Published: May 09, 2008 01:20 pm            

Feeling the Pinch

You get in your car, place the key in the ignition (after buckling up of course) and turn the key, hearing the engine turn over and start.

That simple task is becoming more difficult to do as images of dollar bills being flushed down the toilet run through my mind. I filled up my gas tank a week ago, and, after paying, I felt I had been punched in the stomach. Yesterday, I simply drove by the gas station, saw the price of regular unleaded and felt the gut wrenching sensation.

Gas prices are jumping by dimes and nickels now, sprinting toward the $4 mark. As young as I may be, I remember gas being only 50 cents per gallon. For about 20 years of my life, gas prices hovered below the $1 mark. Within the past 10 years, the price has managed to jump by close to $3.

Many, including me, wonder why gas is so high.

There are actually several factors gauging up the price.

The first has to do with the fact America relies heavily upon foreign oil. For years, we’ve been paying what we consider a decent price per barrel. What happens when another country comes along and offers America’s source of oil a higher price? Will they take the higher price? All indications point to yes. Will that force America to pay more? Of course.

Number two on the list for high fuel prices — economy. Many have come to believe the hype America’s economy is floundering into a recession. I say hype because after screaming recession, sources are now saying America’s economy is not heading into a recession.

Another cause is protecting the environment. As a nation, yeah, we do need to go green. After all what’s wrong with a healthier environment? With the “Go Green” movement, cleaner cars and environmentally safe must haves are being placed on the market.

Along with the cleaner lifestyle has come a cleaner way to harvest fossil fuels. It’s not as messy as it was 70 or even 30 years ago. We hardly drill in America and have fewer refineries. Is it possible to drill in protected areas until the nation becomes less reliant on fossil fuels? Environmentalists want to protect the environment and we are paying for it.

A fourth cause to the high pump prices is the weakening American dollar. You can’t buy as much for $1 as you can with one Euro. A U.S. dollar is only worth .60 Euro. I’m not an economist, but I can say that as the dollar grows weaker, prices will continue to rise.

And yes, gas is life-sustaining. Some say “Use public transportation,” or “Ride the subway.”

Apparently, those people haven’t been outside the big cities much. The majority of America relies on personal vehicles to get to and from work. That job is needed to pay for the gas to get to and from the job place.

I don’t exactly see Greyhound making its way through Ada or see a train or subway ready to take us to work.

As far as I can tell, we’ll all feel the pinch (or should I say “vice-clamp”) at the pump or in the price of other items transported by fuel consuming machinery.

My mom asked me if I filled up my tank before gas prices went up. My question is why. I’ll only have to pay for it after it goes up anyway.

        

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