A major issue currently facing American citizens is the rising prices of gas. It’s not only limiting how much we drive, but also increasing the prices of other necessities such as food. In order to accommodate for the rising price of gas, shipping costs have risen as well. This issue needs to be addressed because while gas prices continue to rise, most American’s aren’t seeing a raise in their pay to compensate for this increasing margin.
The increase in gas prices has been gradual over the past year, only skyrocketing in the past month. It began as a steady increase, with many complaining when it hit $3.00 a gallon. Now prices will increase $.10 in one week! Pretty soon the cost of transporting to and from work will cost more than a paycheck for some. If not addressed soon, the nation could see a significant decrease the revenue generated by traditional tourist attractions. Families will no longer be able to find the money to take road trips and many will find airline prices unaffordable. Travel is also important in the shipment of groceries and other leisure items we take for granted. Prices of everyday household items continue to increase as well because it costs so much more to have it shipped. An unavoidable chain reaction will occur if this problem is not addressed. Soon people will not be able to afford gas to drive to work, thus suspending their source of income and limiting their funds for necessary expenses. The lack of extra spending money as well, will not only be a personal burden to citizens, but will also affect the income of retail shops that rely on these customers’ business.
The government has promised to seek a solution, at least temporary, to lower prices though no changes have actually been seen. How high do the prices have to get before officials realize that average American’s can barely afford to drive to work? The Bush Administration has agreed to increase oil drilling over seas to hopefully alleviate the stress slightly, but how long will it be for and what does lowering actually mean? With the increased emphasis on the upcoming election, it seems like more money is going into campaigns than into finding solutions to these devastating problems. Sometimes as citizens, we tend to lose focus on the issues that need primary attention. Though the plans our legislators have for the future tend to draw our attention, we also need to ensure that we are demanding improvement of our current situation.
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3 comments:
I totally agree with you. It seems as if our nation is in a downward spiral of negative economical effects because of the high gas prices. When it cost people twice as much to commute to work as it did two years ago and these same people have not received a pay raise then these individuals are unable to compensate. Instead of not driving to work which would ensure the loss of their job, these people are forced to cut back on expenses elsewhere which in turn affects other aspects of our economy and drives those prices up as well.
Head officials of the U.S. have been giving citizens the run around. They say they are doing what they can, meanwhile the only change we see are the increasing gas prices! Officials have been vague about plans to reduce gas prices and increase drilling for oil off shores. I suspect if they do not get their plans in action the economy will only become worse and many citizens may face severe financial difficulties trying to maintain the life they are used to while budgeting their gas expenses.
"This morning, prompted by increasing concerns about terrorism, oil prices reached a record high as the cost of a barrel of crude is a whopping $44.34. Wow, it seems shocking that a product of finite supply gets more expensive the more we use it. Now the terror alert means higher oil prices, which oddly enough means higher profits for oil companies giving them more money to give to politicians whose policies may favor the oil companies such as raising the terror alert level. As Simba once told us: 'It's the circle of life."~Jon Stewart
There has been an energy crisis for many years now. Unfortunately its economic effects have taken a drastic turn for the worst in recent months. As the author mentioned, consumer gas prices are not the only area of increased costs. I have worked in the restaurant industry for several years and have recently seen significant menu increases. Let me assure you that the price of growing produce and raising cattle hasn't changed much, but transportation costs have certainly increased. Is anything being done about this crisis? The author seems to think not.
Every major auto company has devoted significant resources to developing energy-saving cars. This past year hybrid engines were included in many low-end and luxury class models. Certainly economic pressures will continue to drive up the demand for more fuel efficient cars, and manufacturers will likely answer accordingly. Despite these recent efforts, car companies are not the only ones looking out for our future.
The government has assumed a great deal of responsibility for energy efficiency. Recent legislation and political efforts have pressured manufacturers into improving vehicle performance. Unfortunately the economy won't feel an relief until consumers begin to purchase hybrid models more steadily. The government has played its part in two areas. First, many low-efficiency vehicles require an additional gas-guzzler tax upon purchase. Ideally this penalty will discourage consumer dependence on such cars. Secondly, the government began offering a $4000 tax credit for purchase of certain hybrid autos. These two actions are significant steps toward a more energy-minded population.
So is there an end in sight? There most certainly is. Our current economic crisis has induced drastic changes. We have made significant strides in many areas: consumer, industrial, and political. There is still a great deal of innovation that needs to take place. The government will need to maintain its role in encouraging energy-efficiency. Initially alternative energy resources will require a great deal of funding, but long term returns will be extraordinary. As oil prices continue to rise, improvements in energy usage are imminent. How much are Americans willing to endure before requiring change?
In response to Is There An End In Sight?
I completely agree, "A major issue currently facing American citizens is the rising prices of gas." It is an issue that is affecting the quality of life for all Americans that drive and it doesn't seem like the problem is going to go away any time soon. The main point in my colleague’s article is that the government needs step up to the plate, acknowledge their promise, and take action on this national issue and sooner rather than later, and also permanently. No band-aid can cover this bullet wound. The government needs to step in because Americans depend on transportation for many aspects of their livelihood. She makes a clear argument with evidence such as gas price statistics from past years and also with basic knowledge of inflation. If gas prices go up, the price to transport goods including food goes up, and as a result the price of goods go up. So even if we could scrounge enough change out of the sofa for gas to get to HEB, once we were there we couldn’t afford the groceries. Also no one will be able to afford to go on vacation by road or air because it is too expensive. Families will become isolated from each other. As gas prices sore, American contentment will plummet. What a dilemma. This argument has effectively convinced me of the importance of the US government fixing this problem as soon as possible.
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