America
has a ‘gas’ problem, commutes
hurting us
Katie
Plourd
Saturday
marked the yearly celebration for people
throughout the world to recognize their
obligation to build a safer, healthier
and cleaner planet. Since 1970, people
have gathered to celebrate Earth Day, yet
this year on the front of many Americans’ minds
were probably the countless dollars they
would be paying in the coming months to
fuel their cars.
News agencies nationwide reported barrels of oil rising up to $75. The average
price of a gallon of gas was around $3.
The environmental effects of oil consumption on our Earth are known to be harmful,
but what is more discerning is the lack of action from all levels of our society
to do something about the dependency that grips a tighter hold on us than Dick
Cheney on his rifle.
In his State of the Union Address a few months back, President George W. Bush
boldly declared the United States is “addicted to oil” and as a
nation we need to do something about it. But as prices at the pump climbed
this weekend, he warned Americans it is most likely to be a harsh summer, filled
with high gas prices not looking to go down.
Then during a visit with more than 30 organizations from the energy industry,
including fuel cell companies, automakers, official agencies and energy makers,
Bush once again valiantly confirmed, “We got a real problem when it comes
to oil.”
Tell us something we don’t already know.
Admittedly, Bush has made some progress in his measures, but in the end he
neglects to look at the immediacy of the crisis. He has proposed legislation
to spend federal research dollars to speed that process of making hydrogen
fuel in the marketplace affordable, but it would be years before his policies
are implemented.
Unfortunately, this is not a blame we can solely lay on good ol’ George “Dubya” Oil.
Company tycoons, American corporations and everyday citizens not only seem
to ignore the problem, but drive home the idea Americans should keep on truckin’.
The automotive services company Midas sent a message to compel Americans to
continue tarnishing the environment in pursuit of a famed title and $10,000
in free gas. The company awarded Dave Givens the title of “America’s
Longest Commute.”
What a great way to drive people away from an oil addiction through encouraging
overzealous commuters. Americans already drive more than necessary, but to
encourage excess commuting is a preposterous drive on oil addicts.
Givens is just one of the 2.8 million other Americans who, according to the
U.S. Census Bureau, spends over 90 minutes on their daily commute. He treks
to work for over seven hours, totaling 370 miles on the road daily during his
daily commute from Mariposa, Calif. to San Jose, Calif. He hits the road before
dawn and returns after dark. He says he could find other jobs but he wants
to keep his ideal lifestyle.
To make matters worse, 3,000 Americans are aligned with this attitude and penned
in to fight for the title of the longest trek.
Although companies like Midas and leadership from Bush appear to ignore and
put off a crisis Americans don’t want to think about, there have been
some steps in the right direction. We are lucky one of them began right here
in California.
Last year, the State of California Air Resources Board adopted “Clean
Car Legislation.” Essentially, the legislation requires the development
of programs designed to reduce the emissions from automobiles.
In a state moving toward a healthier, less gas-dependent environment, we all
should take a stand. Of course it’s not feasible for California, a state
of well-bred commuters, to completely kick the habit alone, but every bit helps.
Combine a weekend full of errands into a few simple hours, take a taxi with
your friends to the bars on a Saturday night, ride a natural gas emissions
bus to the mall or give up that extra hour for your roommate or neighbor to
get out of class and carpool to school.
If we leave it up to officials and corporations to lead our nation, at this
rate the only thing to move will be gas prices and they’re likely to
rise again and again.
Katie Plourd is a senior journalism major and the managing editor of the Daily
Forty-Niner.
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