Gas prices drop but smog remains

The days of paying more than $2 for a gallon of gas are over, and the crowds are cheering. It seems the price of gas is finally falling. Oil prices have dropped as well, so another insane gas price hike is not expected soon.

The reason for the high cost of oil is its demand. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cut production just as the demand increased. They have since increased the production of oil and are enjoying the higher prices for their labor. The demand has been met, so the prices can finally inch their way back down. Unfortunately, they will never be as low as they once were.

Lower gas prices are making their way to the fill station, but may not have reached all gas stations yet. Beginning Labor Day, the prices should have dropped. There is a shortage of oil in the world because it is a limited natural resource and if companies do not realize this, the gas prices will rise again.

The demand for stock in oil companies rocketed straight up when the prices increased. Larger oil companies, such as Shell, were able to offer lower gas prices and thus make more profit, so their shares increased more than other companies. Even Wall Street disagrees with the current high prices, according to the Associated Press.

Supply and demand are not all that threaten the price of crude oil. According to the Associated Press, oil traders jack up the price when oil production is threatened, say by Iraq's pipeline attacks, Venezuelan political strife or Russia's biggest oil producer entering a court tax battle.

The popularity of SUVs and trucks does not help the gas price either. These machines are guzzling the stuff as fast as the Woozles drink Winnie the Pooh's honey. With a limited resource such as oil, people should be conserving the material by carpooling or not driving as often. That would save gas and pocket money. Or buy a smaller car. Not everyone needs an SUV to drive to the grocery store and back. Those paper bags fit just as well in a car.

Driving to Long Beach every day has made the Los Angeles smog feel like an old friend, seeing it while driving over the 22 Freeway. The smog there is not permanent, and with a lot of work we can reverse the smog which is already there. The problem with that is that we would have to collectively stop producing more smog, and there simply isn't profit in that idea.

People should at least try to drive less, carpool, and save money by purchasing a smaller vehicle. Not only will you save money, but you will be decreasing the emissions your car produces and making the air a bit better for breathing. Lung damage and asthma are caused by breathing bad air. Wouldn't you want your children to avoid the inhaler?

Gas is a limited resource, and though the prices may finally be dropping, this does not mean there is more oil for future use. So next time you saddle up your Ford Bronco, don't forget the little bit of damage you add to our atmosphere. It's easy to forget when you're finally paying less than $2 for that much needed liquid.