Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Crises? What Crises?

Here in Southeast our gas "crises" is getting noticed on the National media. Th following ironic statements illustrate the absudity of the situation we have put ourselves in here in the US:


"Right now, I'll pay anything for gas," Jenkins said. "I don't care if it's $5 or $6 a gallon. I need it."

Just like any drug addict - you need your fix, and will pay anything. So what's the response of the dealers?

Authorities in North Carolina and Tennessee said they were investigating reports of price-gouging, while Georgia's consumer affairs office has subpoenaed sales records from 130 gas stations because of similar complaints.

Sure. That's what drug dealers do - hold on to the supply for a while, jack up the prices, then clean up. it's simple supply and demand. I don't blame the oil industry and retailers - they are just being capitalists. It's what they do.

"I was just in Atlanta yesterday. There is no gasoline in Atlanta, in Charlotte, in Chattanooga. It's like a Third World country," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Sunday on ABC.

Oh, come on, Newt. There is gasoline here. The problem is people have been brainwashed into thinking they need cars for every trip. If we had decent public transportation, sidewalks, and bike friendly roads and paths, this wouldn't affect us much at all. This situation is happening because you guys in charge never bothered to appropriate the money we need. Too busy pushing the "tax cut" agenda. "Contract with America" is supposed to mean just that -
not just something for your rich buddies.


Kathy Burdett, 49, of Forest Park, said the shortage ruined her weekend plans to visit Stone Mountain with out-of-town guests. "I didn't go anywhere all weekend and we kept close to home," said Burdett, who had to hunt for the gasoline
her friends needed to make it home to Tennessee.


C'mon, Kathy. Mrs.Flyer and I went to Stone Mountain last weekend. We rode bicycle out from Midtown, saw the sights, then rode back. If you guys rode bicycles regularly, you could have done the same thing. Not in shape for the ride? Hop onto MARTA and go visit the Aquarium, the High Museum, Fernbank Museum, World of Coca Cola, any of the Atlanta attractions - they are all on MARTA stops. No gas
needed.

But - yeah, driving home is another thing. Too bad we don't have that High Speed Rail between here and Tennessee. Good old Boy Governor Sonny killed that deal. The State of Tennessee would have given us access to the river and all the water we need so bad in exchange for that. Instead, Sonny tried to strong arm the river access with an old 19th century treaty, and screwed that up, too. Nice work there.


Even in Atlanta, a city notorious for long commutes and traffic, some drivers were turning to public transportation.


FINALLY!!!!! Can using bicycles be far behind?

As she waited in a gas line at an Atlanta station, 27-year-old Kasheeda Washington said she planned to start taking the bus because driving from her home in suburban Marietta to two jobs in Atlanta and to classes at the downtown
campus of Georgia State University had become too expensive.


I ride to Marietta and back every day. You could do that, too. Or, you could take one of several bus lines to the Arts station in Midtown, hop on the subway, and get off at the GSU stop. You could bring a bicycle with you to get around, too. All of the buses have bike racks on them, and MARTA allows buses all day, any day.


"I would have never thought this day would come when I would have to wait for gas," she said.

Kasheeda, get used to it. In your lifetime, this will be the norm. Park your car - get a decent bicycle. Demand adequate mass transportation and fast rail service from our elected officials. If they don't do anything, vote them out and vote in someone who will.

This is a "crises" only if you rely on your car for anything beyond a trip to the bathroom. It hasn't affected Mrs. Flyer or me at all. I sat in a meeting this morning and listened to people commiserating about gas prices and rumors about which chain was going to get gasoline.

I just smirked and said "I'll give you a good deal on a used bike".

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