More [tag]gas price[/tag] ranting ahead… ignore at will! 
Well, I see it’s an election year.
We’ve got our president offering up the [tag]environment[/tag] so that we can save a few bucks at the gas pump, all because “state and local officials in some parts of our country worry about supply disruption for the short term.” An incredibly short-sighted precedent to set, in my opinion. Suspending environmental regulations will just become a [tag]means to an end[/tag] (even if that end is as pointless as a poll boost). (And must say, considering the organization he was giving this speech in front of – the Renewable Fuels Association – he’s got to have cajones grandes to even make the suggestion.) And then, on the other end of the aisle, we’ve got a suggestion to drop the federal fuel tax for 60 days to “provide American families immediate relief.”
Here’s my suggestion for our elected officials: do nothing.
Yes, paying more for gas will be painful. For some people, it could be very painful. But gasoline prices are flat out not going to return to 1989 levels. Or 1995 levels. Or 2004 levels. Americans don’t like to hear bad news. We certainly don’t like changing our ways. But guess what? We’re going to have to, because the way we’ve been consuming energy simply isn’t sustainable. The sooner we realize that, the sooner we begin to do something about it.
I’ve got a two-year-old at home. He liked to climb up and stand on chairs, despite his parents repeatedly telling him “No! Get down! You’re going to hurt yourself!” Yet he continued to climb onto chairs, stand up, taunt his parents, normal toddler testing… Until he took advantage of us being occupied with other things briefly, got up on a chair, stood up, eventually fell and, like we warned, hurt himself (not seriously, but enough to get his attention). But, do you know what? He doesn’t stand up on chairs anymore. The lesson was learned.
At times it seems we’re not all that removed from those toddler years. We’re awfully slow to pick up on certain [tag]life lessons[/tag] unless there’s some painful motivations. “Quit spending more than you earn,” “Don’t eat so much; get a little exercise,” “Don’t skimp on your insurance,” etc., etc.
Sometimes, a little pain is necessary…
