Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2006 10:08:54 -0700
Reply-To: monte merrick <montemerrick@SPEAKEASY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: monte merrick <montemerrick@SPEAKEASY.NET>
Subject: Re: Local gas prices (sorry long)
In-Reply-To: <000301c667a0$d7ccf680$0300a8c0@MilosKitchen>
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given the fat that all of us on the list are probably getting somewhere
around 20 mpg in our vanagons, we can assume that all of us share
whatever guilt therre is to share in the tragedy humans have visited on
the world in the form of fossil fuel burning, as well as other forms of
energy, which, plainly spoke, are not our birthright.
the only energy we have an ethical right to, thinking here solely of
transportation is the energy supplied by our own two feet - every other
form requires a non-consensual donation from some other life which has
an agenda not our own but gives its life toward ours. the road killed
animals - the oil-spill killed ecosystems, the car-crash killed
children, the war killed inhabitants of oil-rich nations and the young
women and men of the oil needy nations sent to secure the supplies -
the list is nearly endless and pretending it doesn't exist doesn't
make it go away and bringing up all of the wonderful things we do with
our cars - be it band practice, or my own work which i love (oiled
bird rescue and rehabilitation) or any of the other myriad good ideas
people with auto lifestyles claim as the ultimate good - lets face it
we made musicals and sporting events pre-auto
the reason there are no easy answers is because none of us, myself
included, are capable of choosing what is right over what we think is
necessary. it is my experience that in the long run, necessary and
right are never in conflict.
that said - flying in a lear jet out to dutch harbor responding to a
shipwreck in the alaska maritime wildlife refuge was a freaking blast
and no the bitter irony is not lost on me.
as we juggle back and forth between the costs of gasoline and our
pocketbooks, etc. it is good to remember that as the ice shrinks and
oceans warm, conservative climate change scientists (by conservative i
mean cautious, not the insane oil company shills arguing that climate
change is not real) estimate 10,000 species extinctions in the next
hundred years - how many birds will be saved then? how many school
plays successfully mounted??
my .02 as they say
monte
On Apr 24, 2006, at 6:13 AM, Milo's Kitchen wrote:
Even though it's no longer Friday, I have to chime in:
"live in a place where you don't have to drive. Yup, that means you
have to
live NEAR OTHER PEOPLE! Horrors! Most Americans don't want to."
We tried that. Lived in the city of Pittsburgh for 4 years before we
cut
our substantial losses and fled back to our small town. Our house was
broken into and robbed. BTW, they stayed the day eating our food and
going
through everything in the house, watching TV and abusing our dog, until
I
came home from work then they fled out another door. The justice system
kept the two teens about 3 hours and then, after we pressed charges,
they
harassed us RELENTLESSLY for months until we caved (parole officers
were a
joke). Lost tens of thousands of dollars on the sale of the house,
which
took two years. Recently the city closed that neighborhood's police
station
to save money. Yeah, I'm going to move back to the city, sure.
"don't drive a vehicle that gets less than 50 mpg. Get a Prius."
I can't afford $20 for a Prius. Our last brand new car was a 1981
Rabbit
GTI. Currently our newest vehicle is the 1991 Carat (suby pwrd). I
haven't
seen a Prius up close, but can I get my 17 yr old son, his tuba or
sousaphone (wind ensemble/marching band/lessons), and my 6 yr old
daughter
and her legally required car seat into one at the same time? Don't
think so.
Last Christmas, in Betsy the 91 Carat, I transported 5 teens, 2 tubas, 3
trombones, folding chairs, music stands, and my 6 yr old with her car
seat
to perform in free concert for the folks at the local retirement center.
That was much more efficient than taking 5 different small cars and was
socially beneficial.
"Reducing energy consumption is, IMO, an ethical choice. It is not
always
the most economical option, especially if you have already got sunk
costs in
housing out in a place where you have to drive everywhere"
When we purchased our current home in 1999, its location took priority
over
square footage and condition (lacking in both). We did not want to
have to
drive constantly. I can easily walk my daughter to school, to the
library,
to the pool/park, and the post office, et. I can walk to the grocery
store
but not purchase more than I can carry home (not practical for a family
of
4). BUT, housing in an area with this level of convenience costs
money. We
bought the cheapest house on the block and were lucky that one was even
available for sale when we needed to move. I'm the director of the
local
food pantry, and believe me, a family of 4 with both parents making
minimum
wage has few options for living in town. They get pushed father out
where
it is cheaper, but less convenient, or into the city with its failed,
crime
ridden public school system.
Not directly related, but another relevant point. Our health insurance
provider requires us to use a specific pharmacy. The closest one is 9
miles
away. The drive is still cheaper than the full price of the medication
purchased at the pharmacy within walking distance. No choice here. (you
can't wait for a mail order of Amoxicillin when your child has a sinus
infection)
"and apparently there aren't any school buses"
My son is a sound and light technician for the high schools'
auditoriums.
When programming a light board for an event or play, the techs are
sometimes
there until 8 p.m. or later. There are no busses to bring them home.
Nor
are there busses when they come home after an away football game at 11
p.m.
To participate, you drive. I don't think canceling the Mancini award
winning all school musical, or disbanding the marching band to save gas
is a
wise choice.
I'm not disrespecting anyone else's opinion, and I have a great deal of
admiration for Joy in particular. There are just no easy answers. We
are a
big, diverse country.
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Stepping off my soapbox....and walking to school.
Sandy
Disclaimer....The opinions expressed are mine alone, Dave has no
knowledge
of this email until after work.
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