Yes, another gas price post. But something to think about.
I must preface this with letting you know that I did not come up with this. This came from a discussion with a fellow professor (and my best friend) at work. But it is a point that is so valid that I wanted to share it.
Have you ever noticed how many people seem to think that it is a given that speed limits were made to be broken? As a general rule, I observe speed limits. And I have never had a speeding ticket (OK, I got a warning in 1993 and have been on the straight and narrow since). I also have people passing me left (that’s OK) and right (that’s scary) and giving me looks like I’m some kind of idiot. What is with this obsession to speed?
Think about this. Speeding is illegal. Speeding is dangerous. Speeding doesn’t prove one is better than anyone else. Speeding increases insurance premiums. But of most interest in the current age of nearly $4.00/gallon gasoline – speeding wastes gas!
The faster you go, the less efficient your vehicle is. The reason we had 55 mph speed limits for so long was because that was the speed where most vehicles were the most efficient. But the bottom line is, the faster you go, the more gas you use. The more gas you use, the less there is for anyone else. And the price goes up.
If Americans would just lighten up on the accelerator, we would use less gas. That means you would not have to buy as much (you’d save more than you would with the silly “Gas Tax Holiday” that is being proposed). Demand would go down, and then what would happen? Economics 101.
Folks, the price of fuel is genuinely affecting a lot of people. We need to take some responsibility for this situation. And the one thing that all of us can do right now that won’t really cost us anything but can actually make a difference in the long haul is simply slowing down.
Look at it like this: when we speed, we use more gas. Which means we are using more oil. Which means we have to import more. Much of which comes from people who don’t like us. And try to kill us. So when we speed, we are actually helping bankroll terrorists who are trying to kill us.
IT IS TIME TO GET THE WORD OUT:
SPEEDING IS UNPATRIOTIC, UNAMERICAN, AND JUST PLAIN WRONG!
