Comment Re:The WH's boss is still we the people you know (Score 1) 497
>>Fuel prices are a marginal thing for most people, despite the plaintive cries that you hear ("can't afford to go to work", or the notion that food prices double when fuel prices double, tired of hearing that one.)
I don't think that's a correct statement at all. Fuel prices affect a lot more than just personal transport, and even more than food. Everything produced has to travel somewhere. While for you this may mean you choose to buy food from a locally produced outlet, what about the pop you drink? The beer? The computer you are typing on? How many of these products are produced within your immediate vicinity? Also recognize that price is another concern. It's easy to ignore the price of something if you can afford it, but for most the cheapest foods are often the ones that travel the greatest distance (packaged foods for example, or frozen foods). The same goes for almost any other product; textiles, electronics, etc.
In point in fact, fuel prices are NOT a marginal thing for most people. For MOST people, paying double for gas can impact their monthly budget by 5-10%, not small change. In addition, the spin-offs of the rise in transportation fuel means that all the cheap products people who need them most depend on, not just food but even the clothing they wear, also cost more, further eating into their budget. So not only does it cost more to get to work, it costs more to feed and cloth your family. Oh, and don't forget the rising cost of electricity and heating.
So, in short, while money seems to be no object to you, those of us living on tight budgets tend to be hurt most in such a crisis. While I don't think gasoline is sustainable in the long term, to suggest the affect the current price rise has had on the average joe is marginal is ridiculous.
I don't think that's a correct statement at all. Fuel prices affect a lot more than just personal transport, and even more than food. Everything produced has to travel somewhere. While for you this may mean you choose to buy food from a locally produced outlet, what about the pop you drink? The beer? The computer you are typing on? How many of these products are produced within your immediate vicinity? Also recognize that price is another concern. It's easy to ignore the price of something if you can afford it, but for most the cheapest foods are often the ones that travel the greatest distance (packaged foods for example, or frozen foods). The same goes for almost any other product; textiles, electronics, etc.
In point in fact, fuel prices are NOT a marginal thing for most people. For MOST people, paying double for gas can impact their monthly budget by 5-10%, not small change. In addition, the spin-offs of the rise in transportation fuel means that all the cheap products people who need them most depend on, not just food but even the clothing they wear, also cost more, further eating into their budget. So not only does it cost more to get to work, it costs more to feed and cloth your family. Oh, and don't forget the rising cost of electricity and heating.
So, in short, while money seems to be no object to you, those of us living on tight budgets tend to be hurt most in such a crisis. While I don't think gasoline is sustainable in the long term, to suggest the affect the current price rise has had on the average joe is marginal is ridiculous.
