The Value of a Dollar
For the last couple of months, and for the fist time in recorded history (that I am aware of), gas prices have crossed the triple digit threshold here in Ontario...seemingly for good. Bemoaning gas prices has become something of a learned behaviour both locally and nationally for some time, so it seems only too reasonable that when we experience the most recent (and most dramatic) price fluctuations--fluctuations that saw the price-per-liter jump from 1-2$ and then back down to around 1$ in some areas, that people are going to ask questions and demand answers. Premier Dalton McGuinty (does anyone take this guy seriously anymore!?) gave a very eloquent speech about 'Finding Answers' to these crazy trends, signaling that an inquiry from one of the ministry's regulatory boards (some B.S. to do with business ethics...whatever they happen to be) is in order. Thanks big D., now how 'bout an inquiry into those promises you made regarding the gas tax and class sizes in public schools; ass.
But I digress, really what's important about gas prices is not the cost itself, but what this could mean to the way we organize our society. Fossil fuel and marriage represent perhaps two of the most important and foundational institutions in our culture. I won't touch marriage in this entry (or suggest the many ways in which I think these two concepts are related) but the fact of the matter is we are, it seems, on the verge of a transformation in terms of how and what fossil fuel means to us. Gas and oil are more expensive than they've ever been, and neither is going to get cheaper anytime soon. The powers that control how these resources are priced are immeasurably more powerful than any pipsqueak government minister or ministry. The organizational structures that underpin almost every movement a typical north American makes is organized on the principle that gas is available everywhere at a price he/she can afford. Even our patterns of consumption work on this principal. In short, gas prices resonate through almost every corner of our day-to-day lives whether we realize it or not and have informed how we exist and co-exist.
So its natural, when the status quo is under threat, to meet that threat with resistance (especially when the satus quo is the warm gooey womb of overindulgence). But I think that there are other alternative possible here that are being ignored as we throw our collective temper tantrums over the rising price of soft serve. This could be the start of something new, something great, something that environmental lobbyists have been seeking for the last 60 years: A transition away from our dependence on fossil fuel.
If we take a moment to look and listen beyond the angry moans of car drivers across the country, we'll see and hear some interesting things afoot things like:
The TTC making some of the most progressive user friendly policy changes (transferable passes) they've made in years.
Car dealerships offering special considerations to lease holders wishing to switch to hybrid or other new fuel efficient vehicles.
Some long needed attention being paid public transportation zones in desperate need of expanded service. (like train and bus routes to bedroom communities around the GTA)
I have to cut this off here...but more on this later....
For the last couple of months, and for the fist time in recorded history (that I am aware of), gas prices have crossed the triple digit threshold here in Ontario...seemingly for good. Bemoaning gas prices has become something of a learned behaviour both locally and nationally for some time, so it seems only too reasonable that when we experience the most recent (and most dramatic) price fluctuations--fluctuations that saw the price-per-liter jump from 1-2$ and then back down to around 1$ in some areas, that people are going to ask questions and demand answers. Premier Dalton McGuinty (does anyone take this guy seriously anymore!?) gave a very eloquent speech about 'Finding Answers' to these crazy trends, signaling that an inquiry from one of the ministry's regulatory boards (some B.S. to do with business ethics...whatever they happen to be) is in order. Thanks big D., now how 'bout an inquiry into those promises you made regarding the gas tax and class sizes in public schools; ass.
But I digress, really what's important about gas prices is not the cost itself, but what this could mean to the way we organize our society. Fossil fuel and marriage represent perhaps two of the most important and foundational institutions in our culture. I won't touch marriage in this entry (or suggest the many ways in which I think these two concepts are related) but the fact of the matter is we are, it seems, on the verge of a transformation in terms of how and what fossil fuel means to us. Gas and oil are more expensive than they've ever been, and neither is going to get cheaper anytime soon. The powers that control how these resources are priced are immeasurably more powerful than any pipsqueak government minister or ministry. The organizational structures that underpin almost every movement a typical north American makes is organized on the principle that gas is available everywhere at a price he/she can afford. Even our patterns of consumption work on this principal. In short, gas prices resonate through almost every corner of our day-to-day lives whether we realize it or not and have informed how we exist and co-exist.
So its natural, when the status quo is under threat, to meet that threat with resistance (especially when the satus quo is the warm gooey womb of overindulgence). But I think that there are other alternative possible here that are being ignored as we throw our collective temper tantrums over the rising price of soft serve. This could be the start of something new, something great, something that environmental lobbyists have been seeking for the last 60 years: A transition away from our dependence on fossil fuel.
If we take a moment to look and listen beyond the angry moans of car drivers across the country, we'll see and hear some interesting things afoot things like:
The TTC making some of the most progressive user friendly policy changes (transferable passes) they've made in years.
Car dealerships offering special considerations to lease holders wishing to switch to hybrid or other new fuel efficient vehicles.
Some long needed attention being paid public transportation zones in desperate need of expanded service. (like train and bus routes to bedroom communities around the GTA)
I have to cut this off here...but more on this later....
posted by Kevin at 10:47 a.m.
1 Comments:
I put the 'word verification' on after I started to see spam on the blog. Those fuckers are relentless.
Anyway, yes population density is a big issue. But I think that even having more transport options than we do have to bedroom communities in the GTA like: Woodbridge, Vaughn, Aurora, and Newmarket would have a substantial impact.
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