AJC.com > Opinion > Opinion Talk > Archives > 2007 > March > 13
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Pained at the Pump
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Blaming oil executives, politicians and OPEC for sudden spikes in gasoline prices is easy; it’s almost become an American pastime. But curing our collective addiction to oil is more difficult because consumers (that’s us) are reluctant to admit we’re the biggest part of the problem.
Congress is holding hearings Wednesday to grill automakers about their failure to make more fuel-efficient, less-polluting vehicles. Last year, you may recall, lawmakers quizzed oil company executives after the industry posted record profits. Threats were made at the time about imposing windfall taxes and other punitive measures but (surprise!) nothing happened.
Gas prices have jumped 20-cents in recent weeks and now average $2.55 a-gallon nationwide. Instead of just whining about it this time, what steps must we take to reduce our nation’s oil addiction and the environmental damage it causes? Should those steps be voluntary or mandatory? What if anything are you doing to keep oil “pushers” at bay?
.JPG)
-1.JPG)
Services »
