Sell the truck, buy the compact car
This editorial orginally appeared in Fort McMurray Today on April 19, 2006
Gas prices have soared again across Canada, reaching as high as $1.10 per litre in Fort McMurray, with an average Canada-wide prices of more than a dollar. The scary thing is we haven't hit the high demand of the summer driving season, so expect things to get a lot worse before they get any better. Oil closed at more than $71 per barrel on Tuesday, and there's no indication that things will slow down any time soon.
What's behind the latest jump? Strife in oil-producing nations like Nigeria, not to mention the nuclear standoff in Iran, the world's No. 2 oil producer. Factor in the ever-growing demand from Asian markets, not to mention the trend towards buying bigger and bigger vehicles, and analysts are saying oil could hit $80 per barrel by this time next year.
So what do we do? Well, unless you enjoy paying $100 or more to fill up your gas tank, reconsider buying the huge truck that you think you need. Are you hauling lumber and bricks? Do you actually need heavy towing capacity? Or do you just want to use the Hummer to drop your children off at soccer practice? If you need a big truck, buy a big truck. If you just want a big truck, well, don't expect anyone to listen to your complaints as you're putting the nozzle in the tank of your gas guzzler.
We don't know if anyone's told you this, but it's your fault. It's not entirely your fault, and there are millions of other people just like you driving unnecessarily huge land yachts, but if everyone drove more efficient vehicles (as well as did other more environmentally friendly things like walking or using public transportation), consumption would go down, and so would price.
We know the irony -- obviously, Fort McMurray wouldn't be experiencing the wealth it's currently raking in if there weren't such a demand for oil. But the cost of living has started to increase faster than our salaries are rising. Is it worth not being able to fill up our cars or heat our homes?
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.
Gas prices have soared again across Canada, reaching as high as $1.10 per litre in Fort McMurray, with an average Canada-wide prices of more than a dollar. The scary thing is we haven't hit the high demand of the summer driving season, so expect things to get a lot worse before they get any better. Oil closed at more than $71 per barrel on Tuesday, and there's no indication that things will slow down any time soon.
What's behind the latest jump? Strife in oil-producing nations like Nigeria, not to mention the nuclear standoff in Iran, the world's No. 2 oil producer. Factor in the ever-growing demand from Asian markets, not to mention the trend towards buying bigger and bigger vehicles, and analysts are saying oil could hit $80 per barrel by this time next year.
So what do we do? Well, unless you enjoy paying $100 or more to fill up your gas tank, reconsider buying the huge truck that you think you need. Are you hauling lumber and bricks? Do you actually need heavy towing capacity? Or do you just want to use the Hummer to drop your children off at soccer practice? If you need a big truck, buy a big truck. If you just want a big truck, well, don't expect anyone to listen to your complaints as you're putting the nozzle in the tank of your gas guzzler.
We don't know if anyone's told you this, but it's your fault. It's not entirely your fault, and there are millions of other people just like you driving unnecessarily huge land yachts, but if everyone drove more efficient vehicles (as well as did other more environmentally friendly things like walking or using public transportation), consumption would go down, and so would price.
We know the irony -- obviously, Fort McMurray wouldn't be experiencing the wealth it's currently raking in if there weren't such a demand for oil. But the cost of living has started to increase faster than our salaries are rising. Is it worth not being able to fill up our cars or heat our homes?
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.
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