I just read Dave McGill's featured article (congratulations, Dave!) about the revival of the national 55 MPH speed limit that some damned fool in D.C. wants to impose upon us to save gas. Dave's main focus of a solution is aimed at getting the traffic signal lights coordinated/timed to reduce the "stop/wait/go" problem of in-town driving. This suggestion is excellent. Comments left in response to Dave's article reflect many ideas that make sense and that could be put into action with little effort.(Dave's article can be found at www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977342521)
This article is not in rebuttal to Dave's ideas or anyone elses. It's my rant. (I certainly didn't want to fill up a comment box for this.) While I agree with the solutions my fellow gatherers have mentioned, I'm ready for more drastic, more dramatic steps that will bring this problem to SOMEBODY'S attention. Can the high cost of gasoline be be "negotiated"? No. Negotiations are off the table. It's time for action. Here's my personal solution.
My little Toyota was in need of a gasoline "fix" Wednesday morning. The nearest source of this black drug is just a few blocks from home and on the route to work. Very convenient. I use the "cheap stuff" and yesterday (Friday, May 9th) the "cheap stuff" hit $3.999; that's four bucks no matter how you slice it. As I stood there watching my "economical" means of transportation glug-glug-glug to the tune of fifty dollars, my blood pressure hit an all-time high.
For personal automobile fuel consumption, I'm one of the "lucky" ones. I live in town, my commute to work is about 6 miles each way (all on surface streets with maximum speed limits of 35), and the errand sites (grocer, druggist, pet shop, doctor) I frequent are within my little circle of a roughly ten mile radius. I rarely drive on weekends; my closest friends live within easy walking distance, my favorite sources of entertainment are going to the beach (a multi-billion dollar activity that happens to be free) and staying at home to work in my garden, tinker with my craft projects and sharing time with friends. There's not much more I can do to conserve transportation fuel.
I lived in Southern California during the "gas shortage" era of the 70's. (What a joke.) I lived there when the speed limit on open highways and freeways was reduced to 55 mph. Anyone who lives in Southern California and commutes from home to work and back again knows full well that it's RARE that the speedometer is EVER going to hit 55. The thoroughfares are so congested that a business trek from Long Beach to LA (a distance of roughly 30 miles) is actually a one-hour drive. Do the math.
I certainly don't know the statistics of "Stay Alive at 55". It probably did save a lot of lives in many areas of the country. But it didn't save anyone a plug nickel in transportation costs. Who paid to have all the signs along millions of miles of highway changed over?, and then change them back again? I hope we saved those signs and all we'll have to pay for now is the labor and equipment costs to hang 'em back up. But wait! There's more! The "diamond" lanes! These marvelous channels were designed to put more than one commuter into a vehicle; more bang for the gasoline buck. Car pool! Share-a-ride! Has it really made a noticeable impact? I don't know.
We're being told that the cost of petro is inflated due to two reasons (1) supply can't keep up with the demand and/or (2) our money's no good in the world-wide market. The first reason is a crock. The second reason is because our current administration has thrown us into serious, crisis debt.
Which one of our economic idiots in D.C. actually brain-stormed the idea of "tax free" gas for the summer months? What an insult to We, the People. Reducing the speed limits (again) won't make one iota of difference to the prices we're paying at the grocery store; they may go higher. Why? Because now we have a truck driver making union scale burning up another hour of time to reach his destination of delivery.
We're getting screwed. No doubt about it. The sh*t has hit the fan and our "fair trade" fools think that all can be saved by adjusting the fan. But the you-know-what just keeps on coming.
The ONLY way this dilemma will be resolved is CUT THE DEMAND. Truckers: pull over. Will it hurt? Oh, yes. Commuters: pull over. Will it hurt? Yup. Take a vacation day. Call in sick. Or just forfeit a day's pay. I lose a day's pay with every other tank-full. Will the soccer game be cancelled? Probably. Will the world come to an end? No.
At one point or another, each of us has boycotted something. In the 60's enough of our potential dead soldiers boycotted the draft. Many suffered for it. But the point was recognized. Many of us are right now making every attempt to boycott products made in China ~ not an easy task, but little pockets of American artisans are reappearing.
