Gas Prices

So I'm driving last week to buy Mother's Day cards (I bought a crazy amount of them, but that's another story for another time and blog) and I pass the Speedway on the corner. I'm stopped at a light, and I see something that reminds me to shut off my car till the light cycles around.

$3.79. Four dollar gasoline had hit Columbus.

I got pissed more than anything. I got really, really angry. I immediately assumed the prices went up to support the gas tax holiday certain politicians are trumpeting. The way I see it, if Congress actually DOES pass this hare brained nonsense, the gas stations and oil companies will simply keep the prices the same, and pocket the extra $14 cents a gallon that would have gone to support our roads and bridges. CT Bob puts it well, talking about crazy pills.

Paranoid? No, I don't think so.

So it got me thinking...about how I really, really, really need to start driving less. To hell with oil...everyone from that creepy guy who clerks the gas station to Hugo Chavez to the oil exec making huge bonuses are people I really don't care to support.

1. Walk -- That's a no brainer, right? Just the other week, Sarah and I walked to Max and Erma's for a drink. It was nice, since I was totally buzzed and walking took that pesky DUI thing out of the picture. Not easy in all areas...but it's the easiest and cheapest way to screw the oil companies.
2. Bike -- Most of us have a bicycle floating around, right? I don't...but that's a long story. I used to ride my bike a lot, it was the best way for a 12 year old to expand his horizons. It still will get you further and faster than walking...and doesn't use a drop of gasoline.
3. Mass Transit -- Is sort of a joke here in Columbus, and Cincinnati. From what I've heard Cleveland has it better...but I don't know for sure. But if you're lucky enough to be on a bus route, why not use it? Budget some extra time when you go to the mall or to a sporting event.
4. Standard Gas Economy Tips -- Uncle Sam provides us with some tips on how to improve our gas mileage here. Go check it out...some it it (like tire pressure) is so easy you really need a kick in the butt if you can't find time and motivation.
5. Buy a More Efficient Car -- I've told myself for a long time now, that my next car will run on something like electricity or maybe even leftover fryer shortening. It won't be a straight gasoline engine. I won't be counting on ethanol (that disaster of mamoth proportions). I'm hoping to drive my current car long enough to have plenty of options.
6. Write Elected Officials -- And find out what exactly they're so afraid of when it comes to weaning ourselves off the oil teat. I'd love to see someone seriously propose taxing the hell out of oil profits and funnelling the money into alternative energy. Brazil is on track to be gas-free by the end of the year(!) with their sugar cane alcohol fuel. Germany has managed to become the leader in solar energy thanks to their tough legislation on the matter.

It's really that last point that's going to have the biggest impact. The fact our country's leadership has chosen to engage in wars of aggression instead of being productive with our tax dollars and legislative energy is truly disgraceful. History will treat everyone in government since 2000 harshly, I'm trusting.

But don't whine...make changes in your lifestyle. Consumer economics, my friends. Democracy. They're two of the most powerful sources we have in this country, and we can't afford to not use them.

Let's Talk Economics

I've never written a "content blog." My previous blog was about my life, so it was easy to write.

This one is more of a challenge, because I'm trying to be useful and entertaining on a subject perceived as dull. That's a tough call in this age of societal ADD. I had been posting links to news stories because I felt not enough people were up to date on events, and thought if they just saw the headline they'd go get informed.

Did that actually inform people? No...I don't think so. People have to want to click on a link, and the ones who want to already can do, from My Yahoo and iGoogle pages. That portion of my blog really wasn't accomplishing anything new or interesting, which runs contrary to my mission statement.

It also takes a lot of time to find those news stories and link to them. That's time I could be researching a topic to write a really great post about. And now that Blogger has come out with the option to schedule posts ahead of time (thank you BLOGGER!), I think the most efficient option is to write posts ahead of time. It's all about freeing up time and keeping options open.

So for now, we'll dispense with the news links...unless there are objections?

***

I was tipped to a story by my mother that I want to bring to everyone's attention. It ties in directly to politics, because the price of commodities (think oil, corn, wheat, gasoline) is a big political issue right now (think about the nonsense about suspending the gas tax--like that will actually solve anything).

MSN Money posted an article from Jim Jubak about the insane prices of oil (and other things) that actually defy the rules of supply and demand. This is due to the fact that consumers are so scared they won't be able to get what they need--gasoline is a perfect example--they are willing to pay any price as long as it keeps coming.

It doesn't matter that our oil reserves have actually gone up since last month. It doesn't matter that world usage is still 100,000 barrels LESS than what's being produced every day. The price of oil keeps going up because people are so afraid of not being able to get oil they're not thinking straight.

I'm oversimplyfing by a long shot, but that's why I linked you to Jubak's article on scarcity markets. It was a very frustrating thing to read, because it made me realize (again) just how inflated oil and food prices are right now.

Read the article, it's good food for thought. That's all I have today...this post is long enough.

Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday

I'm listening to Mike Huckabee tell me he has more voters than Evangelicals. *shrugs* Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. But if he does by a chance end up in the White House, I may consider Canada.

At any rate, I'm trying to get this blog (and a couple others) under better control. The general format is going to stay the same...a political or in-depth lil article up here, and some news links below the break. I think the posting will be cut back to M-W-F schedule, to give me some time to research posts better.

Personally, I'm a little fed up with the Democratic Party (see my last post), so the fact Romney won Michigan and opened the race on the GOP side back up makes me pretty happy. Now I'm awfully interested in Saturday's South Carolina primary.

Now For Some News...

Romney Wins in Michigan, from NPR

After 5 Years, D.H.S. Hasn't Won Everyone Over, from NPR

Militants Overrun Pakistan Army Post, from BBC

US Economic Slowdown Lowers Price of Oil, from BBC

Senator Brown Working to Get Federal Food Bank Funding, from WVXU

Freedom Center, County and City Working Out Land Dispute, from WVXU