Actually, according to this governmental site, national gas prices are averaging $2.941 for regular grade and $2.924 for Texas, where I live. They update the stats every Monday, so you may be working off old information.
Also, I know that the US has much lower prices than most of the rest of the world, but we also have extensive oil deposits on hand in Texas, Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico. Of course, the Gulf supplies were badly disrupted by the hurricanes, which partially explains the recent spike.
I'm not trying to denigrate the situation in other parts of the world, but in inflation-adjusted dollars, this is rapidly becoming the worst oil crisis in American history. And it's worsening so quickly (tripled prices in 3 years), that people aren't prepared for it.
Finally, the majority of the population live in areas that require cars or trucks to do anything. Most of the Midwest and Southwest was urbanized after the advent of the car, and the cities are. Not. Built. for pedestrians.
In my town, the closest grocery store is a mile and a half away. The next closest one is 5 miles away. The post office is about 3.5, the closest high school is 4, etc. And I live in a fully developed section of the city, not on the edge.
Also, public transportation in the Midwest and Southwest tends to be shunned and therefore underfunded because the popular perception is that "it's just for poor people". Except for downtown areas, there aren't bus stops every block. You may see them every few miles instead.
Again, I'm not trying to denigrate the situation in Australia, just point out the fact that the US has and is going to contiue to have massive problems adjusting to the increased gas and heating oil prices, not all of which are the fault of the current administration or even the current generation.
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Date: 2005-10-04 05:33 pm (UTC)Also, I know that the US has much lower prices than most of the rest of the world, but we also have extensive oil deposits on hand in Texas, Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico. Of course, the Gulf supplies were badly disrupted by the hurricanes, which partially explains the recent spike.
I'm not trying to denigrate the situation in other parts of the world, but in inflation-adjusted dollars, this is rapidly becoming the worst oil crisis in American history. And it's worsening so quickly (tripled prices in 3 years), that people aren't prepared for it.
Finally, the majority of the population live in areas that require cars or trucks to do anything. Most of the Midwest and Southwest was urbanized after the advent of the car, and the cities are. Not. Built. for pedestrians.
In my town, the closest grocery store is a mile and a half away. The next closest one is 5 miles away. The post office is about 3.5, the closest high school is 4, etc. And I live in a fully developed section of the city, not on the edge.
Also, public transportation in the Midwest and Southwest tends to be shunned and therefore underfunded because the popular perception is that "it's just for poor people". Except for downtown areas, there aren't bus stops every block. You may see them every few miles instead.
Again, I'm not trying to denigrate the situation in Australia, just point out the fact that the US has and is going to contiue to have massive problems adjusting to the increased gas and heating oil prices, not all of which are the fault of the current administration or even the current generation.