That's right, I said quit whining about the price of gas. Quit blaming certain politicians and the oil companies and foreign countries. Start blaming the real culprits. You and I, we are the ones that caused gas prices to go up and we are the ones that will make gas prices go even higher.

For decades, various politicians, certain economists and the oil companies have been telling us that oil prices would, someday, rise enormously, they told us why and they told us how to slow the rise in oil prices substantially. However, even though anyone with even half a brain, knew they were right, we ignored them. We wanted to "have our cake and eat it too". We wanted to protect the sand fleas and snail darters in America, we wanted to guarantee that there would be no more oil spills off our coasts, we wanted to drive huge gas guzzling vehicles, we wanted to fly all over the world, we wanted to heat our homes to 70 degrees in the winter and cool them to 68 degrees or less in the summer, we wanted to heat our swimming pools so that we could swim in them all year long, we didn't want to walk or ride a bike to work or school, etc.. In other words we wanted everything but we didn't want to give up or sacrifice anything.

Everytime some politician suggested that we increase oil exploration or drilling in America, environmentalists and millions of Americans screamed "no, not here" "we have to save the sand flea or the snail darter or whatever". Therefore, every year our dependence on foreign oil increased.

Everytime some politician or oil company executive stated that the world population was growing and that other countries would someday start bidding for the foreign oil that we were buying, therefore we needed to increase our own oil exploration and drilling, we screamed "no", "we will find another way".

Every time some politician would state that we need to increase our nuclear power production, we screamed "no", "it's too dangerous".

When auto manufactures came out with electric vehicles, we didn't buy them, because they were too expensive.

Years ago, when the oil companies stated that they needed to increase refinery production, we placed so many environmental restrictions on them that they decided that it wasn't worth the expense of building them.

We kept saying give me, give me, give me, but we weren't willing to give anything back.

Now that oil prices are over seventy dollars ($70.00) a barrel, we, like spoiled children, are looking for someone to blame, after all why should we take any responsibility, isn't the government supposed to take care of us? Why should the oil companies make a profit? So what if, just a few years ago, they were losing money, that's not our problem.

We still don't want to allow oil drilling and exploration in America, we still don't want to pay high prices for electric and hybrid vehicles, we still don't want to give up our airconditioning and gas heating, we still want to take vacations where we either drive long distances or fly in fuel burning airplanes. We still want to be spoiled and pampered. We just don't want to pay for it, and we don't want to take responsibility for it.

This problem can be fixed, it just can't be fixed overnight. We don't even have to give up our gas guzzling vehicles, our vacations, our airconditioning or our gas heating. We can continue to spoil ourselves rotten. All we have to do is open America up to oil drilling and exploration, build a few nuclear power plants and increase our coal mining. Eventually we will have enough oil and power to overcome our dependence on foreign oil.

We might however, be forced to let a few sand fleas and snail darters die. We might have to take some chances with nuclear accidents and / or oil spills.

Note: This post is not a joke. The rest of the world is building nuclear power plants, digging for coal and drilling and exploring for oil like mad. We may not like it but if we don't do the same, we might someday find ourselves ruled by China, Russia or some Arab country. While we are talking about giving up our gas guzzling cars, our vacations, our heated swimming pools, etc. they are buying more cars, taking more vacations and building more heated pools.

By the way: I am not a spokesperson for big oil. I don't own any oil company stock, I am not related to nor do I know any oil company executives and I drive one of those gas guzzling cars (I'm lucky if I get 14 miles to the gallon). I'm not angry at the oil companies for making big profits. After all that's what companies in America are supposed to do. I am, however, irked at many of my fellow citizens. If they had listened to President Bush (41) or if they has listened to the current President Bush at the beginning of his admimistration, we would have started exploring and drilling years ago and we would not now be having these high gas and oil prices. If they were more worried about people than they were about the snail darter we would not now be having these problems. If more of them were willing to put their money where there mouths are and bought more hybrids and electrics, those vehicles might now be affordable for everyone.

One final thought: I am part of the problem and as long as I'm part of the problem and not part of the cure, as long as I continue to drive gas guzzling cars, use my airconditioning and heating and as long as I continue to waste gas and oil, I am not going to whine and complain about the price of gas. I'll pay it and just be happy that it's there.

David G. Hallstrom, Sr,
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