Government officials hold solutions
By Betty Chandler
March 27, 2008
This year, vacations will come at a premium price – if you plan to travel by a gas-powered vehicle. Yesterday I heard a national news report that said the national average for a gallon of gas was standing at $3.15. But, that was yesterday. We went out last night, and gas prices have once again gone up, so make that $3.20 a gallon.
I’m getting a little tired of hearing our government leaders preaching about the upcoming national election, spending millions and millions of dollars, while the average household is now forced to wonder how they can make the drive to work, much less get out of town.
I’m old enough (of course, I am) to remember when gas was rationed in the 1970s. You couldn’t get gas. Most of our local service stations were allowing patrons a $5.00 limit, and if you had a farm and farm machinery, you were allowed an additional $5.00 worth. At the time, we farmed with a mule, so fuel was not a problem. Now, not only are farmers fighting the fuel battle, but the shortage of hay for livestock, as well.
Last week, the Unicoi County School System was forced to make some hard decisions regarding travel expenses, field trips, and athletic events. Once again, fuel is the “driving force.”
We lived in Mobile, Alabama during the 1980s. Dauphin Island, just below Mobile, was a showplace where the wealthy had their beach homes. Most were quite spectacular. But when you looked out over the Gulf of Mexico, you could see numerous off -shore drilling rigs. Also, there were and are small deposits of oil throughout the southwest of the U.S., and only recently have they been re-tapped. We have oil reserves, but not nearly to the extent that we need as a country.
Probably the hardest pill to swallow is the fact that the oil rich nations and OPEC, who spit out words and deeds of hatred against our country, are the same nations who hold us hostage today with crushing energy prices. What can we do? We can be more conscious than ever about our use of energy. Make fewer trips here and there, or at least, lump our business into one trip. Keep thermostats set moderately, and watch water consumption.
Whether or not it will help, we need to contact our government officials and ask that they work to resolve this issue, preferably by developing our own reserves, and in looking for other ways to create energy. Some are advocating nuclear energy. Take your pick.
There’s this old saying about, “the squeaking wheel gets the oil.” Well, we sure need the resources, so let’s start squeaking!
