PAIN AT THE PUMP: COMMUTERS WORK MORE TO PAY FOR GAS

[unhappycamper]

PAIN AT THE PUMP: COMMUTERS WORK MORE TO PAY FOR GAS
By Doug Thompson/Arkansas News Bureau
Saturday, August 20, 2005 10:31 PM CDT

FAYETTEVILLE -- People drive as far as 70 miles to their job at the Georgia Pacific mill in Crossett, which has some of the best wages in the Southeast Arkansas' corner, said state Rep. Johnnie Bolin, D-Crossett.

Whether they can continue to afford that trip at today's high gasoline prices appears doubtful, said legislator, who retired from that same plant after 38 years there. "That was the talk in the coffee shop this morning, about people moving into Crossett so they can afford the trip to work," he said in an interview Wednesday.

Arkansas ranked 50th in per-capita income but ranks 32nd in gasoline use, according to U.S. Department of Energy figures. Arkansans used 34.1 million barrels of gasoline in 2002, according to the latest agency figures. That's about 13 barrels, or more than 500 gallons, per person in the state in one year.

Driving to work is a big part of that, and a part that is hardest to change, spokesmen for business and workers said in interviews. Arkansas is a rural state. The jobs are in cities, but homes are in the countryside and smaller towns, they said.

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[kikiek]

1. Funny this would come up today. According to Fox this isn't a problem.

Article on Newhounds website who watches Fox so I don't have to. Thanks to Newshounds..I couldn't do their job. http://www.newshounds.us/

[WalrusSlayer]

2. While I don't wish economic pain on anyone...

...the notion that people treat the luxury of burning 5-10 gallons daily (depending on the distance and the vehicle) as some sort of birthright is just crazy.

[Kindigger]

3. Eat more grits

That's my answer, since I live in the boonies, and do need to visit the gas pump occasionally. A 24 ounce box of grits costs $1. Grits have a lot of vitamins, and minerals. I've replaced two meals a day with a bowl of grits.

My third meal is a seasonal thing. Currently it consists of a tomato, mayo sandwich. In the fall/winter it will be....another bowl of grits!

[imperialismispasse]

4. I'm glad I live in a city.

I do drive some but I don't really have to, and I drive a lot less than I used to. People in more rural areas don't have that option I guess. I've said all along people probably won't wake up until it hits them in the wallet. This gas crisis sucks for the people who are in hard economic time but it also puts the focus on how messed up the country is.

[sarcasmo]

5. I fuel up my 33mpg Chevy Aveo and laugh at the Freepers fueling up

their SUV's. If it cost me 26 dollars to fuel up my little car what does it cost to fuel up that YUKON? HIGHLANDER? or Ford F350 with all the Chimp stickers on it. I would think it 's running them around 90 dollars a fill up. I can not feel sorry for those idiots since they voted for Chimp and when they complain the first thing I do is ask them who did you vote for. What usually follows is silence or muttering.