we need gas prices high
I’m getting a bit perturbed by all the whining going on about gas prices. The same people who don’t want the government involved in Health Care want the government to intervene so that they can continue poisoning the air and not have to pay so much.
Our consumption got us here, the worst thing that could happen would be for the government to bail us out. People are finally starting to make substantial lifestyle changes, cities are finally starting to make serious plans for better mass transit, why on earth would lowering gas prices actually help us? So, we offshore drill and get 10 more years of oil at our current rate of consumption, and then what?
High gas prices might be painful for some but it’s good for our humanity. The truth is that we are addicted to oil and it’s not ok. As long as people can afford to live this way, they will, because it’s become normative.
And it’s not just gas, it’s our consumptions of petroleum products in everything from sunglasses, to makeup, to the disgusting overuse of packaging.
I’m not fundamentally opposed to more drilling but my concern is that we do not yet have deep heart and behavior changes that will insure a healthy balance.
I think we need to accept this as our new norm and make changes accordingly instead of crying for help.
disclaimer: The one caution I have is that people do not forget about those who are genuinely suffering because of the ramifications. We need to be thinking creatively to solve some of the backlash issues, we as Christians need to make sure we’re planning creatively with things such as local food production, shared housing, aid in and sharing of transport, etc.
Technorati Tags: gas, oil, gas prices
Related posts:
- It finally snowed We finally got some substantial snow for the first time...
- *sigh* back to no dairy For about 5 nights, Aliyah was up crying most of...
- stop getting angry and look in the mirror I’m as frustrated as the next person about our financial...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
- Posted by Mak at 09:07 am
- Permalink for this entry
- Filed under: culture and context
- RSS comments feed of this entry
- TrackBack URI
Mak,
I agree that the pain of high gas prices is necessary to force real change in the way we live. I wonder about your disclaimer, though. It’s easier said than done to remember that some people (the poor) bear the brunt of the run up in prices more heavily, let alone to come up with creative ways to share that burden.
no one said responsible Christianity that promotes justice was easy.
but actually, I think it’s easier than some think. What if 1% of the Christians in any given community created a garden and shared the harvest with 1 neighbor who was struggling with the cost of food? What if 10% of Christians in a community provided a bicycle, helmet and attached trailer to 1 needy family in the community? What if those who had cars helped 1 needy family get to the farmer’s market once a month?
I agree with your argument about the level of government interference in prices … in principle. However … my concern is for those who are are on very low fixed incomes and how those folks are going to manage when winter comes. What will they choose … heat? or food? or transportation to life extending medical care? They will only get to have one on their income … so which shall it be? We already have the elderly and mentally challenged dying and suffering in droves each winter … it’s just going to get much, much worse.
yep, that’s why I say we need to simultaneously address that issue. And honestly, I’d rather the gov’t get creative about that instead…or at least in addition to. And the reality is that Europe has been living with higher prices of petrol for AGES, the system makes adjustments. No solution is going to be perfect, I just am not comfortable with us continuing to fuel (pardon the pun) our addiction. I’m also not suggesting I have good answers
Yes, it is incredible how much waste is there based upon laziness and ignorance. I walk by parked cars with engines running every day. The person in the car won’t get out and walk into the office or store which is already airconditioned. The other day someone in the parking lot left their car running for 9 hours while they worked. I hope she learned her lesson. Nope, there is some improvement, but gasoline is still too cheap for people to really notice. I think they enjoy whining. Then they will go buy $150 sneakers and they always have money for slot machines.
Yep … you’re bang on about gas prices in Europe. And I’ve not seen anything about what oil prices (as in crude prices per barrel) have done to their gas prices recently. In the 70’s when we were squawking about $1.00+/gallon prices they were paying $3 - $4 per gallon.
However … their prices crept up gradually in the 60’s and 70’s as their economies and societies changed to adjust for the price change. I’d also mention here that historically European countries have a much greater sense that government has a responsibility to care for weaker members of society than do we.
I completely agree with you, btw, I think the government needs to put it’s (our) resources into getting us off the petroleum nipple in all of it’s various forms. Just pointing out that the high prices cause a serious hardship on weaker members of our society without anyone seeking justice for them.
I totally agree sonja - thus my “disclaimer”
Great stuff.
I’d LOVE to see examples of churches stepping up to think creatively and meet the needs of the community. How could churches, big and small make a positive difference as gas prices climb?