Benefits to $4 Gas?!!

As many of you, I have been giving thought to the rise in energy and gasoline prices. Obviously, there are some serious concerns to families, and businesses, but there are also some benefits to higher gas prices. TIME magazine has an article entitled "10 Things You Can Like About $4 Gas". Here are a few of their observations:

1. Globalized Jobs return home = the cost of shipping is becoming so expensive that producing items oversees with cheaper labor costs and shipping to the US is causing companies to rethink their strategies - could be good for US job market
2. Sprawl Stalls = instead of building homes all over the farm lands, more people are going to choose to live closer to their work.
3. Four Day Work Weeks = companies are finding that they can save significantly on utilities an other expenses by going to a four day work week. This also has implications for telecommuting
   
4. Less Pollution = self explanatory
5. More Frugality = people are rethinking the "throw-away" society in which we live. They are becoming more intentional. I think this could also impact families making more intentional decisions about spending, sports involvement, doing more family things at home or close by rather than feeling the need for expensive entertainment.

Other benefits, according to TIME magazine - fewer traffic deaths, less traffic, and better health due to more walking.

What are your thoughts? What benefits do you see about more expensive gas (and energy). It is probably here to stay so we are going to need to learn how to live with it! You can leave a comment on this blog - (comments are moderated to keep out spam, so may take a bit for it to show up). By the way, if you wish to read the full TIME article, here is the link.