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I’m sure this will delight those who’ve wondered what institution I’ve escaped from. I am very pleased with the increasing prices of gasoline. I only wish that it would go higher – about $6 a gallon would be about right in my opinion.
For over three decades we’ve ignored warnings about the planet being in danger because of environmental pollution and the global warming it is producing. Year after year brought new incontrovertible evidence that the use of fossil fuel was bringing about a catastrophic change. We are now told that the Arctic ice may be completely melted during the coming summer. We ignored the disappearing snows of Mount Kilimanjaro. Will we ignore this?
Powerful hurricanes, tornados and flooding from unseasonable rains while other areas suffer from droughts never seen before, have brought death and destruction on a scale previously unknown. From Hurricane Katrina to the flooded Midwest, to the fires on the West Coast – the results of our apathy and greed have destroyed lives, homes and infrastructure.
We can lay part of the blame on the oil companies, part on that idiot (they won’t print what I would really like to call him) in the White House, and a good size portion on Congress, but the lion’s share goes to us.
Every day people are finding new ways to reduce their use of gasoline for the simple reason that it costs too much. While the end of the world is something far away (out of sight, out of mind?), the price at the pump has become pivotal to many of our daily decisions. More and more people are carpooling, public transportation has seen an upsurge in riders (Seattle reported a 28 percent increase in riders in the past few months). The new buzzwords are conservation and renewable energy – 30-plus years too late.
We can spend $4 for a latte, $8 to see a movie and the sky’s the limit when it comes to concert tickets. But an extra buck or so for a gallon of gas and everyone goes ballistic. Now we see the effects of our stupid apathy in our wallets and that finally gets us interested in conservation and alternate energy sources.
I believe we’ve passed the point of no return, and we will pay for our past gluttony. Unfortunately, it will be those on the bottom rungs of humanity who suffer the most, despite the fact that they had nothing to do with creating the problem. The best that can be done now is to take the draconian steps needed to at least minimize what is coming down the pipe.
After reading the above, I’ve changed my mind about the $6 price – make it $7.
(Soapboxes are guest opinions from our readers, and anyone is welcome to write one. Isador Morgavi is a Bull Mountain resident.)
Interesting article. I have been going back and forth on this exact same issue. On one hand I agree that rising gas prices are great to jump start our country to making a change. On the other hand I think a lot of people living financially day to day are going to suffer.
I run a blog that discusses these topics specifically if you are interested:
http://www.dumpitinthepump.com
(email verified)
Fri, Jul 11, 2008 at 05:58 AM
While I can agree that high prices will drive alternatives, I think it is glib for a Bull Mountain resident to suggest $7 a gallon for gas. I doubt that even at THAT price he would be impacted much.
Meanwhile, there are people who actually WOULD suffer at that price. Let them eat cake?
(email verified)
Fri, Jul 11, 2008 at 09:21 AM
Pssst...30 years ago the scientific "experts" were telling us about the coming ice age.
I won't call you crazy (but it could be argued you are). How is it possible to think humans, who have only been around for what, maybe 5,000 years, have had such a negative impact on a planet that is by conservative estimates hundreds of thousands of years old? Do you think that in all the years of existence there haven't been hundreds (if not thousands) of "Hurricane Katrinas"? (Also, weren't we told by "the experts" that because of "global warming" we were going to see hurricanes the size of Katrina every year? So much for "the experts".) Of course, there were no forest fires, droughts, "unseasonable rains", etc before humans, right? It's all our fault? How do you account for the magnetic reversal of the poles? The bad humans weren't even around for that. If it were to happen today, would you and your "human haters" blame that on my SUV?
Now, you claim you want to see gas prices hit $7 a gallon. I'm sure you were just trying to be shocking, but have you given any thought to what that would do to the average family - remembering of course, that food, clothing, etc. all need to be transported from one place to the other. How much is that "extra buck or so" a gallon going to cost them? I'm sure you and the other "human haters" probably have your own "the sky is falling" emergency shelter stocked full of food, water, and hemp clothing, but not all of us do.
We have, at best, 200 years of actual weather records. TWO HUNDRED YEARS out of the possibility of millions/billions. If you want to look at scientific research of ice cores, rock samples, etc., you'll find that 1.) Earth's temperatures - as a whole - have been declining since the mid-90's and 2.) The temperatures during the Bronze Age were much hotter than they have ever been during the last three decades. How many fossil fuels were being used back then? Call ME crazy, but it doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense to look at the last 30 years and say "we’ve passed the point of no return".
I have plenty of comments about your little "idiot (they won’t print what I would really like to call him) in the White House" dig. How can you blame him and not Clinton, Bush Sr., Reagan, Carter, etc.? By the way, you noticed its nice mix of Democrats and Republicans going back 30 years, right? Say what you will about George W. Bush (nothing I say is going to change your mind, anyway). But at least he's not splattering his DNA all over an intern's dress and lying about it under oath (that's called perjury...and it's a crime).
