I certainly do not condone gas companies making outrageous profits off of sky high gas prices during an economic crisis. I did, however, take great joy in the changes that the United States finally started making once gas started moving into luxury status.
The U.S has been sluggish at best in reforming its bullish ways and adopting more sustainable practices. U.S automakers such as Chevrolet and Ford have had fuel efficient cars on the european market for years and claim they need time to develop the technology. What Americans think they "need" in terms of material goods in light of information about the damage being done to the environment for those goods never made a difference. Apparently we can look past a brown cloud across our skyline, but $4.00 a gallon!? That is disgusting and we will not stand for it!
Yes, I was glad when gas prices neared $5.00 a gallon. Not everything good can be measured in monetary terms. If that is what its going to take to push Americans into reforming their wasteful habits, then so be it.
I realize this is not a post specific to environmental policy, but I thought I would get the semester off with some good old political ranting.
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ReplyDeleteI read the above mentioned article (Associated Press 1/28/09) that talk about the issue you brought forward. We must understand that although the gasoline prices are creeping up (for vehicle use) the producers and sellers are not selling all their holdings for they are anticipating that some of their product will be used in the construction of projects funded with the stimulus bill Obama wants to sign. All is linked!!!
Oil and gas prices in today's market seem to be less a function of supply & demand, and more a function of market manipulation.
ReplyDeleteIt was funny that oil prices began to crash only hours after a July reversal of a deregulation policy.
I agree that price is an effective means of making change, but that price spike was planned and controlled for the purpose of individual profit.
If the price increase was the result of a tax or tariff that was responsibly controlled and managed then a real paradigm shift would occur and the proceeds from the revenue would help make the transition a smooth one.
A problem is that it is difficult to trust government on any level to do that.
Looked at the stimulus bill. Passed filled along party lines and filled with pet projects and line items designed to get support.
It seems more like a spend and borrow bill as opposed to economic stimulus. Not to mention the 10 trillion hagover from the Bush Regime. Now 11.13 trillion and counting.
This is why were here I guess, to iron tihs all out...
Unfortunately, it has come down to the increased gas prices, to get Americans to think about what the value of one mile actually is. However, although you saw the $5.00 a gallon as a sign of good reform. Did you think of the social injustices that it was also contributing to. I agree with your standpoint and am also glad that our consumer driven minds have had to take a step back and think of each mile, purchase, and wasteful step. However, I also think that the big jump put a lot of the lower class in a tight place.
ReplyDeleteThis is at fault of the way our cities have been designed. Pushing the lower class out to the rims of the city due to the bid rent function, or the inner city rents being affordable only to the mid to high class. The lower class are forced to find transportation to the job market (in most cases the inner city). Yet, they are the ones who care about the extra mile and the extra expense.
Although higher gas prices was an awakening time for most, the high class was not greatly effected by the few extra dollars. On the contrary, the low class was greatly effected. Again, the social injustices are great and need to be looked at in such a reform.
No, I couldn't agree more with all of you. Of course I do not agree with how the profits were being distributed and how the U.S people were being abused through gas prices. It still was nice to read about consumption going down and how Hummer sales were virtually at a stand still!
ReplyDeleteThis is a response to Christen's comment above. I appreciated your response regarding the design of cities. I am an urban planner and this topic really hit home when the gas prices spiked this last year. It was unfortunate that light rail was not up and running yet to help some of those people in the outer ring get to the inner ring for work (although I know that doesn't solve the entire problem).
ReplyDeleteResponse to the rest of the comments: It is unfortunate that it takes such a drastic issue to change the mindset of others to be more environmentally conscious. The problem is although everyone started carpooling, biking, etc., they mainly made the change for personal economic reasons, and their mindset was reversed as soon as the problem stopped hitting home (gas prices dropped). I literally could tell each morning that there were more vehicles on the 101 as the gas prices started to drop. It was a bummer because everyone was having shorter commute times and helping the environment!