We are paying for our oil dependence

A couple weekends ago, I was pulling into a Getty gas station in New Jersey, preparing to fill the tank with regular gas that cost $1.15 per gallon. Last Saturday, I was driving around town burning fuel in search of a station that was charging under $1.50 per gallon, right here in good old Everett.

I have a couple of issues here:

First: Why is it that the oil companies – you know who I’m talking about – those companies with American sounding names like Standard Oil, Texaco, Exxon (OK, Exxon sounds more like a company based on Uranus) feel that a 40- to 50-cent mark up for a gallon of gas is justified for those of us on the West Coast?

You’ve got to love those patriotic corporate oil folks. Makes me feel all mushy inside when I see an ad featuring some buck-toothed cartoon cars telling me to pump their brand of gas because it will clean my engine while I drive. My engine? I don’t think so. Clean my pocketbook? Now we’re talking.

The second issue is: When will this country wake up and embrace solar energy? We sure wouldn’t have to deal with nearly as much of this Middle Eastern danger if we weren’t so dependent upon that black goo that springs forth from their homelands. Dump the oil, become energy independent, quit messing with other countries that don’t want any dealings with us other than our infusion of cash (and quite frankly, I don’t particularly want any dealings with them, either), and most importantly, regain some national autonomy. What could be more patriotic than that?

It won’t happen, though. The unaccountable and unelected oil government will squeeze every last dime out of us until it is time (i.e., the very last second) to move on to another energy source. I’m saying this right here and right now. The time has arrived. We are just beginning to pay the real social costs of an oil-dependent economy.

Solar is the way to go. Right now. Or, we can keep going down the path that we have embarked on.

Everett