I cringe every time I drive past a gas station and see how high prices are going. Especially when you see a staggering jump, such was the case week or two ago when I saw it jump 28 cents in just 2 days. It makes me wonder, as prices keep going higher and higher with no foreseeable relief in sight, at what point will it be enough that something actually changes?
When gas prices topped $3/gal a couple years ago, I thought we would start seeing radical changes in habits and technology. But so far it’s been a little bit of changing and a lot of talking and complaining. I wonder if $4/gal will be the point at which we start seeing ideas, solutions and changes. Potential economic devastation aside, I think there are some good things that could potentially result from high gas prices. However, the way in which gas guzzling is woven into the fabric of our society is going to make for a very painful time indeed.
One thing is for sure, government doesn’t have the answers. Hillary Clinton is proposing a temporary gas tax holiday which will accomplish absolutely nothing. I’m not sure what McCain’s proposal is, but it’s probably whatever President Bush does, which is to visit Saudi Arabia to try and coax them into boosting production… a near sighted band-aid at best. To me, the only real solution is the to drastically cut consumption. Be it new types of fuel, higher mpg cars, re-thinking how we develop cities and infrastructure…probably all of the above.
What changes come about from high gas prices? I would expect the first thing we see in days ahead is more efficient cars on the road, and less large SUVs. Simply because many people won’t be able to afford them anymore. And I’m hopeful that we will not be so stubborn to think the only solution is to spend ourselves into oblivion. Having been to the Middle East, I have seen first hand what astounding things our oil dollars buy. I wish that money was staying here and supporting our people and business.
Our country might be the richest, but it sure isn’t the smartest!
That’s the truth, Hannah! I have discovered, however, that buying a nice gas-saving used car is very difficult. We want to buy a four-door hatch-style car that gets good gas mileage, and our choices in Springfield at the used car lots is nonexistent! We’re going to KC to try our luck there. So it’s not just that we Americans are stupid, it’s also that automakers are stupid for continuing to market and focus on cars that suck gas!
For a long time American car companies have emphasized on horsepower, but that’s been because a large segment of american buyers weren’t concerned so much with mpg. I think that will change if american buyers in mass quantities start preferring gas sippers over gas guzzlers (as you put it). I think you can already see some evidence of that actually.
Wow…umm…why is everyone on this “America is Stupid” kick? Are you including yourself as one of the “stupids”…or are you just generalizing everyone ELSE into that category!?
On a serious note though…I know you aren’t talking about individuals specifically….I think all of these problems stem more from greed and laziness than anything. It’s human nature to be greedy and lazy…and with wealth and knowledge, it allows us to be so that much more. This problem won’t be solved unless the majority of the country is willing to do something uncomfortable, and put forth some effort…..