Thursday, July 17, 2008

What Are You Doing to Save Gas?

I’m no Einstein, but conservationists and economists are telling us we can save gas — and cut down on our demand for it — if we drive a little slower. This will help gas prices to stabilize or even drop because demand will outweigh supply.

Now, I know this issue is a political issue as much as it is a supply and demand issue, but I decided I’m going to do my part and slow down on the highways to save fuel — and save money for myself. And let me point out that slowing down in this case basically means driving the speed limit, which nobody goes these days on the interstates.

Well, I quickly discovered I’m not a very popular person for easing up on the gas. Everybody is passing me by. Everybody! Just the other day I was going 60 mph in a 60 mph zone and somebody blew by me during evening rush-hour traffic at about 70 and flipped me the bird for driving “slow.” The jerk in a hurry probably made it home two minutes before I did — and used a half a tank more gas for having a lead foot.

I wonder if $7 a gallon — which “experts” say will be here in a few years — will get people to slow down to save a few bucks.

By the way, what are you doing at your golf course to save fuel?

— Larry Aylward

1 comment:

Jim Black said...

It's funny how we Americans are panicking over the rising price of a gallon of gas, when all we're really doing is catching up with the rest of the world! No doubt there are people smarter than me, sitting in a Starbucks somewhere paying $24 per gallon for a cup of coffee discussing how to end this 'crisis.' After they get it all figured out, they'll jump in their Expedition and Escalade and make the 1-hour commute to work complaining the whole way.

I'm with Larry - I tend to go the speed limit +5 and can't help but think about the people blowing past me on the road complaining about the price of gas. And yes, I think that $7 will get us to not only slow down, but also to finally get off our butts and approve some alternative energy sources. WAY overdue.