We Americans love to complain, but we aren't apt to change our ways after our complaints.
Maybe
that doesn't make much sense to you, because most of us complain about
other people or circumstances that cause us suffering through no fault
of our own....or at least that's what we tell ourselves.
But do
you know that we can react in positive ways after we have been wronged
in order to get the attention of the person who may have wronged us or
to prevent certain negative events happening again to us.
For
example, how we love to complain about those gas prices! Even I was
upset about recent hikes of prices at the pump, while I admit that I
can somehow understand why the prices are climbing so fast.
Rachael Bliss blogs at People Power Granny whenever she can!
Lessening
supply, more demand around the world, a war going on in an oil-rich
area, speculation, the falling value of the dollar and of course, those
greedy rich producers, refineries and sellers.
Most of us
grimace, shake our heads and still fill the tank up weekly or more
often. We continue to drive to do our shopping, to go to the post
office, to take the kids to school, go to work, visit friends, take a
vacation, go to a movie. The list goes on and on while our budgets get
tighter and tighter.
I started working at a new place a few months ago. The first week I
drove to work because it's too far away to walk. But then I got brave
and starting riding the city bus. At the most, it cost me $10 a week.
If I bought a book of tickets, it costs me $7 a week. Plus I don't have
to pay parking like I see all these folks do who continue to drive
everyday. If I were 65, I could ride the bus all week for less than
$3.50.
To take the bus, I would leave the house about 15 minutes
earlier than I did when I drove, and was able to talk to some other
people on the bus to and from the office. I talked to a new mother
with a newborn and to a blind woman who has a beautiful Labrador
seeing-eye dog.
Now I am able to walk to work, which saves me even more money. I don't
fight the traffic. There is no wear on my tires or any other part of my
car. It just rests in along the street curb waiting for a time when
I'll really need to soup it up.
So why do most people continue
to pay at the pump rather than take another form of transportation
everyday? Are we too lazy to change our habits, to go out of our
comfort zone and do something to really show those greedy old oil
owners?
And if you don't like mass transit, what about the old
feet or the bike? Some young folks even take to roller blades, scooters
or skateboards. None of these modes use petroleum. Plus we get some
exercise in the process, saving us a trip to the gym later in the day,
and maybe a hospital later on.
And while we're discussing
petroleum, we can boycott it further by not using a gas-powered lawn
mower, a leaf blower, fertilizers and pesticides on the lawn either.
Everyday materials that also include petroleum are:
plastics, which are in bags, beverage containers, cars, houses, toys, computers and clothing,
asphalt used in road construction,
the synthetic rubber in tires,
paraffin wax,
detergents,
phonograph records,
photographic film,
furniture,
packaging materials,
surfboards,
paints, and
artificial fibers used in clothing, upholstery, and carpet backing.
So
maybe the least folks can do would be to stop driving for awhile, let
that grass grow a little more while you look for a push manual mower
and do more mulching around the trees, flower beds, etc.
You
know, it really makes us Americans look dumb when we complain, complain
and go to war over oil. But when we continue to use it like it's 1955,
we really look stupid.
Let's just admit it, we are addicts to
the stuff. Let's make a pact and cure ourselves of this addiction once
and for all. Besides putting more money in our pockets, we will also be
helping sustain our environment and maybe help us get in better shape
during the process.
Try the bus or the subway or the light rail.
Give yourself a few days. You'll like the change. And what's life
without a little change now and then?
Our grand kids are
watching us. Do we want them to think that we are addicts to a drug
that has been our master far too long? Too bad there's not petroleum
patches out there to help us kick the habit. Maybe we can create an AA
for us petroleum users. We can initiate support groups and help those
who are co-dependents with that spouse who drives too much. Let's just walk to the meetings, though.
We can eventually win over our addiction! Will you try with me? Boycott Big Oil!
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