By Brian Livingston
blivingston@themeridianstar.com
I was watching the Will Smith movie "I am legend" recently when I noticed something in one of the scenes.
As Smith's character is getting gas from a gas station in a deserted New York City, and keep in mind this movie takes place in the year 2013, the price of gas showed $6.65 a gallon. I fear we are well on our way to that becoming a reality instead of a movie prop.
Everytime I go to put gas in my vehicle I curse the politicians who've allowed this to happen. Most people blame Bush but it really is the fault of all politicians who have let the common citizen of this country down. We shouldn't have to endure this attack on our livelihoods. When gas goes up, everything goes up. The price for food, clothes, everything that relies on gas to be transported to stores is higher. And who has to eat this? We do!
There is no oil shortage. I was taught in college economics that supply and demand determines pricing of products. When shortages occur, such as happens periodically with the orange crop whenever there is a spring freeze, the price of orange juice logically goes up. Not so with oil.
Apparently our politicians own oil stocks and seeing they vote themselves hefty pay raises each year, what's a few more cents for a gallon of gas. They can handle it. But when we, the consumers, who've not had a pay raise in years despite mounting inflation, go to the pumps or the grocery store, we must fork out more of our hard-earned money to feed and clothe our families.
The problem with our system of government now is much like an old grandfather clock that is slowly winding down. Our government is grinding to a halt. Politicians are thought to be smart people. I beg to differ. The smart people are those who know better than to put themselves in a difficult situation, such as public office. Our federal government is full of people who have no inclination to change things otherwise we wouldn't be looking at $3.35 per gallon now.
I don't want a communist system or a dictatorship. I just want those responsible for representing me to do just that.....represent me and my views, problems and concerns.
If there is a silver lining to all of this outrageous oil pricing it may be in the form of alternate fuels. For years the technology has been out there but, again, because politicians were holding back the companies wanting to go mainstream with their ideas, the changes have been slow in coming.
My only hope is that something good will come from all of this, if not for me but for my children. But for how much longer do we have to put up with this? And when will the people of America say, "Enough already!"
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3 comments:
Like you said, the problem is that the smart people will not run for office. Its unfortunate because we go to vote and usually just vote against someone instead of for someone. This is certainly the case for me in this Presidential election
I think the root of the problem is the diversion from the Founder's intent of the citizen-statesman. People should serve...focus on the serve part...for one or two terms, then return to their careers. It seems like any time a politician is in office for more than two terms or so that he is bought and paid for for as long as he stays there.
...in the meantime, you can go to some websites, such as gasbuddy.com and find the cheapest gas in town! that site was made known to me a few years ago, when gas was hovering around $2/gal.
Thanks Kelly. But with gas hovering on Wednesday near $3.50/gallon, there's no such thing as cheap anymore. But every penny counts I guess.
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