Ya'll aren't going to believe this but I attended a seminar about a year ago in which an oil company hired economist explained to all of us that conservation was bad for the economy. I almost laughed in his face.

As if lower gas and diesel prices wouldn't allow for greater discretionary spending. As if lowering of electrical costs wouldn't allow a company to be more productive or invest freed up capitol. Not to mention how the environment might benefit from a lower amount of fumes.

The only thing he could say was that the oil industry might have to lay off workers. Granted it's a large and labor intensive industry, but I imagine the folks in it could find jbs just like the folks who have been layed off because fuel prices were too high or because of the energy corporation juggling the books.