OPINION & EDITORIAL
America fickle for oil
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Rob Rossmeissl:
- Trolley proposal deserves thought (May 1, 2007)
- U.S. should re-evaluate free trade agreements to improve economy (April 24, 2007)
- High quality city inspires progress (April 17, 2007)
- Comic relief important in movies (April 9, 2007)
- Shout outs harbor hatred (March 26, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Americans ignore strife for sideshow (February 23, 2007)
- Spring elections story misleading (December 12, 2006)
- Corporate media needs restrictions (January 15, 2006)
- Goodbye Brokaw, so-long credibility (October 28, 2004)
- U.S. media places higher value on Americans' lives than foreigners' (February 22, 2006)
by Rob Rossmeissl
Friday, September 8, 2006
Earlier this week, a Gulf of Mexico oil discovery by Chevron Corporation became major news, if not the headline story, in just about every bastion of American journalism. Apparently, people are so incredibly fatigued by this story that newspapers were able to quickly seize an opportunity to profit by presenting hopeful information about how Americans might once again be able to enjoy the exceptionally low gas prices they've come to view as a God-given right.
The relationship between Americans and fossil fuels can be called nothing short of perplexing. Listen in on every conversation in this country and, if any of its participants happen to own motor vehicles, you can pretty much expect to at least hear a slight mention of high gas prices. People in the United States seem to love nothing more than to gripe about paying at the pump and seem to hate nothing more than the fact that little is being done to make this aspect of their lives less painful. Amazingly, however, American attitudes regarding this issue could not possibly contradict their behavioral counterparts more.
It came and went before my time, but even as a kid, I can remember hearing ridicule of the electric car. People were so eager to dismiss the innovation — "I've heard the batteries go dead after two years," "I know a guy who knows a guy who has one, and he says you have to plug it in every 30 minutes," "The engine doesn't work when it's raining" — that their wishes came true. During the latter half of the 1990s, the once-revolutionary idea of an automobile reliant on something other than fossil fuels seemingly subsided in the face of a public unwilling to even accept such a dream as feasible. Meanwhile, the science community regrouped and considered how to next approach solving the U.S. fuel reliance problem — a problem for which, ironically, their previous attempts at a solution had been met with relentless scolding, as if they had done something wrong — that many Americans considered to be the nation's biggest.
While science tirelessly marched on in search of the next big breakthrough, Americans did likewise, and found it: the sport utility vehicle. A new trend began, one in which socioeconomic status could be deciphered by figuring out just how quickly someone's box-on-wheels could burn through a gallon of gas. The race was on and the shortsighted automakers of Detroit, today reeling from their embrace of the gas-price rollercoaster, were all too happy to accommodate, nay, encourage an SUV-crazed nation. Expedition, Excursion, Hummer — American autoworkers could hardly manufacture these monstrosities quickly enough for their compatriots. The U.S. attitude, however, has hardly changed but had simply been dormant during this time of prosperity.
As the economic boom cooled off and gas prices began a slow ascent, there was quick reminder of Americans' feelings about their reliance on fossil fuels. Before long, complaints about gas prices were as loud as they have ever been. The next few years leading up to the present saw a slowdown in SUV sales and the re-emergence of a scientific attempt to end reliance on fossil fuels (hydrogen, ethanol, the hybrid car … to name a few). This time, however, the U.S. populace is seemingly embracing the latter: moving toward acceptance of these viable alternatives to gas guzzling.
But, oh, how that could change.
Americans have short memories. Today, they might hate that SUV they bought four years ago; they might seriously be considering the purchase of a hybrid, and they might cast a vote this November with the advancement of the hydrogen automobile in mind.
On the other hand, if Chevron's discovery materializes, Americans might forget about their gas problems once again and leave their children with bigger ones.
Rob Rossmeissl (rjrossmeissl@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in journalism and political science.
Anonymous (September 8, 2006 @ 1:50am):
At around $70/barrel, I don't see how oil from the OPEC countries could be any cheaper than drilling for oil back home. I hope that 1)we can produce enough petroleum to pull our tankers out of the Middle-East once and for all and 2)we'll find some other energy source that is not petroleum-based. God only knows we've been getting scammed by Big Oil long enough.
Anonymous (September 8, 2006 @ 8:18am):
Why is the price of gasoline dropping right now? Did China stop using gasoline recently? I think all the reasons we were given for the spike in gas prices were absolute BULL. Someone has to follow the money, perhaps a democrat-majority with subpoena power. Just for the record: if the democrats don't act, I'll do my best to vote them out too.
Anonymous (September 8, 2006 @ 12:18pm):
The main problem lurking behind higher oil prices, global warming, terrorism, illegal immigration, etc. is overpopulation. This old planet just can't easily or pleasantly support so many billions of humanoids. Of course this is a taboo subject for most cultures, including ours, so nothing will be done. Mother Nature, however, will take care of business if we don't, and Her methods aren't necessarily pretty.
Anonymous (September 8, 2006 @ 2:02pm):
Good article. People whine about gas prices ad nauseam but never blame the the government planners at all levels-federal, state and local--who have encouraged auto-centric, low-density environments since the 1950s. It isn't just about personal oil addiction--it's about the bureaucrats who designed entire landscapes to be only accessible by cars, and so low density that public transportation would never be feasible.
People often think the marketplace produced oil addiction but big government has as much to do with it as anything. Even the last 10-15 years of New Urbanism is only a drop in the bucket compared to our auto-loving planners.
Anonymous (September 8, 2006 @ 2:40pm):
Soylent Green is PEOPLE!
Anonymous (September 10, 2006 @ 11:54pm):
the market brought gasoline prices down. people actually started conserving and companies had to bring prices down in order to increase demand...we've all taken econ 101, so this theory can't be difficult to grasp. everyone is looking for conspiracy theories and expecting oil companies to operate at a loss or at break even. they are private companies investing private assets to produce a product for consumer use...if the price is too high, don't buy...it's that simple. but don't expect oil companies to stop trying to make a profit off of their investment(s).
