With the cost of crude oil going up gas prices are steadily rising and
the effect on the economy is apparent.
The prices of virtually all goods are going up because producers'
transportation cost are increasing, which means the distributors have
to charge the customers more in order to make a profit. Prices on
everyday items such as milk, produce, meat, clothing, and popcorn
which has in turn raised the price of movie tickets and concession,
are rising.
Drivers are being forced to cut their budgets for other things such as
eating out, going to the movies and purchasing clothing, and most are
making the switch to cheaper generic brands for everything from food
to medication. People are being forced to make lifestyle changes and
cutbacks, some as small as not buying their morning coffee or no
longer taking a Sunday drive, and some as drastic as eliminating a
summer vacation or even skipping a car insurance payment.
Like so many across the country with below average gas mileage,
junior Zack Eumount is feeling the effects of the rapidly raising
prices at the pump. “Gas is outrageous. It seems like just going to
school in the morning and home in the afternoon that I already need to
fill up again,” said Eumount.
Students like senior Sam Labue are being bit more conservative “ I
have not had to cut back because I save most of my money. I'm
encouraged not to go as many places,” said Labue. Labue will be going
to a college away from home and he doesn't plan on making frequent
trips back, he also hopes to ride his bicycle around his campus to
save.
There are others like science teacher Karin Frazier who believes that
rising gas prices aren't as drastic as we think. “Is it a crisis? We
are lucky because compared to most countries, our prices are low.”
said Frazier. ”I think people should stop complaining and be
responsible.”
With our dependence on foreign oil and growing unrest in the middle
east it is unlikely that American prices will go back down for a
while. This makes it our responsibility to seek alternatives.