Issue date: 10/22/08 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: The Orlando Sentinel/MCT [Click to enlarge]

Don't be fooled by the cost of gas. The only thing that could be worse than the damage created from high gas prices would be learning nothing from the experience and relax our demands on newer technologies.

The price of oil is falling at an alarming rate. The Lundberg Survey of gasoline prices, an organization that monitors the price of self-service gasoline at roughly 5,000 gas stations across the country, said that the recent decline is the sharpest in the 58 years the survey has existed.

It is not unfair to blame a significant portion of our current financial crisis on gasoline prices. Until just recently, the mere thought of a full tank of gas was considered a luxury.

According to the survey, the national record high for gas was set at $4.11 a gallon on July 11. It has dropped nearly a dollar since then. It's a cause for celebration, until we remind ourselves how bad we are getting screwed. Does anyone remember how ridiculous it was the first time gas went over a dollar a gallon? What about two dollars? It's insane to think that we as a society could settle for gas prices between two or three dollars a gallon.

But it's not a radical idea to think that the American consumer could ignore all of the abuse at the pump if gas prices continue to decline. We as Americans have notoriously short memories. Demand for energy efficient cars could be harmed if prices keep dwindling.

Tesla Motors, an electric carmaker based in the Silicon Valley, recently fell onto hard times and has to delay production of the highly anticipated Model S project for nearly a year. Tesla's CEO recently blogged that the smartest move for the company is to focus on the aspects of its business that produce the most revenue. The company indicates it plans to lay off workers as well.

Diesel fuel is even going down. The drop in the cost of diesel fuel may help to increase spending in other areas as it will cost less to ship goods and prices may go down. However, this is a dangerous approach to take. Our backs are still against the wall. Oil companies post profits by banking on our slothfulness and our refusal to use public transportation.

The Hornet wants to remind all who will take the time to read this that they cannot be lulled into a false sense of security by low gas prices. We need green technologies. We need alternatives to oil.

The State Hornet staff can be reached at opinion@statehornet.com

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