A Little Perspective on Gas Prices, Please
Via: realclearpolitics.com
But what did we hear from the crowd in Washington? Nothing but complaints. âThis is terrible.â âItâs the presidentâs fault.â âRaid the oil reserves.â âItâs a scandal to pay more than two bucks a gallon for gas.â Calm down. Please.
As my optimistic pumping pal predicted Wednesday morning, gas prices will eventually retreat. No, gas will never again cost 35 cents a gallon, as it did when I was in high school. But houses wonât ever cost $17,000 again, either. The New York Times attempted to put it in perspective when it reported Wednesday that âwhen inflation is taken into account, gasoline is cheaper than it was in 1981.â The Timesâ editorial page even harrumphed about âGasoline Hysteriaâ and gave a grudging nod of approval in the direction of the White House for continuing to build the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. While some phonies in the nationâs capital pretend to be panicked about gas prices, regular people seem a little more sanguine. While I was at the gas station yesterday, I spied the manager. âIs business slow because of that boycott?â I asked. He hadnât even heard about it. âItâs the darn dest thing,â he said, shaking his head and pointing toward the $2.15 sign. âWeâve been busier than ever.â
Posted by: badanov 2004-05-20 |