Three oil-dependency experts debated possible policies for alleviating rising gas prices earlier this week. The panel, sponsored by Americans for Informed Democracy (AID) at Bowdoin presented the event to raise awareness and dialogue on campus around issues of foreign oil dependency.
The event, held on Monday in Kresge Auditorium, began with a presentation by Deron Lovaas, an environmentalist on the Natural Resources Defense Council, about the general facts of U.S. oil dependency. He suggested a three-step program to rid ourselves of our "addiction to oil." Lovaas's plan included increased efficiency, recommending the use of hybrid cars and alternative fuels such as ethanol, and expanded public transportation.
Erin Turban '06, who leads the Bowdoin chapter of AID with Mike Aikins '08, commented on the relevancy of oil dependency.
"I think the event was very appropriate in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, because gas prices are something that have currently been on people's minds and that people want to learn more about," she said.
Dr. Brian Roach, a Research Associate at Tufts University, took the stand next. He argued that gas prices are too low, and that to properly reflect the negative externalities of the oil market, the government should place high taxes on gas. He pointed to the high gas prices of European countries as a model for the United States.
"I was especially interested by Brian Roach," said Morgan MacLeod '09. "It surprised me that a lot of economists think that gas is under priced. His plan made sense to me."
Dr. Mario Lewis, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, took a much more conservative stance. Describing himself as "not a petroleum-dependence alarmist," Lewis suggested a laissez-faire approach to oil dependency. He argued that we should allow the market to take its course, and noted that although the biggest oil exporters in the world happen to be hostile to the United States, the United States gets most of its oil from itself, followed by Canada and Mexico. According to Lewis, his main problem with Roach's high tax plan had little to do with the theory, but with the practicality. He argued that Americans would never allow a public official to raise their already-high gas prices.
After the three panelists presented their arguments, they held a short question-and-answer session with the audience of approximately 50 people.
"I was very happy with the way the event went," Turban said. "One of the main things that our group strives to do is an open forum where people from across the political spectrum can discuss their opinions on global issues, so therefore it was really rewarding to see that happen at our event."