Gas Prices
Posted by hope on July 24, 2008
I just spent almost $67 filling the tank of my minivan. I go through about one full tank a week, and it doesn’t seem like that long ago that I was bemoaning the $45 fill up. I’m certainly not thrilled to be paying so much ($3.90 a gallon today) but I am about ready to scream at all the politicians – of both parties – who want to do something about the price of gas.
I completely oppose the Republican effort to open up ANWR and coastline for drilling. We would get a “minimal and delayed at best” impact on gas prices and in the process damage a protected natural area and the ocean/coastlines. In any case, this “solution” that isn’t actually a solution assumes that the problem is our dependence on foreign oil, when the real problem we need to face head-on is our dependence on oil, period, regardless of where it comes from.
But I am also quite exasperated with the Democrats, who have been pushing to tap the strategic petroleum reserve. For once, I approve of something Congressional Republicans did. The SPR should be used only in case of a real emergency or urgent national need. Four dollar per gallon gas simply does not constitute a national emergency. And this proposal, like the Republicans’ more-drilling proposal, is another non-solution (its affect on prices would be minimal and short-term at best) that assumes the wrong problem: it isn’t that we need to increase the supply of oil so that prices go down, rather we need to decrease our dependence on oil.
We need to clearly define the issue(s) we as a nation should address, then develop solutions that directly affect the issue and minimize negative side effects.
One issue is that some people can’t afford current gas prices. Now, I don’t like paying current prices, but I can afford it, and many Americans would have to admit the same thing. People like me (and probably you) don’t need the government to help us score cheaper gas. Not everyone will agree government needs to help lower-income people buy gas, but to the degree policymakers want to address the afforability issue, they should craft more directly relevant solutions. Propose a tax credit or even a payment to people under a certain income to offset what they spend on gas. Create a program akin to Food Stamps so that those with qualifying incomes get a certain amount of help buying gas each month. Opening up the SPR or new areas for drilling don’t directly address immediate affordability for those who actually need help, and will result in numerous negative externalities that can be avoided with a more targeted response.
The other issue we need to address is our society’s dependence on oil. Neither more drilling nor drawing upon the SPR addresses that issue at all.
Both proposals are solutions in search of a problem.
Sam said
I absolutely agree with you on every point you made.
tim said
It takes us $100 to fill up the minivan. It takes $$45 to fill up the Chevy CAvalier. Neither are gas guzzlers, but neither are “greenmobiles” either.
Our gas budget has tripled this year even though we drive less and have gone out of state only once. Our grocery bill has tripled this year. That may not be a national crisis or proof of recession but we are feeling the squeeze that your average living almost paycheck to paycheck american family feels.
My solution….stop going places, walk when you can, ride a bike if you can. Essentially suck it up as long as we continue to live like the energy sucking cancers that we are.
Perhaps we should just suck the earth dry and then we would all be forced to use alternative energy. Who cares about pristine environments if i cant live in constant 78%, drive to the gym, eat organic foods dirt cheap, etc.
tim said
that was JOy