COLUMN: Gas prices suck
I came across something on Twitter that read, “My girlfriend asked why I never take her somewhere expensive. Looks like I’m taking her to the gas station.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself. I’m sure most broke college students, including myself, cringe at the sight of the “low fuel light” lit up on the dashboard. No matter how much I want to ignore it, it’s still there.
Paying $45 to fill up my car makes me want to cry. But then when I look at the man in the Escalade across from me and the screen reads $85, I don’t feel as bad — at least he can probably afford it. But nevertheless, it still puts a damper on the lifestyle I would like to live, filled with endless Starbucks coffee and hitting the tanning salon on a regular basis.
At least we aren’t in Los Angeles where regular unleaded gas was almost $5 a gallon at a Shell on March 5.
My mom reminisces about being in college and people would drive around in their Nova singing Madonna’s “Material Girl.” We are definitely not living in a material world, and I am not a material girl. People commonly ride around in their Impala singing, “Got Money” by Lil Wayne wishing they had a few dollars to spare. Back in the '80s when my parents were in college, gas was $1.25 a gallon. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Oil prices are now higher than they have ever been. Just in the past two weeks, the average gallon of regular gas has jumped 12 cents to $3.81, according to the Lundberg Survey. Compared to a year ago, gas prices are around 30 cents higher.
There are many factors behind the surge, including Iran’s threat to block oil shipping in the Persian Gulf and fears of the new Middle Eastern War. According to a report from the CBS News, oil prices are predicted to remain high because of the “tough oil” that is hard to refine and hard to reach.
Most of the world’s “easy” reserves have been exhausted, and the resources are not available anymore from easily accessible, inexpensive petroleum.
Most people don’t care why gas prices cost more than an arm and a leg. We just want relief. Some people just blame the president. Almost two-thirds of people polled at a Washington Post/ABC News poll disprove of the way President Obama handles the gas situation.
Unfortunately, we just have to deal with it. Or buy a really nice bike.
