Mar 13, 2008
Rising Gas Prices Cause Rising Bouts Of Childishness
And also some complete losses of reason.
Once again I’ve given in and read the comments on a story at the S-T’s website. The story happens to be about how the increase in gas prices is affecting commuters around the city. Generally the people quoted in the piece are handling it like adults, taking responsibility for their actions and choosing to modify their behavior or downsize their vehicles. (Huh. Proof that the markets really do work!)
But the comments are where the REAL action is. Take this nutjob for example:
Conservation CANNOT solve the problem. Congress should stop taking money from the Environmentalists and pass legislation to unplug wells first and then allow drilling in Alaska and off California and New England and the building of refineries on fast track (minimal environmental restrictions). Most of all Americans need to get over this national guilt conplex over using Earth’s resources.
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Posted by: Tired of the stupidity of the ignorant masses
Apparently it’s the ENVIRONMENTALIST lobby that’s been raking in all those massive profits on oil and funneling that money directly into the pockets of legislators. Damn! How could I have been so stupid?
I hope this isn’t a commonly held opinion in conservative circles, because it (obviously) couldn’t be more wrong. (It’s a “guilt conplex”
I agree that conservation cannot solve the problem (although I’d like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that the root of “Conservative” is “conserve”), at least not alone. Conservation combined with exploration of alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, tidal, geothermal, nuclear, etc. IS the answer. Clinging to dirty, destructive energy sources like coal and petroleum JUST BECAUSE THEY’RE CHEAP is a ridiculous position.
If someone said “I’ll give you this truck, but I have to take one of your legs in return,” would you make that deal? That’s essentially what we’re doing when we refuse to give up environmentally damaging things solely for convenience or frugality’s sake.
We’re poisoning ourselves slowly and causing untold damage to our ecosystems, but at least everyone has a car, right?
Every block of this town is designed for the automobile.
(I own 3 of them.)
We need a decent subway/train system.
China is the other factor. There’s only so much fossil fuel. China wants some of it. They’re willing to pay as much as we are.
I push “Goodbye To A River” by Robert Graves to everyone who will listen. Best non-fiction environmental book ever written. (“The Monkey Wrench Gang” by Edward Abbey is the best environmentalist novel, in my opinion.)
Like your site. Don’t really have a point of view on this topic. Just wanted to chime in and say hello.
Thanks Allen. I’m glad you dropped by.
I agree completely, as you might guess, about the public transit situation. Kevin over at FortWorthology has and continues to get the great scoops and info when it comes to any of the proposed streetcar options the city is currently considering. If you (or anyone you know) is genuinely interested in making that happen, be sure to let your councilperson know.
Regarding China and oil – You’re absolutely right that they are, and if the US economy implodes as badly as it looks like it will, we’re in for a world of hurt. Just for the record; the rising price of oil will not be the straw that broke the camel’s back, it’s merely a symptom of the overall sickness that is our obsession with STUFF and buying it all on credit that we never intend to pay off.
I’m reading more lately about clean tech and sustainable entrepreneurship. I consider myself a “green entrepreneur.” Our company and websites cater to a local audience, helping them find ways to stay entertained and engaged in their local community. Local is the new global, this wave is only going to get bigger.