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Gas prices empty pockets, provide important lesson |
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Monday, 16 June 2008 |
The headlines have been non-stop lately as they proclaim the increasing gas prices with numbers that rise almost every night.
Americans are asking all over the country whether or not there will be any relief from the price of fuel, and many families are having to come up with an alternative to summer vacations that require driving a far distance.
Even airlines have been forced to compensate for expensive fuel prices by charging a service fee for passenger’s checked luggage.
In
a day where the average cost of a gallon of gas in the nation is
currently hovering at approximately $4, people are trying their hardest
to come up with what they consider to be the best solution.
Even Jeep dealerships have jumped at the chance, as they introduced
their “Let’s Refuel America” Program, giving participants the
opportunity to buy or lease a qualifying 2008-2009 vehicle and fill it
up with gas locked in at a price of $2.99 per gallon. Those who decide
to participate in the program use a card that is linked to their credit
card account and can buy fuel at the $2.99 price for three years, with
a limit of 12, 000 miles per year.
“These are challenging times. Fortunately, the Let’s Refuel America Program is doing what it can to help,” Jeep.com says.
However, Jeep is not the only company.
The June 16 edition of Newsweek contained a short essay written by Bob
Lutz, General Motors’ vice chairman of the company’s global product
development. In the essay Lutz discusses how General Motors will be
exploring other options outside of gasoline.
In the article, Lutz said, “…[General Motors is] going to increase our
[research and development] spending to expand alternative fuel
solutions and advanced technology solutions to lessen and ultimately
eliminate everyone’s dependence on petroleum.”
While both options could, and most likely will, have an influence on
rising gas prices, there is something simple that can be done by almost
everyone in the country.
Americans, myself included, have a problem with indulgence. I complain
almost every day about how I don’t have enough money to drive my 2002
Ford Mustang around. Yet most of the time, I don’t actually need to
drive to where I am going.
It is easy to think we need to drive everywhere we go, simply because
we don’t want to deal with public transportation or walking.
Those of us who are living in Boone this summer (or even part of the
summer) have an advantage: for the most part, the places we need to go
are in a location where we can walk, ride a bike or ride the AppalCART.
We live in a beautiful area—why not take advantage of the summer Boone
weather when the ground isn’t covered in ice and snow?
Although this doesn’t apply everywhere we go, it can be a lesson in
learning to consolidate our driving, and to only drive when absolutely
necessary.
The U.S. economy is losing ground fast, and while some believe there
will be a quick recovery in the near future, inflation continues to be
a trend, especially in regards to oil and food.
There is not much college students can do to fight back—but we do have
the option of not buying into the oil company’s wishes by pouring our
hard-earned money into their outrageous gas prices.
Let’s use the resources we have around us, instead: get on the bus or use our own legs.
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