May 13: Time For Americans To 'Tighten Our Belts'
Where, oh where will it end? This has been a question on most people's mind for some time in regard to escalated prices of power and gasoline.
Let's look at some facts. Americans' love affair for private transportation - fact. The larger the vehicle the more energy it takes to make the wheels go around. The larger the engine the greater the appetite for fuel. Cars that are aerodynamically designed do far better than taller and larger vehicles. Love for big pickups and SUVs - fact.
Many years ago many folks utilized public transportation. Where that was not feasible, many car-pooled. The more the better.
In the 1970s "shortages" and long lines developed at the pump. The speed limits were reduced to 55 miles per hour to conserve.
Fact - most schools have bus routes everywhere, yet mothers take students to school and return each day. As soon as teenagers reach the age of driver's license (or before) they must have private "rides."
Everybody's shout is "When is the government going to do something?" What can "big business" do? The electric co-op that supplies our area gets 23 percent of ours from wind power. Many areas could be utilizing this source if permitted. Same could happen if oil companies were permitted to drill and build refineries.
Our civilization has become consumed with rush and hurry - we hate to wait. We have become an "instant" and "throw away" age.
So in the final analysis it looks as if we are going to "tighten our belts," "bite the bullet" and prepare because the situation may get worse before better. This is the "fourth down with goal to go" and we can't punt. So air the tires on your bicycles and get ready.
Other resources to be considered are food and water in this land of abundance. Water could cost $4 as well as gasoline. Which would we choose?
God bless the United States.
Ben Bitz
Berryville
Ben Bitz
Berryville
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