I don’t know if we’re paying too much, but I do know I don’t like paying so much. But I don’t like paying $3 for a gallon of milk either. I’m not comparing the two, simply stating I don’t like paying high prices for anything! My personal opinion is that us consumers are just as much to blame for the situation we’re in as any government or company. The companies have known for a long time that our oil supplies are a limited resource – but so have we! What have we, as everyday people, done about it? Well, the majority of us complain to our family and friends that the prices are too high, that the companies and governments should be, and should have been doing something to guard against this day. However, when it’s time to run to the grocery store that’s less than a mile away, what do we do? Most of us hop in our car and drive to the store instead of walking or biking. What about taking the kids to school? Are they taken or do they walk? Mostly, they are driven because Junior doesn’t want to walk What about when our little Susie is invited to her friend’s house that’s 5 or 6 blocks away? Is she told to ride her bike? What about work? Do we carpool? No, it’s too inconvenient. I’d have to go and leave at the same time as the group or the driver. I couldn’t run my errands during lunch if I rode with someone else. But people used to walk to the store, Junior used to walk to school, Susie used to ride her bike to her friend's, employees used to carpool. If we, as consumers, began doing the little things that, by themselves don’t amount to much, but all together added up, wouldn’t that send some sort of message to the companies? At the very least, it would show that we are concerned about our future! It isn’t the complete answer, but it is part of the answer. At least that’s what I believe. After all, should there be higher expectations for companies or governments than there are for ourselves?
