I posted a funny pic on Saturday that my wife sent me of a gas pump emblazoned with the phrase "Ride Your Bike". Uncle Chippie pointed out the futility of me expecting folks to see the error in judgement regarding their obsession with petrol.
Regardless of how much sarcasm (or is it sardonicism?) I incorporate in my every day life, i am for all intents and purposes a pragmatic optimist. I would like to think that humans given enough incentive will do the right thing. Some need more of a push then others though. And I see more and more folks each day coming in to visit and in varying degrees pledge to ween themselves off the oil teet. For the commute to work, or to run errands, or as a transportation substitute on the weekends (silliest thing I see is bikes strapped to the back of an SUV as they drive to the Pinellas trail?)
So for the folks who need a push...
The only sure fire incentive that seems to work is financial. In European countries they pay on average 2 to 3 times what we as Americans do. That should change. Tax gasoline at a higher rate and use the proceeds to finance research into greener solutions to our energy needs. Stop giving welfare to the oil companies, instead feed the alternative market. The cars on the road today are and have been a MAJOR factor in our current climate condition. We charge fines and levy fee's against corporate polluters and all the folks driving to Earth Day celebrations in their Suburbans and Escalades applaud this. Well it's about time that those contributing to our atmospheric soup pitch in!
I think the day we see a gallon of regular at or over $10.00? Once folks are paying more to fuel their car then they do to live in their house? Maybe then they will smell the Folgers.
We air breathers can only wait and hope.
BUT, if you are ready to make the change here's a few goodies put out this weekend.
(Shameless exploitation, I know.)
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| DAHON FOLDING 5 SPEED ONLY $110.00!! |
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| LADIES 6-SPEED COMFORT CRUISER ONLY $75.00!! |
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| LIKE NEW MENS SCHWINN MTB !! ONLY $95.00!! |
You touched on one of the most interesting aspects of oil and gasoline, Steven: How high will it go (before it goes away)? At some point, every gas pump in America will have to be recalibrated to sell gas above $9.99/9 a gallon, just as they had to be rebuilt to handle gas over $.99/9 some years ago.
ReplyDeleteJoAnn and I find that we drive a lot less once gas approaches $4.00 a gallon. Not everyone has that option, but it was all their choice.
Few will make the transition willingly.
Some won't make it at all.
I presume that eventually we will all HAVE too. There has to come a point where industry will say WAIT we depend on petroleum for not only fuel, but product as well. Then the military is going to have to step in with estimates and projections once the shortages become a threat to their capability to deploy and maintian. I'm surprised we are not there now.
ReplyDeleteThere's something called "demand destruction" at work in this. That means those that can afford oil the least will be the first to fold. That is already happening in third world countries, freeing up some oil for the fat cats like us. we are among the top-tier buyers when it comes to oil. We might scream and cry and complain, but we'll be buying it long after most of the rest of the world is back to bicycles and ox carts.
ReplyDeleteWe will not go willingly into that post-oil future.