As the newscasters report the daily Mt. Everest gas prices, as though they’re reciting the Dow Jones average, I see the roving reporters stick a microphone in the faces of ordinary citizens who are filling up at the pump.
Why do all these people smile at the camera, as if they’re having a grand old time? They’re not on “Deal or No Deal” and haven’t won the lottery. Why can’t one of them be brave enough to say, “What do you expect me to say? Of course I’m not happy about this situation, and it’s time we rebelled as a collective group. Everyone should downsize to a smaller vehicle, whatever they can comfortably afford and live with. That’s the way to get back at the oil gouging companies. STOP SMILING! You’re not Barack, John, or Hillary making a whistle stop tour to get more super delegate votes.
We are privileged to live in such a wealthy company, however, we’re slowly squeezing out the middle class, as these prices continue to spiral out of control. We all need to band together and take some action!! I’m tired of being barraged by e-mails that tell me to send the message to 10 of my friends so 30 million people can eventually be reached. Essentially, the same e-mail continues to boomerang that instructs the reader NOT to buy gas from Citgo (because of Hugo Chavez), BP or Mobil. Supposedly these big three will reduce their prices when no one buys their gas.
Doesn’t it make more sense to trade in your gas-guzzlers and try to find a more fuel-efficient vehicle? Of course we can try to take public transportation or use alternate modes to get to work. Those suggestions have always been cited as ways to reduce the gas crisis. Yet I haven’t heard anyone say that we should all look for a trade-in to reduce consumption.
My greatest fear is that the Bush administration is setting us up to introduce more drilling in the last frontier, Alaska, and its pristine terrain. If we all get sick of the astronomical costs of gas and start to panic at the thought of how we’re going to make ends meet, a great number of us may cave in and vote for more drilling in our 49th state. Or perhaps we no longer want to be beholden to the Middle East for our fuel supply. Maybe then our government’s propaganda may alter our objections to drilling in our own country.
Before we reach this drastic measure, why not think about finding a more economical mode of transportation? Americans traditionally don’t like to be inconvenienced and traditionally want immediate gratification for their needs. Now is the time to sacrifice our desires for more immediate economical relief. If we don’t, we may face even further dire consequences…..
