The Truth Surrounding High Gas Prices
Environmental concerns are just the latest in the line of excuses as to why gas prices are hitting new records each day. I’ve read articles that have stated everything from short supply to weather being the culprits. I’m sure I’m not the only one that is finding it hard to believe that we are suddenly running out of oil. Unless I am horribly wrong, cars that run on alternate fuels were being created years ago and from all reports worked just fine. The reason we are not using these cars now is due to oil companies buying these small, but environmentally safe companies out.
Apparently, there have been quite a large number of accidents in the oil refineries this year. This has decreased the production of gasoline by over half. Maybe I misheard when Hurricane Katrina hit that we had reserves. It has also been stated by our government that oil refineries produce more than is actually needed. If both of these are facts, then we should be fine until production is back up and running. Instead, gas prices are soaring. Since Hurricane Katrina hit, Americans have seen gas prices go up and down by dollars, not cents. I live in North Carolina, so I will use our prices as a comparison. During the hurricane, our prices spiked $3.26 for regular unleaded. During the course of the next two years, I have seen prices drop to $1.98 and average out around $2.30 per gallon. In the past month, prices have risen from $2.70 to $3.05 for regular unleaded. One man is even being sued by the state for selling gas too cheap. I also have the wonderful privilege of living in one of the highest gas tax states.
As I mentioned earlier, environmental concerns are one of the main reasons for the high prices so suddenly. Oil companies believe that by charging more for gas, Americans will drive less. However, thanks to the rising prices, we have no choice but to drive. How else can we afford the gas and the increased prices of basic necessities such as food? Cars and of course gasoline have allowed communities to become more spread out. It is difficult to find a job, let alone one nearby. Therefore, people must drive farther to support their families. With companies shutting down left and right, it is hard to expect people to stay within a few mile radius of their job and simply walk to work.
Neighbors no longer work in the same places, so car pooling usually isn’t an option. Unless you live in a large city, buses do not exist either. Hybrid cars are selling at a much higher value than your average car. Plus, electricity is created in nuclear power plants and costs a pretty penny as well. Pray tell, how is one supposed to afford the switch when they cannot even afford gas? I do not see how these hybrid cars are any better for our environment. From various posts I’ve read on discussion boards, neither does anyone else. Our government has allowed companies to move overseas and is now so desperate for replacements that they are providing large incentives to companies to start up. However, the draw back is that the tax payers are paying for their own jobs. In a few years, companies will move to another location to receive a new set of incentives once the ones from their current location are said and done. No jobs equal longer commutes to other jobs, which in turn equals more oil consumption.
I am sure any government or oil company officials will be glad to provide more excuses when Americans complain about gas prices. This is their job. As a free country, it is every working person’s responsibility to demand the truth and be treated fairly. Gas is rising simply to provide raises to those who did not need the money to start with. In the long run, higher gas prices will cause the economy to fall and if something does not change, another depression will soon begin. Someone needs to resist being bought out and start producing the alternative fuel cars, such as the corn meal and even garbage. Some hydrogen cars have been created as well. Either that, or the oil guys need to listen to the voice in the back of their minds and give up their raises so everyone else can prosper and have financial security.
Cruel Vets
I posted about cruelty to animals in one of my other blogs about a year ago. Needless to say, I was quite upset at the time and didn’t bother to look at it from any other point of view. This is a topic I feel strongly about and I highly doubt I can be too objective even now.
Our local vet believes that strays only deserve 72 hours to either be adopted or found by their owners. However, even though you cannot visit on the weekends (there goes 48 hours) or after office hours, this “off” time counts against the animal. There have been numerous attempts to start a Humane Society Animal Shelter in the next city over that would house the entire county’s strays. I understand how hard it can be to take care of multiple animals all vying for your attention at one time. It’s amazing that all the money raised for the shelter has been used up by the same vet.
A recent editorial in the local newspaper stated that even after being cornered by an organization over the use of the funds, proper paperwork was not found for all of the money. The vet could only account for roughly half of what they had used. There have been more complaints than I care to count over the care of animals inside the vet, without even considering the 72 hour rule.
For instance, an animal of mine hated strange places, but had ear mites and needed medication. Instead of telling me what was wrong initially and giving me the drops to treat it at home, I kept getting put off. They kept telling me they were treating him and that he was too sick to go home. When I went to the vet myself to get some answers (a few days later), I was shocked to find that he hadn’t eaten in days. They said he was just being stubborn and would get over it and that I should leave him there. So instead of treating my animal and getting him back to me, they charged me for days of “treatments”. Simply put, I picked up the same ear drops at a farm supply stored and he was well within two days. He didn’t have to starve or be afraid.
Would it have been that difficult to diagnose this on the initial visit? No. But that’s how money’s made. At the expense of an innocent animal. Another example. A woman’s dog had wandered off. Sure enough, the poor thing ended up at said vet. She called on day 1 of the disappearance. She also brought a picture up in case he was picked up at some point. On day 2 she called to check, no luck. At this point, the vet had picked up the dog, but was too busy to compare the picture to the new strays. On day 3, she called and was overjoyed to discover her dog was at the vet. This was near closing and she was told she would need to wait until the next day to pick up her pet. Upon getting to the vet on day 4, she was told that hers had been put down and she should have called when the dog disappeared. The woman had the names and times of the people and calls. According to the files, the dog had been picked up on day 1 and by the morning of day 4, was executed. She was paid off, but that doesn’t help all the others.
There has been hard evidence that the overflow animals are taken to the dump and shot. The others are placed in the gas chamber. Lethal injection is quicker, easier, and a lot less painful on the animal. Seizures and insanity ( akin to rabies) are just a few of the things these animals have to look forward to. These last for 30 minutes to an hour while the animal dies a slow painful death. How can a vet last like this? Try being on the city council and see how much you’re allowed to get away with. The sheriff is stepping in to investigate the missing funds, but technically can’t do anything about the other problems. Once again, I understand the space problems, but do they animals have to die like that? Also, wouldn’t it be a good thing to check the animals when someone calls in? Less mess to clean up later.
This truly sickens me. As you can probably guess, there will be many more such rants about this. Just imagine me after watching the animal cops shows. What I wouldn’t give to have some of those guys and gals around here.