(email verified)
Fri, Jul 11, 2008 at 10:00 AM
"B"
RIGHT ON! I am sooo tired of the BS from the left loonies. There actually is evidence that the entire "humans are causing global warming" chicken little routine is pure BS, but, since leftie loonies basically run those institutions (or those that fund them) any scientist that has attempt to actually say the TRUTH is marginalized, fired, lose out on grants and other funding, etc.
To me it would be better suited for Isador Morgavi to move to Portland with the other leftie loonies.
(email verified)
Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 12:23 AM
After reading this guest opinion, I now know what else in her life begins with 'bull'....
BTW, Andrew? Have you sold your car yet? If not, please kindly open a big ol' can of STFU.
Idiot Leftists.
(email verified)
Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 11:47 AM
The Trib already Rocks for being being that rare opportunity to state and read opinions of average citizens.
Soapbox is a great idea for people to start a topic of their own.
I agree higher gas prices is a good thing, but our leaders should have been more proactive in preparing alternative energy sources.
(How did we get into italics-world?)
Have a great one people!
(email verified)
Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 07:49 PM
Idiot??? Let's try myopic, or tunnel vision or painfully misinformed.
Allow me to dissect your assertions:
"For over three decades we’ve ignored warnings about the planet being in danger because of environmental pollution and the global warming it is producing."
Funny, I thought the internal combustion engine had been around MUCH longer than that. Oh, we should probably add that the various pollution controls on factories and cars (in the last 50 years) has us running machines that pollute FAR less then what was put into the air in the 40's and 50's - but you don't choose to recognize that.
"We are now told that the Arctic ice may be completely melted during the coming summer. We ignored the disappearing snows of Mount Kilimanjaro. Will we ignore this?"
First, climate change has happened throughout the history of the earth. The amount of 'change' that we brought about is, literally, insignificant. The amount of change we could still bring about, even if we all went back to living in caves, is insignificant. Greenland was called Greenland because it was green; AD 800 to 1300 the regions around the fjords of southern Greenland experienced a relatively mild climate, with temperatures similar to today. Yet there were no internal combustion engines. Later it had an ice age, again, without the internal combustion engine - etc. We are not God, we don't really have THAT big of an effect on the climate, live with it.
"Powerful hurricanes, tornados and flooding from unseasonable rains while other areas suffer from droughts never seen before, have brought death and destruction on a scale previously unknown. From Hurricane Katrina to the flooded Midwest, to the fires on the West Coast -"
There is a whole lot of lumping together that you are doing there. Care to start looking up some data? My example was last year when the 'global warming freaks' predicted MASSIVE HURRICANES, and the hurricane season was VERY mild. As for the fires, take a look back in history and you will see they occur with stunning regularity, ditto the flooding.
About the only part that you got right was that things are going to worse; that the price of energy is going up. The solution, however, is to loosen some of the stupid environmental restrictions and to drill and drill now. Yes, we need to work on other forms of energy, but we are wasting time getting ourselves out of this pickle because of people like you. Eventually people will understand that $10 for a potato and $300 to fill a gas tank is too high a price to pay and will start working on the fix. However, as long as people like you get in the way, it will just take a bit longer to get there.
(email verified)
Tue, Jul 15, 2008 at 09:21 AM
I guess the people that live on Bull Mountain just have cash laying around to spend on stuff. I think someone needs to try to live on a typical household income for awhile before blogging anymore
(email verified)
Tue, Jul 15, 2008 at 12:35 PM
You know, as fuel prices rise, that might spur on the development of other fuels, or make others more attractive. That is the benefit of a "free market" economy, innovation is still spur on by economic demand - and innovation is driven by people. What will that "New" fuel be - Hydrogen?, Nuclear?, who knows, maybe we can significantly improve the efficiently of our current internal combustion engines, maybe all of the above. But the current dire threats, and "I told you so's" is over the top, and discourages innovative thought. The government - any government - will not "solve" any problem - a government only serves to facilitate or manage a problem, rarely does a government "solve" anything - people and individuals solve problems. Look at Portland's government or Metro, have they ever "solved" anything?
(email verified)
Wed, Jul 16, 2008 at 08:46 PM
Yes you are crazy.
The level of ignorance demonstrated by Isador Morgavi is stunning. As is the rest of the global warming hysteria that wrongly attributes every observation and fabrication imaginable to global warming.
And they call the president and idiot?
So bad is the hijacking of science and misrepresentation of global warming that we get these opinion pieces on a daily basis. Morgavi, while beyond duped, appears euphoric with enamor over the idea of global warming because it serves so perfectly the liberal enviro agenda where bad humans need far more control for their own good.
On the hurricane connection alone the false claims have reached fraudulent proportions.
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=16806
"Dr. Trenberth (IPCC) participated in a press conference on the topic "Experts to warn global warming likely to continue spurring more outbreaks of intense hurricane activity"
along with other media interviews on the topic
The result of this media interaction was widespread coverage that directly connected the very busy 2004 Atlantic hurricane season as being caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas warming occurring today.
