I need not remind you that gasoline in the US is creeping up to $3 per gallon. People seem upset about it. Others wonder how they're going to feed their families, as I mentioned in my last post. I also mentioned how the rest of the world pays a heck of a lot more than we do! And, that is one of my points in this posting. Interestingly, The Times in the UK published the article headlined "At $3 a gallon, the Americans are squealing." In fact, it's the non-Americans that don't quite understand our fuss.
"This is, of course, still far less than the equivalent of about $8 being paid by British motorists, but such comparisons hold little sway in the US where, for many, the unfettered freedom of the individual to drive across wide-open spaces is almost part of the Constitution. By contrast, public transport has, historically at least, been regarded as un-American." – Times Online
In reality, this price boost could be something the American people really need. It forces us to conserve, drive less, and force development of alternative fuel. Even just being less dependent on foreign oil changes many economic worries. Matt Harrison of the Prometheus Institute makes all these points. People are concerned, yes (below), but we really need to take a step back and ask ourselves if all this worrying and complaining is worth it. Look at our situation from the perspective of someone in another nation. What can we do so we're not the largest pig in the world oil market? Sidenote: You know the USA consumes 20 million barrels of oil a day (!).
