Last night I had a nightmare that I was attacked and eaten by my gas-guzzling truck, and with the national average price for regular unleaded gasoline, I am really not surprised. Like many Americans, my vehicle gets an average of 15 miles per gallon, and with the average commute in America at about 45 miles a day, the hard-working, tax-paying citizen is left blowing the dust out of thier wallets at the pump, and the situation isn’t getting any better.
To bring that a little closer to home, let’s talk numbers: In March, 1988, the national average price of a gallon of gasoline was $1.07, and a decade later, in March 1998, a gallon of gas in America was roughly $1.22. As of today, the national average cost for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in America: $3.27.
That’s right, folks, the average price of a gallon of gas has gone up 268% in 10 years. Since George W. Bush came into office in January, 2001, the average price has risen from $1.65 to $3.27, an increase of 198%.
Of course, to put that in perspective, since January, 2001, we have also had the worst attack on US soil in our history, we have been engaged in two, separate, major military operations commonly referred to as “wars,” in countries overseas that happen to also have a major energy stockpile in oil reserves, and the markets have fluctuated between very strong and very weak. And of course, 4,000 American servicemen and women killed in action.
In more recent months, we have seen the abuse of mortgage lending, causing a crisis in the lending community, a drop in the national economy, the continued struggle in Iraq, tensions with North Korea, and the general consensus of Americans that something has to change.
How far are we really willing to go to change things? General Motors reports that SUV sales are down 20%. Even Facebook has “groups” dedicated to different ideas to lower the price of gas. Ideas about gas boycotts have made the mainstream news before (see the MSNBC .com article). A movement is in the air but, truth be told, the movement lacks spirit.
Unfortunately, Americans have lost their sense of fight. There was a time in this country when people fought against unfair prices and taxation. I, for example, happen to remember a few Boston fellows getting together and tossing tea into the Charles River to show their disdain.
Now, I am not saying we should throw barrels of oil into the ocean in defiance of Big Oil. I am pretty sure that Texaco already has that covered. Instead, let’s make an effort. Write letters to congressmen and senators. Talk to people. Boycott, and mean it. Whatever you do, stick with it. No one wants to pay $4.00 per gallon any time soon, but unless we, as a people, stand up and do something to make a change, my nightmares may just become a reality.
About Sean J. Palmer
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