So...my fellow North Americans -- what do we do now?

[Carl64]

Fix the price on gas at 3 per gallon, and make sure it falls to 1.50 after this so called crisis is over. Bash the oil companies on the head and get them to fall in line. Make cars more economical and refine the oil refining process.

Oh, you mean right now? Find an old hatchback Ford Colt, and go armed.

Fixing prices only ever screws things up. There is a cause of all of this (or maybe multiple causes), and it's not because every service station in the country simultaneously conspired to double their prices.

 

[yam]

I think most people have recognized for a very long time that it's not simply dependence on foreign oil but it's dependence on oil. Our (U.S) new energy bill is a joke. Something on the order of 14 billion dollars in tax breaks/incentives for the oil companies that (I believe) has no termination date. Why wasn't less given to the oil companies and more towards renewable resources? In any case the new energy policy missed the mark.

What my wife and I have done.

My wife has taken a job closer to home that no longer requires her to drive 1/4 mile to a ferry dock for a 3 mile ferry trip, then drive for another 40 minutes to get to work. Rinse and repeat for the trip home, if there's lots of traffic it's more than 40 minutes to come back. The only downside to this is that we will no longer be able to make (regular) direct food and clothing donations to the battered womens and children center as it was on her way home. Since I do not work, I do not drive anywhere unless absolutely necessary and I combine chores when I do.

With the Tsunami we donated to Northwest Medical Teams based out of Oregon. For the Katrina disaster we have donated to the Red Cross with more donations to come. We feel that we need to make donations a part of our monthly budget, not just for a single disaster and just a one time donation.

I have an interview (not really an interview, just fill out paper work for a WA. State Patrol background check is all) this coming Tuesday 9/6 to volunteer with an after school drop-in program for at risk middle schoolers. It runs 2:00pm to 5:30pm M-F, I have committed to M,Th,Fr. I will most likely extend that to include Tuesdays and Wednesdays making it the whole week. I will also be volunteering my time to be on the board of directors for that program. My goal is to not only help the kids but also to maybe get them in turn to do what they can by setting an example myself.

My wife will also be starting food drives for local food banks and shelters through an art gallery that her and another woman started. Along with the food drives she will be seeking Red Cross donations.

Mike