There's another reason to wean ourselves away from oil. Not just "foreign" oil, but any. All. And that reason is by far more important than the dollars and cents that we're bleeding. It's our very planet. All the money in the world cannot buy our way off Earth.
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 21
Thanks for the rant.
Wow, now you've got MY blood boiling! Thanks for the great article.
Desperate circumstances call for desperate actions. If the consumer says "I've had enough of this, I'm not going to do this any more", change can occur. Which price would we rather pay? Prices are being raised every single day at the pumps ~ as soon as the new raw material price is announced ~ and before the crude with the new price is even loaded on the ship. The oil industry is appreciating MASSIVE profits. Why? Because we're so intoxicated, so addicted to this material, we're willing to pay any monetary cost to have it. What's going to be "too much" to pay out of our pockets? How much more are we willing to pay for a loaf of bread because those suppliers can't get it to us for the price of a gallon gas?
It's time for a tea party. (And, no, we certainly can't dump the crude into the bay.)
Please provide your alternative solution. Just talking about it out loud gets us all talking together; and from that, solutions can be found.
As for gas prices we had one in my area of Michigan jump to $4.099 yesterday. Most others are at $3.799 Its closer then we think.
I do not go out hardly ever anymore. Whos got the money too? I go to the store and pick up what I need and that is about it. Normally I visit family here and there and take the boys places, but with the gas prices so high I cant do it.
One of the most discouraging aspects of this is the memory of the solemn pledges to wean us from foreign oil that were made over thirty years ago. For those who recall that time, today probably must seem like just another page in a story that will never end.
And as long as the entrenched interests continue to profit exorbitantly from the status quo, so will it forever be - it seems.
Your article clearly reflects the anger building within this country that is essentially directed at a system that ignores the needs of the people and favors the interests of big business. And that anger may be the best hope we have....
I am in a wait-and-see 9denial) mode. I think (hope) that with the next administration the price of oil will miraculously come down. Just a hunch!
I am not sure what the real answers are. I don't think a one day boycott would affect any bottom line enough to make any real change but it would sure bring a lot of publicity to the cause and effect of the gas prices.
Good rant Aunt Boni. ;o)
I live 8 miles FROM town so every errand is that far away. I lump them into one day a week of dedicated shopping and appointments BUT still have the occassional need for a single trip over that 10 minute run.
ALSO I am in the process of moving my stuff to my folks' an hour away so that I can sellmy house and divorce. My life would have to be put further on hold if I cut back any more gasoline ! !
Secondly the first reason is NOT A CROCK. . I have a cousin who works in purchasing for an oil company and he says that we are constantly " bidding " against India, China and various pockets of demand in Africa and Asia that used to require the equivalent fuel of Rhode Island ! BUT now demand fairly large amounts in just a few years.
( China's oil demand doubles each year since 1999 )
I also have a college chum that lobbie for environmental causes in DC and he says that our worlds' refining facilities are so oput of date that they cant be safely used to full capacity. ( The CEO's and fat cats have lined their pockets, and those of their stockholders, with the money GIVEN BY OUR GOV'T earmarked for updating those sites )
Did you all know that EVEN IF we drill and build feining sites here, the oil would STILL go on the world market and fetch the same prices as now. ?
My only last comment is to advise you all that cheapest gas isnt always cheapest.
At the suggestion of my mechanic I have tried to run NON ETHANOL gas for several tanks even though its 14 cents more a gallon to do so.
The Lack of ethanol in my tank has risen my mileage by over 6 mpg.
do the math yourself BUT That makes my total money burned per mile traveled cheaper by a good margin than using the " cheapest " fuel .
The University of Iowa gives employees a larger travel allowance if they carpool and MUCH cheaper parking at lots where they can shuttle in with buses.
NOTE : On chevy trucks like mine ( and some other vehicles ) the only thing cooling the fuel pump is the gasoline in the tank. IF these vehicles are driven under half full for long periods the pump can fail ( my dad's was 275.00 repair ) so dont let gas prices make you drive empty in these vehicles the result may cost more yet
You sound just like my husband - he'll be happy to know he's not the only one say this!