These media sessions have resulted in a widespread perception that global warming has made recent hurricane activity much more severe.
No participants in that press conference had performed any research on hurricane variability, nor were they reporting on any new work in the field. All previous and current research in the area of hurricane variability has shown no reliable, long-term trend up in the frequency or intensity of tropical cyclones, either in the Atlantic or any other basin. The IPCC assessments in 1995 and 2001 also concluded that there was no global warming signal found in the hurricane record."
But like so many other Global Warming falsehoods Morgavi passes on the lies with glee.
(email verified)
Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 08:58 AM
I agree that the high price of gas is beneficial because people will get more innovative and conserve more gas. As a conservative, I think we need to conserve all our natural resources. I think that in the long run though, we will be stupid about it and just try to drill for more oil in places that should be left alone, like off our coasts and in the ANWR. The other drawback is that we are paying this money to greedy oil executives, and maybe even worse, middle East countries like Saudi Arabia, who will use the money to support our enemies. I do like watching people with big SUVs and pickups suffer as they pay $50-$100 to fill up their tanks. Also seems to be cutting down on RV usage, which should make summer driving for the rest of us much more enjoyable.
(email verified)
Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 09:49 AM
I'm no "lefty loony", but regardless of the cause of Global Climate Change--in fact regardless of whether it really exists or not--oil is a FINITE resource. With the increasing demand from not only the US, but from China, India, and other nations that are becoming more economically prosperous, and the diminishing supply of oil, the price of energy and the need for alternatives will become ever greater no matter what you might think of "Global Warming".
"Global Warming" will quickly become a side issue when the price of energy makes it prohibitively expensive to buy basic necessities. For our own good, it might be wise to not just think about, but take action now in our own lives to conserve wherever we can. Whether that means less driving, more recycling, turning off lights and plasma TVs, planting a "victory garden"--whatever you can do. You don't have to care one way or the other about Global Warming to be affected by the shortage of energy resources. Y'all can argue about who caused "Global Warming" all the way to the bread line.
And don't think you can blame the last 150 years of human behavior on a guy that's only been president of one country for 8.
(email verified)
Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 10:13 AM
This sure has a familiar feel to it... that's it: the Jimmy Carter days.
I can't believe that Democrats take over congress in 2006 and within 2 years misery abounds: inflation, gas prices rise, doom & gloom, the world is going to end.
I don't know how people can believe this garbage that it is good for American people to suffer. Easy for you liberals to say, living in the Pearl and having the option to walk to work or take light rail or drive your $20K Prius.
How about the average guy who can't afford a home anywhere near downtown, so he lives in Mollala and has to commute 25 miles each way in his 1986 Chevy?
It reminds me of a historic figure who, faced with a similar question said: "Let them eat cake"
You claim to be so compassionate, but you have no idea what the average person experiences.
Rising gas pices are a good thing...???
BTW, the earth temperature has cooled since 1998.
(email verified)
Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 11:32 AM
I don't understand why we conservatives get all wound up by the Global Warming debate. The Global Warming debate distracts conservatives from the real debate: National Security. The US should be doing everything possible to wean itself off of fossil fuels. Why do we want to continue to ship our dollars off to the Arab states? Don't you wonder what Saudi Arabia is doing with all of our money? It is funding Madrassa schools all over the Arab world that preach hatred of America and train the future Al Qaedas. Everytime you fill up at the service station, you are funding terrorists. Think about it.
(email verified)
Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Buckley is right. We can't use "humans aren't the cause of Global Warming" as an excuse to keep guzzling gas and other petroleum products. There are reasons to conserve that hit much closer to home than Global Warming.
(email verified)
Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 06:21 PM
If a person lives in Mollala and drives an '86 chevy to Portland every day, they aren't too bright. Maybe that person should sell the house and move closer to town, or get a job closer to home. I'm tired of people trying to pretend like they're country folk, when they just depend on the city like everyone else. Only YOU can make your situation better.
(email verified)
Fri, Jul 18, 2008 at 09:28 AM
"If a person lives in Mollala and drives an '86 Chevy to Portland every day, they aren't too bright."
Hey, now--If I had to sell a house and move every time I got a new job, that would be a major hardship. Who does that unless they get transferred across the state (or country)? Nobody knows why somebody might live far from their work; those of us who don't should be grateful and take advantage of the proximity.
Maybe somebody who has a commute of 20+ miles would have more fun if they sold the car and got a motorcycle...
(email verified)
Fri, Jul 18, 2008 at 10:56 AM
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Re: Call me crazy, but rising gas prices are a good thing
Some great points - we agree wholeheartedly! It's time for Americans to start accepting some changes in our transport habits.
-Responsible Citizens for High Gas Prices
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=16507714937
"Andrew"
(email verified)
Thu, Jul 10, 2008 at 08:12 PM