Parish
Are Gas Prices Too High?
RECEIVED Wed., Sept. 7, 2005
Dear Editor,
Are gas prices too high? I'm not really sure. I see and hear people on the TV and radio complaining about the high price of gasoline and how they're having a rough time making ends meet. But I ask, are these the same people who whiz past me on 183? Who are the only people in their car? Who drive the gas guzzling SUVs? And even though Hurricane Katrina has compounded the gas situation, high gas prices didn't just happen five minutes ago. This has been an epic in the making. We can “cowboy up” when it comes to fighting terrorists, but we sure “pussy out” when it comes to taking personal responsibility. And I don't hear any of our elected officials, Democrats or Republicans – they're all pretty much the same – asking us as fellow Americans to conserve energy. But when it comes to politics that would not be a popular move, asking Americans to give up something. Because everyone knows elections here are basically a popularity contest not unlike American Idol. We as Americans – as human beings – have the power to make a difference. I saw it and heard it in the wake of Hurricane Katrina: human beings reaching out to other human beings in need, opening their doors, donating, giving of their time to help others. Screw what the government did or didn't do! It's us, as people – as human beings – who make the difference in each other's lives. Not governments. We have the power to change the future and save this planet's resources. But – ya gotta wanna! There's one more observation I made while out on the road: If words coming out of the mouths of people talking on their cell phone were like gasoline – we'd all be driving a Hummer.
Are gas prices too high? I'm not really sure. I see and hear people on the TV and radio complaining about the high price of gasoline and how they're having a rough time making ends meet. But I ask, are these the same people who whiz past me on 183? Who are the only people in their car? Who drive the gas guzzling SUVs? And even though Hurricane Katrina has compounded the gas situation, high gas prices didn't just happen five minutes ago. This has been an epic in the making. We can “cowboy up” when it comes to fighting terrorists, but we sure “pussy out” when it comes to taking personal responsibility. And I don't hear any of our elected officials, Democrats or Republicans – they're all pretty much the same – asking us as fellow Americans to conserve energy. But when it comes to politics that would not be a popular move, asking Americans to give up something. Because everyone knows elections here are basically a popularity contest not unlike American Idol. We as Americans – as human beings – have the power to make a difference. I saw it and heard it in the wake of Hurricane Katrina: human beings reaching out to other human beings in need, opening their doors, donating, giving of their time to help others. Screw what the government did or didn't do! It's us, as people – as human beings – who make the difference in each other's lives. Not governments. We have the power to change the future and save this planet's resources. But – ya gotta wanna! There's one more observation I made while out on the road: If words coming out of the mouths of people talking on their cell phone were like gasoline – we'd all be driving a Hummer.
Rob Raucci
