OPINION & EDITORIAL
Drop in oil supply demands action
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Also by Sarah Howard:
- Public TV rejects Greens (October 13, 2006)
- Hosty decision affects student papers (September 7, 2005)
- Grant boosts language (October 20, 2006)
- Drop in oil supply demands action (September 13, 2005)
- UW aid looms over race (October 27, 2006)
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- Arts editors do fine job (April 20, 2006)
- From the desk of the opinion editors (January 15, 2006)
- Inebriation needs moderation at games (October 3, 2007)
- Avoidable errors mar otherwise well-written articles (November 17, 2005)
by Sarah Howard
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
I never expected to find valuable information on the BTW page of the Wisconsin State Journal. Not only is this pop culture section often irrelevant and distracting, it is sometimes downright inappropriate. For example, it is hard to stomach the latest updates on Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' love affair when their "story" is juxtaposed with the horrors of Hurricane Katrina's aftermath relayed just across the fold of the paper. That is why I was shocked and humbled after reading a short article about actor Orlando Bloom and his actions before MTV's Video Music Awards.
In that small piece, a reporter explained Bloom's disbelief and disgust when a gas-guzzling Hummer arrived to pick him up from Miami International Airport. The British star informed the driver that he would have preferred a hybrid compact, the Toyota Prius, and presumably arranged for alternative transportation.
Although this statement of environmental ethics appears rare and insignificant, it deserves recognition and consideration in the context of today's energy crisis.
The toll of Hurricane Katrina on America's oil supply has not gone unnoticed. Millions were shocked to see gas prices skyrocket as one-third of our domestic energy supply became inaccessible after the storms and flooding. As is typical following a national disaster, we turned to the government for relief and support. Unfortunately, in keeping with the developing legacy of Hurricane Katrina, the government disappointed its citizens and does not appear to be on the path to recovery.
We can see evidence of this here in Wisconsin. Short-term solutions are flooding the Legislature, the governor's office and the office of the attorney general. Proposals have basically boiled down to two solutions — both of which are unoriginal and most likely will be unsuccessful.
The first is a temporary tax cut of 15 cents per gallon. Unfortunately, as the Wisconsin State Journal has reported, this will result in a $180 million shortfall. That loss will be compensated by moving funding from the state transportation budget into the General Fund. This is incredibly shortsighted and ill-advised, as that funding would better serve the state in its original designation. Road construction and maintenance, improving and creating public transportation schemes and funding for research into fuel alternatives are desperately needed if Wisconsin is going to weather what appears to be a permanent hike in gas prices. Although all Wisconsin drivers would welcome some fast financial relief, the expiration of this temporary cut would soon leave the state exactly where it started, if not further behind.
The government's second method is to launch an investigation into the possibility of local price gouging. There is no doubt that reform and greater oversight are necessary, but Katrina's chaotic aftermath has made it difficult to assess whether or not price gouging is really cheating consumers. More importantly, the oil industry is booming and has proven time and time again that their lobby is one of the most well-organized, well-populated and well-received in Washington and state capitals alike. So while Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager and her peers from Indiana and Illinois have good intentions, it is unlikely Wisconsinites will be able to site an FTC investigation as the solution to all their gas price problems.
The possible futility of this situation brings me back to Orlando Bloom and the simple, yet genius solution with which he chose to address our energy crisis. Bloom understood what so few of us remember these days: solutions to nationwide problems can occur on an individual level. It is easy to criticize the government for its lack of creativity, but maybe it is time for us to take a hard look at our own lack of originality and responsibility.
During World War II, millions of Americans voluntarily limited their travel to specific days of the week, and made sure that they were only traveling for essential purposes. I am not suggesting that our driving habits need to change this dramatically, but it would be economically and physically healthy to re-evaluate the possibility of walking and biking. If that seems like too much to ask, consumers should at least consider the possibility of compact hybrids, and take their names off the waiting list for oxymoronic vehicles like Chevrolet's "environmentally friendly" Tahoe Hybrid due to arrive in 2007.
It is important for Wisconsinites and all Americans to remember that gas prices were escalating long before Hurricane Katrina ever appeared on the radar screen. We have all been a part of this consumption problem. Fortunately, as Bloom has demonstrated, now we can all be a part of the solution.
Sarah Howard (smhoward@wisc.edu) is a junior majoring in journalism and political science.
Anonymous (September 13, 2005 @ 6:28am):
I don't think anyone in Madison drives any more than they have to, especially considering we have so many bikers and pedestrians who disregard traffic laws to contend with. So I don't think that "solution" is even worth talking about.
The reduction in gas tax certainly is. You make your points with the flawed assumption that there is no waste at all in the transportation budget. I can think of at least two projects that can be put on hold. First, is the expansion of Metra service all the way up to Milwaukee. That's a 2 1/2 hour train ride between Milwaukee and Chicago, which nobody is going to ride considering all the other alternatives. The second and more egregious example is the widening of I-94 to four lanes between Milwaukee and the state line. It especially makes no sense to do these projects together. As someone who used to make that commute regularly during rush hour to my job in northern Illinois, I can tell you that there is absolutely no need for this widening. Traffic problems never start until the state line, and at point, drivers can easily park their cars and hop aboard Metra from Kenosha or one of the northern Illinois stations. I think just about everyone who travels the I-94 corridor would prefer lower gas prices than either of these two projects.
