Where the problem lies.

Everyone wants to blame gas prices for the problems in the world today but the truth is, gas prices aren’t the problem. We have just become soft and lazy. We want the good things in life and we were willing to pay for the as long as the price wasn’t too high. Now that prices are soaring, we aren’t willing to give up the luxuries. Let’s face it people are just wasteful. But why not cash in on this….read on.

When I was growing up in our little town in Florida, our house had no AC. Our car had no AC either. We would drive that car all the way to NY In July with 6 people in it. We never complained. We were happy just to be going somewhere other than home. Now days every car has air conditioning. Everyone wants room and comfort. They want cars that can go zero to sixty in just 6 seconds. They want individual air conditioners and individual DVD/CD players. I guess those days of three in the front and three in the back are gone forever.

This morning, on my way to work, I stopped at a red light just before hitting the highway. When the light turned green, I began accelerating at what I considered a reasonable speed. My goal is to hit 60 mph by the end of the entrance ramp so that I can merge safely. Usually once I merge, I do slow down to 55 if the traffic is light, just to save more gas. This morning, there was a guy in a huge pickup truck right behind me. He obviously was in a hurry because he was so close to me on that entrance ramp that I couldn’t see his headlights. As we approached the highway and before the solid line was gone, he hit the gas, sped across two lanes, passed me and was gone. By the time I got onto the highway.

Now really, was that necessary? I bet this same guy will be complaining about the gas prices, the next time he puts 100.00 worth of gas in his truck. I used to have a truck like his and I know they have two 25 gallon tanks in them. That’s a lot of gas. First off he should slow down. Secondly, why is he driving this huge truck all by himself? Here I am driving my little economy car, saving gas and this fool is wasting it faster than I can save it. I would car pool but no one around me is going my way. Yes I am complaining but as I tell people around here, don’t complain if you don’t have a solution and here it is.

“Gas coupons for everyone”. Each family would get a gas coupon for 50 gallons of gas a week. That should be enough for most families to get to work and run errands. These coupons would be free for every working adult. After that gas would cost 10.00 a gallon. So if you want to be a two hummer family and waste gas, that is your option but you are going to have to pay for it. If you want to keep your lead food, go for it I say. If you want to take trips across the country you will either have to save up gas coupons or pay out the nose for that liberty. We could pay the gas companies the first 5.00 and the rest could go to pay for our national debt. I bet in a year, we would pay off the national debt and the gas company CEO’s would be happy too.

This crazy idea of a gas holiday is just ridiculous. Not buying gas for a day is rediculous. Tomorrow you will just have to buy twice as much. We need to take some serious action and I am offering my idea for either candidate to adopt. I don’t expect any kickback from my idea although a little recognition would be appreciated. We could call it the Cushing plan since that is my last name and Cushing Oklahoma is where our biggest stockpile of oil is located. Check it out, it's true. We have enough oil there to run the country for years if they just adopt my gas plan. Think about it and write your congressman.

Have a great day and happy motoring.
Greg

Comments

Lori said…
I'm just glad I don't have a car. (Not that the price of gas doesn't affect other things.) That's an interesting solution Greg. Maybe the candidates will pick up on it. They really need to do something!
I live in a very rural part of the country so I have to drive a lot to get to any store or to work. Even on the side of the city I am living on, there is not a Walmart or a gas station within 7 minutes drive. Charleston is a better city for those who want to carpool or rely on city transportation or just plain walk/bike. Cedar Rapids, not so much. The city is not built for that kind of lifestyle; and needless to say, come winter (which is pretty much 8 months long!!) time, it is not feasible for people to bike or walk to work.
I know I personally have cut down on my roadtrips this year after the gas hit over $3/gallon. But I still enjoy roadtripping and try to limit it to once or twice a month on my days off. I drive to take Kira to the dog park some 20 minutes away. I drive to work. I drive to get groceries and other necessities. I have a car that is suppoed to get 33 mpg but it doesn't always. But I also see nothing wrong with owning a truck or an SUV. In fact, come this fall, I will be the owner of a brand new 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid. I need the space for hauling my stuff when I go camping and fishing and with the dog. And it is way better to drive on backcountry roads with an SUV than a small car. The SUV will get 34 mpg in town and 30 mpg on the highway. So, not all SUV's or trucks are bad. In fact, I know Chevy makes a Silverado hybrid truck that gets better gas mileage, as well.
And I am guilty of accelerating past slower drivers on the highway or interstate.
I don't think we need to jack up gas prices. I think the solution needs to come from creating an alternative fuel source. There are hydrogen run vehicles that get phenomenal mpg. There are battery operated vehicles, as well. More experimentation needs to take place and more research needs to be done to find a replacement for our current fuel source.
*sorry if i sound grouchy with my comment. i don't intend to.
Angie said…
Interesting thoughts, Greg. I liked your story of long trip w/o AC. I remember those days. We are pampered people aren't we?
Susan Skitt said…
Interesting Greg :) I can identify with that "type" of driver, not that I do that, but just that I've experienced impatient people like him on the road.

You know, one thing I was amazed with being a Pennsylvanian is when my hubby and I drove across the state of Texas many years back on vacation, is how laid back and friendly the drivers were. We were out in the country so I'm not so sure how those Texan city drivers are, but I digress.

Anyhow, on the Cushing plan I guess I'd need to save a whole lot of gas coupons for vacation... as long as those coupons don't expire - lol!
ChrisJ said…
It's good to hear someone offer a solution instead of blaming everyone else. My husbands been gone for a month. He left me with a full tank of gas. He got back this evening and there's still a quarter of a tank left.
Lori said…
It sounds like you have puts some thought into all of this instead of just complaining about it.

It's time I write congress.

Blessings,

Lori

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