What if gas goes to $10 a gallon?

Remember the what if we threw out all the illegal immigrants article I reposted from MSN Money, the one which got the xenophobe nuts so upset? Well, they did another simulation, this time with gas at $10.

First, do note that gas isn't likely to just shoot up that high without warning. It's going to be $4, maybe $5 this year, but not $10 barring some immense geopolitical disaster.

That said, the economy would be incredibly disrupted. Filling up a Honda Civic would be over $100. People would eat out less, use less plastic, stop using plastic bags, and basically stop flying. Plug in hybrids would strain the current electricity grid, even though they are markedly more efficient than gasoline cars. Folks would recycle compulsively. Many of these things are what we should already be doing.

Additionally, resistance to drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and off the coast would disappear. One poster whose comment I deleted earlier is seemingly very eager to drill all over the place, including in the ANWR.

And in the long run, the economy would adapt. Jobs in the sciences and engineering would boom as efficient and alternative energy technologies came online. Additionally, with increased transport costs, I imagine offshoring production will become less attractive. I obviously don't mean to be protectionist, but it will be good for the US to have more industries start in the country.