I was on "The Call" today. We touched on so many things but since there is never enough time to expand on them I thought I would take up some blog space. I believe the key to lower oil prices in the short term is to strengthen the dollar. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke has started to jaw-bone his way to this goal. Since oil is universally priced in dollars, a stronger dollar would bring about lower oil. And while it seems contradictory for the potential for higher interest rates (which Ben hinted at) to be beneficial for the economy, I believe the Fed cut the Fed Funds rate too much and lower oil would be far more beneficial than slightly higher rates would be harmful.

Vince Farrell
CNBC Contributor

I think we are at a tipping point with the price of oil and demand destruction will be widespread. $4 at the gas pump will force conservation. We are seeing signs throughout the economy that, finally, the price is too high. Miles driven are down for the first time in years, airlines are cutting the number of flights and taking seats out of service, surveys show that travel plans are being canceled, TV sales are up as stay at home is the choice, and mass transit is reporting a surge in ridership. World wide supply/demand is precariously balanced and since the U.S. uses one-forth of the oil in the world, conservation here is imperative.

We also got on the subject of investing in utilities on the show. I'll pass on those common stocks but as Levi Strauss built an empire selling jeans to the gold miners in California, I'll buy GE

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[GE  Loading...      ()   ] since they are the largest "power supplier" in the world. I own GE so be forewarned, but the company makes everything from nuclear power systems to gas turbines to wind thingies. Plus it has a 4% dividend which is almost what you get in a 10 year Treasury.

I don't believe the unemployment rate signals the bad things headlines would have us believe. I believe the jump from 5% to 5.5% partially corrects the inexplicable decline recently from 5.3% to 5%. The 5.5% is often the rate you see during times of economic expansion and the 30 year average is 6.1%. The bulk of the newly unemployed are in the 16-24 year age bracket and I believe the recent increase in the minimum wage created the problem. That, and a surge in energy prices, squeezed the small business owner that is the natural employer of this age group.

I'll be on Kudlow tonight to hopefully chat some more about this and other things.

Click here to see Farrell's comments on oil.

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Vincent Farrell, Jr. is a Principal of Scotsman Capital Management, a member of the Kudlow Caucus, and a regular contributor CNBC.

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