As we are faced with an economic depression we reflect on what has changed since the last time fuel prices rose beyond our budgets and dropped us into chaos. And we find… nothing has changed.
The 1979 saw huge lines waiting for gasoline. People were shot and killed in Brooklyn over arguments about who was in line first. And we saw promises of renewable resources, cars that would burn alternative fuels and homes that would offer alternative heating and cooling choices.
The lines to the gas pumps are not visible right now. That is because the line is actually in front of the banks as we take out our hard earned cash to pay for our gasoline and home heating bills.
Almost 30 years later nothing has changed much. We have some hybrid cars just starting production late enough to not be a factor. Gas prices... wow. They went into the $1.50 to $2.00 range in 1979 and we screamed it was too high. Now we are looking at $3.50 and we still are not getting any relief.
The pagan community is so eco conscience yet, how many of us are prepared for this? Are our homes havens of alternative energy sources? In most cases, no. If we rent, we don’t have much of a choice. If we own a house built before 2000, probably not. Unless we had the financial resources, we still have the furnace we got when we purchased our house. That is because most alternative resources are not cheap to install.
Same with cars. Those new hybrids are not affordable for the average American, much less the average pagan. We cannot run right out and buy a new car because it is an alternative energy resource. We may not own the gas guzzlers, but we also do not own the latest technology in automobiles.
So many of us are stuck between the old rock and a hard space. And as we are faced with gas prices that make it almost impossible to drive to work, we look at a few exceptions.
Urban centers with reasonable public transportation. While many cities, big and small, have some kind of public transportation, many do not have a transportation system that caters to everyone who needs it. It may not run at all hours, it may not run to the places you live or work. It is only the big cities who have older systems that seem to offer a viable alternative to private transportation.
We are looking at most people outside the great urban centers relying heavily on cars to get them to their jobs.
So, what can be done about this? How can we make sure that this does not happen again in 30 years.
First, let’s look at the prices that are making it impossible for us to work or live. How about a cap on the price of gas? I am talking fossil fuel. No, Exxon, you can not make any more money on fossil fuels. Want more money? Then work on renewable liquid fuel. Produce a substitute that can be worked into our current system. It must be from a renewable source. Grain fuels, hydro, I don’t care how you do it. Want more money? Spend what you have on research into renewable fuels.
Work with the motor companies to augment the cars already out there, and new vehicles that will burn only renewable fuels.
Then adapt this to home use. Bring down the pricing of geothermal and solar power by building houses that only use this technology. Retrofit houses with affordable replacements.
When these companies want something, they have the ability to go out and get it without batting an eye. I am sure this could be turned around in a matter of a couple of years if they set their minds to it.
But how is this going to come about. What can be done to make them change their minds? What will force them into doing this?
Money. Your money and your voice saying “I want this, and I am willing to pay for it, but only if it is affordable and only if it is environmentally sound.”
Scream at them folks. We have enough voices to be hear around the world and then some. For all our claims to be living in harmony with the earth, we don’t bitch much about the state we are in. Rather, we bitch our rights are being violated or we are not being taken seriously.
Here is a chance to be taken very, very seriously. And a chance to change. Write letters to your representatives and these new candidates who claim they want to further the American Dream. As I heard someone say the other day – Why is it called the American Dream? Is it because we can only see it in our sleep?
There are some tough times ahead for us. And it looks from here like the only people who are going to feel it are the ones who can not afford it.
Time to speak up. We can be heard if we bitch just a little bit louder in the right direction.
Boudica
(image: 1979 gas line in California)
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