Gas wars

By the time I get home my supper'll be cold."

-- James Taylor, "Traffic Jam"

Remember gas wars?

I recall back in the very early 1960s how my father would pontificate at the kitchen table about how there was no more oil being made, that it was a limited resource, that conservation and alternative energy sources were necessary, that gasoline prices would soar, and that "the younger generation" was spoiled.

I also recall in the early 1970s, just prior to the Arab Oil Embargo, paying less than 20 cents per gallon for gasoline. Within less than a year, I found myself stranded on I-40, spending a Sunday night at a gasoline station in my car, waiting for the Monday morning opening, as Sunday closings were becoming common due to the shortage of gasoline.

Dad's prediction was logical and has proven to be correct, but not really before his death in 1999, despite OPEC and the Arab Oil Embargo, and the fact that my dad always had a gas-guzzling luxury car.

And have you noticed the increased advertising for fuel-efficient and alternative energy vehicles and the near fire sale prices on gas guzzling SUVs of late?

For the past several weeks we have seen a decline in gasoline prices, however slight, especially in neighboring Missouri. But it seems that the $4 threshold was the point where Americans as a whole finally started taking steps to conserve gasoline. I personally have noticed a decrease in the number of vehicles on U.S. Hwy. 62, especially outside of city limits, which appears to be a permanent condition, considering the recent decline in gasoline prices.

In addition, food prices have also soared, largely due to the increased costs of transportation and production, thanks again largely to the increase in fuel costs

The increased gasoline prices appear to have spurred a heightened sense of neighborliness, at least here in more-or-less rural Carroll County. Recreational driving appears to have declined, but people are car-pooling, especially for the necessary tasks like shopping for groceries. In many cases, a shopper may do one or more neighbors' shopping as well.

It may take more time, but the savings can be very significant, especially for those who live "way out" in the country.

Such actions must contribute to a sense of community and neighborliness, and that is something that's been in decline in our society for a very long time.