah I think symbolically that would have good chance of triggering political action before the election.

Ah there we go, you’re trying for “progress” despite the economy limping along right now. Kick them while they’re down ey?

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