The problem is that liberals just assume that all tax money is government money, and not taxpayers' money. If the taxes remain in place and these projects move forward, the politicians will be completely disregarding taxpayers' wishes on this one.
Anonymous (September 13, 2005 @ 8:33am):
Your argument that the money from the state transportation budget is a short-sighted move is irrelevant. The reason that is being brought up in the legislature is two-fold: 1) Because Wisconsin has one of the highest gas taxes in the country and we have a large surplus for that budget 2) Legislators recognize that Doyle has been raiding the transportation fund to solve the budget issues and they want to use that money for the purpose that it was intended. Since the means outweigh the needs, this money should be given back to those that paid it.
Also, I love the fact that you are applauding Orlando Bloom actions of wanting to use a hybrid vehicle to be brought to the award show, especially when he just got off AN AIRPLANE. If he was so concerned about using energy, maybe he should have attended via satellite.
The real reason that we are experiencing this crisis is because there have been no new oil refineries built in the United States since the early 1970's. The red-tape involved in building a new refinery is overwhelming and cost prohibitive.
I know that the many of you will say the problem is consumption and that we should all walk. That is fantastic as long as you live on campus and can walk anywhere you want. Unfortunately, the vastness of the U.S. makes that an impossibility for most who live off the isthmus and must drive in order to get to their jobs.
Anonymous (September 13, 2005 @ 10:25am):
"The toll of Hurricane Katrina on America's oil supply has not gone unnoticed. Millions were shocked to see gas prices skyrocket as one-third of our domestic energy supply became inaccessible after the storms and flooding."
You are mixing two different problems. Katrina did not affect oil prices really at all. It affected gasoline prices, because 9% of the refining capacity of the US is in the affected region. The problem is the US hasn't built a new oil refinery in 30 years, the solution is to start building them now.
Second, what exactly is the federal government supposed to do? The lefties won't allow building of new refineries, that's the problem. Please, we'd love to hear your solution.
I'm loathing the editorial to come in about 4 months when all the students are complaining about their heating bills because of the shortage of nat gas. Again, solution is to start drilling for gas in the US, where we have tons of it. Problem, lefties won't let us, though they keep insiting that all the new powerplants must be gas fired. So we have a shortage in supply, guess what happens.
OH, and lastly, this is priceless:
"The first is a temporary tax cut of 15 cents per gallon. Unfortunately, as the Wisconsin State Journal has reported, this will result in a $180 million shortfall. That loss will be compensated by moving funding from the state transportation budget into the General Fund. This is incredibly shortsighted and ill-advised, as that funding would better serve the state in its original designation."
YES, this IS incredibly shortsighted and ill-advised! So I expect to hear your critisism of Gov Doyle, since this is EXACTLY what he is doing RIGHT NOW to finance his "tax freeze". He is raiding the state transportation fund (and others) to pay for increased spending in other areas, then calling it a tax freeze because he didnt raise taxes. What did he do about the shortfall in the trans fund? Well he has simply delayed all major road construction projects (I-94 from downtown to waukesha) until after the gov race. He can't win against Walker in 2006 if he raises taxes (and he can't satisfy the teach union if he cuts spending), so he's just putting it off and raise them after the election.
Anonymous (September 13, 2005 @ 5:31pm):
Bikers are annoying
Anonymous (September 13, 2005 @ 8:25pm):
"The problem is that liberals just assume that all tax money is government money, and not taxpayers' money."
The REAL problem is that liberals just assume that ALL money is government money and that taxpayers are lucky to keep any at all.
It "Taxpayers vs. Taxeaters" and you'll find out who's winning once you enter the real world.
Anonymous (October 12, 2005 @ 8:57am):
Ms. Howard-
Are you unaware that Gov. Doyle is already raiding the Transportation fund in order to make up funds that he is funneling into WEAC in the form of "increased state aid for municipalities"? You had best begin studying related items before you begin to pontificate on "shortsighted and ill-advised". Where has all the money gone? Gov. Doyle has used it to pay back his campaign contributors. I realize that this comment is posted some time after the original editorial, and that you would have no way of knowing the fact that he has just done it again by negotiating a new gaming compact with the Indian (excuse me, Native American)casinos that is essentially the exact same one as the one that the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down, with the exception that instead of "in perpetuity", the compact is "only" for 25 years, AND includes all the forms of gaming that the Wisconsin Supreme Court SPECIFICALLY stated violated the Gaming amendment that authorized the State Lottery in the first place. I realize that you are young and impressionable, but it is inexcusable for you to not do your homework. I have read some of your other pieces, and it shows a either a blatant unwillingness to dig up the facts, or a WILLINGNESS to ignore facts which are inconvenient to your pre-conceived ideas. You will find that the best writing skills in the world pale in the face of the inability to back your opinions with facts.
