Thursday, May 15, 2008

Onward Gasoline Prices

Remember the good old days about 4 weeks ago when I filled up the tank of my car with gasoline that cost $3.60 per gallon?

Well, as I anticipated then, it didn't take long for the price of gasoline here on Long Island to pierce the $4.00 per gallon mark.

Long Island's Cable News 12 and newspaper Newsday have articles on the reaction of Long Islanders to the price rise here and here. Newsday's James Klurfeld has a column here, where he concludes glumly "I've begun to wonder if the suburban lifestyle, the Long Island lifestyle, will still be viable a generation from now."

As I wrote in my initial post linked to above, as well as this more recent one, some of the ways I have tried to respond constructively to the increase in the cost of gasoline include reducing my driving and to using my bicycle when possible for local errands.

I don't doubt that other people are responding in a similar fashion. It got me to thinking that among the many consequences of the rise in gasoline prices it seems certain that as more suburbanites switch to bike riding that we will begin to see an increase in (1) bicycle riders who are killed or injured riding on main roads, and (2) bicycle thefts. It also would not surprise me if owners of gas guzzling vehicles like Hummers® become victims of acts of vandalism by angry people looking to vent their misplaced rage against convenient scapegoats.

One thing for sure, there will be no quick fix to this situation. We have had cheap gas for so long that we began to think of it as an entitlement. Several years ago, when my wife used to work on weekends, I would sometimes pass the time on nice, sunny days by putting my kids in their booster seats and going for scenic drives. Those days, like the days of cheap oil, are over.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

You've a great blog here--I'm finding it most enjoyable..gracias, compadre.

Yes, that dreaded hour is upon us, certes. And if that came as a surprise to any clear-thinking adult in this country, why, I'd be a bit incredulous.

Or would I?

Upon reflection; I first consider the current, day-to-day condition found within the overall reality of our surroundings...

Then, I ponder further all that we, the loyal citizenry, did to create & shape these conditions we now find ourselves...

And, sadly, I've surmised that there no longer is any degree of unawareness, nor depth of ignorance, nor display of intellectual vacancy by my docile brethren which might possibly cause me to be alarm'd, or concerned, even.

Afterall, we allowed things to get this far, yes? And just by basically standing back...piece of cake.

However, I'm quite struck by just how deeply impacted our overall emotional/intellectual health has been over these last 7+ years--truth be told, the American psyche has endured, almost weekly, one outrageous (e)affront after another.

We've been shocked senseless with a relentless Blitze Kriege of very unsettling revelations regarding the ethical, moral & character integrity of (and beyond)the entire executive branch of our government!

Why did we not kick the bums out years ago? I'm mystified.

Perhaps it because I think that most of us middle-class Americans are suffering, en masse, under some sort, or variation, of PTSD, and without being aware of that, either.

We're virually un-shockable nowadays-completely desensitized to even the most blatant abuses of power. There's no end to the High Crimes & Misdemeaners we'll overlook these days.

That must be fixed...quickly.

The road ahead is going to be a real MoFo, and we're going to need to be firing on all cylanders lest we find ourselves farther back in the pack than we'd heretofor ever consider'd. No longer numero uno?! My, that would be a shock to the system, wouldn't it?

And one I'm in no hurry to experience, I assure you. Tough days a-coming...

I've rambled..I guess my point is, if there is one, is that this fuel rate hike is only the first little bump of what will surely be a very hard road ahead & I hope people start waking up as to the gravity of what we, as a nation, are facing now, & will continue to face, these next few decades.

Unfortunately, as to our chances for sustaining (even anywhere near) our exalted global position...forget it.

I'm becoming more & more pessimistic with each new display of steadfast non-budging from that soft-in-the-middle plodding, lethargic comfy zone we've grown to love soooo well. It's caught up w/us.

Okay, anyway, that's all. Now, being King of the World, as we are, I deserve a big fat rest after such a long post...

/;~) nyuck nyuck nyuck

A joke--again, cool blog, guy. I've bookmark'd it. C ya 'round.

bullet said...

"I've begun to wonder if the suburban lifestyle, the Long Island lifestyle, will still be viable a generation from now."

Of course it will. People will adapt. Corporations will adapt. It's taken a while, but we're moving in that direction.

Tommykey said...

Hello and welcome BIX12. Thanks for your comments.

Yes, we do indeed face tough times ahead.

Bullet, I agree, circumstances change and we find ways to adapt to them.

Joe said...

$4 a gallon? I've got a diesel car and fuel is 80 cents higher than regular out here in California. Talk about a gouge.

tina FCD said...

I just read in the newspaper that my state is the highest in the nation.(Mich.)