Thanks for some sanity.
The best thing that could happen to us is that oil continues increasing. The trade off point between it and alternate sources of energy is almost there. A higher price for energy will spur development of solar panels, fuel cells and also coal, of which we only have a 200+ year supply. Nuclear may even come back when the public sees the trade off between cheaper energy and supposed risk.
Do not believe this, then think whale oil. Or buggy whips.
But, fear not. OPEC knows this and will keep oil prices down as long as they can.
Most of the arguments here are static, with the US in flux and everyone else not changing. The world cannot have the US catch the sniffles since they get the flu. Plus, just as there is speculation in the stock market, so in gold and commodities. Remember $800 gold?
I went last year to a speach and tour of the new "green" building complex built by the Environmental Agency of my state. Their IT building had $150,000 worth of solar panels. On the best and brightest day, it generates 10KW electricity. Yup, that's it.