I’m not
trying to jinx it, but it looks like gas prices may not be monumentally high
for the Thanksgiving holiday this year. Typically ahead of a holiday the price
at the pump skyrockets, for whatever reason. This news is a bit of a relief and
perhaps it will mean good things for the economy as more people will be willing
to drive to their Thanksgiving destinations as opposed to just staying home.
Recently I
saw an article that posed the question if gas prices are too low. The
article “Gas Is Just Too Cheap!” in the November issue of Utne magazine
presented the idea of gas being too cheap for its perceived scarcity and the
desire in America to get people off foreign oil. The thought is that people
aren’t given an incentive to reduce their fuel consumption. So, there is a
group of people in a Minneapolis community who agree to pay $1 to $3 more than
the price at the pump, depending on income. The additional money is donated to
organizations that are working on alternative transportation solutions. The
congregation gathers four times a year to talk about how the program is changing
their personal gasoline consumption and to identify organizations that are
working toward a more sustainable future.
I think the group’s goal is admirable
and educational. Paying extra each time you fill up your vehicle definitely
provides motive to carpool, combine errands, walk
and bike more, and buy a more fuel efficient vehicle. Even reading about this
group serves as inspiration to me. However, I don’t think it
will ever take off on a large scale. People are mostly not willing to spend
more than they need to, especially on something they already feel costs
too much. They are selfishly not willing to inconvenience themselves and put in
extra effort to achieve or obtain something that comes so easily.
No comments:
Post a Comment