Radical Times Demand Radical Actions

Listen up, people.

We're seeing a lot of hysterical arm-waving and hearing loud voices demanding that "they" do something to bring down the price of the gasoline we pump into our essential means of getting where we want to go when we want to go there.

Know what? None of it is the least bit productive. Why?

I'm no economist, but I do remember something about a fundamental principle of an open economy: The law of supply and demand.

As I recall (and I might be wrong) this says that if there is something people want and are willing to pay for and there's not enough of it to go around, the price will be whatever whoever has it charges those who want it and are willing to pay.

Remember your history lessons about "water wars?" No? Well, it went this way. We have to have water to live, right? So someone dug a well out in the desert and found water. The well owner told thirsty folks they could draw up water from the well, but they'd have to pay for it - one goat per bucket of water, maybe? Don't have a goat? Hmm. How about one of your daughters? Too much? Well, then, tough. Go thirsty.

I know, I know. You're saying "How ridiculous!" But really, now, how much different is this from what we're seeing today. OPEC nations have the oil, we want it, have to have it, so we have to pay whatever the going price is.

It is not about slapping regulations on the speculators (although that might be a good idea) or jailing "big oil" executives or trading in our gas guzzling SUVs for tiny roller skates. (On this one, somehow the logic of spending $20,000 or $30,000 on a new car to save a few pennies at the gas pump escapes me.)

No matter what we drivers do, it will make no difference whatsoever on the price of gasoline. Oil is traded on the international market, and our part of that is minor compared to China, India and the rest of the world. Does that mean we should just throw up our hands and say "Oh, well?"

No.

We can do whatever we need to do to manage our own personal fuel consumption. Slow down, no "jackrabbit" starts, plan our trips to minimize our travel, keep our vehicles in good condition. Use whatever alternative travel means we can (not much here in Hernando County, but that's a different subject.) Take fewer trips. Enjoy local scenery and support local entertainment sources. Stay home. Read a book. Radical? Yes, but these are radical times demanding radical actions.

We focus on private vehicles as the major source of fossil fuel consumption. But other sources say that it is industrial operations that use most of the fuel. Some have suggested that if we were to convert all our industrial operations to renewable resources such as wind, solar and nuclear, we'd have more than enough gasoline and diesel fuel to meet all our personal needs.

Where would we get these? Build wind farms, solar collection farms as Florida Power and Light is now set to do, approve nuclear power plants and get them started.

Old saying: "When is the best time to plant a tree? Fifty years ago. When is the next best time? Today."

When is the best time to release the restrictions on drilling for our own oil in our own country? Ten years ago. When is the next best time? Today.

And when can we start conserving the energy we consume? Today. You and I. Right now. And we don't need "them" (whoever they are) to come to our rescue.

Gail B. Leatherwood

Spring Hill