Gas pains

It's all over the news, so it must be true: life as we know it is coming to an end. Spontaneous road trips to neighboring cities will soon be a thing of the past. Purchasing a home far from our place of employment - because we get more for our money - will no longer be an option, unless we want to carpool or eat Ramen noodles every night. Our SUV's will collect dust as they sit, unused, in our driveways month after month, while we try to figure out what to do with them. It has already begun, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Or so they say.

Unfortunately, the gas crisis affects me on all fronts. My husband and I LOVE taking road trips. A year ago we would take about two per month. Now that we're feeling the pinch, we go maybe once or twice every two months. We bought a house last October about 40 miles from where I work. I knew traffic would be a pain, but I was willing to deal so we could have a nice little 3b-1.5ba village home with a yard, instead of a studio condo 15 miles from work. As gas prices rise, and my car reaches the 110,000 mark, I am starting to realize I can't do this much longer without having to sacrifice more than just my time. My husband has a novelty car he loves, a Land Rover he bought with his own hard-earned money right after college. We haven't used it in over two months. And we weren't planning to sink any more money into it in the near future... but, because he has to pass the emmissions test to renew his plate sticker, we have to pony up $1500+ in repairs. All this, just so we can say the Rover is environmentally friendly, even though we haven't used it in ages.

Now, I am okay with having to pay a little more for gas. I do realize it is far more expensive everywhere else; and I know I could cut out cable and internet, if push comes to shove. What enfuriates me is Obama-rama. Just like coverage of the gas crisis, it is everywhere. For some reason, Obama is the people's choice. People think, if elected, he'll swoop in and solve all our problems, like he's a hero! Well, I live in Chicagoland, and he has done nothing to help us here. In fact, we have the highest gas prices in the U.S.! At least $1 of every gallon is taxes, goes to our local government. And they are currently asking for more. More to throw at social programs that don't work. And if Obama is elected as President, he has already said he'll raise taxes even more. Under McCain, we would see a decrease.

Oh...and all this talk about going green really makes me sore, too. People don't want us to spoil the environment for the sake of oil, but then they complain about gas prices. People, desperate times call for desperate measures! Choose a side and stick with it. At this moment, you can't have your cake and eat it, too. I would much rather be able to buy gas and groceries than buy into the whole Global Warming ruse right now. Did anyone ever stop to think that this whole Global Warming thing is a government-created concept? Some states already have this vehicle emmissions test. Soon the government will be monitoring what temperature you keep your themostat on, and they'll charge you (more money for them!) if you set it too high or low. The government wants us to be dependent on it. And this Global Warming thing is just another way to get us eating out of their hands (and it's working!).

I am terrified of what will happen if Obama is elected. He has terrorist connections and has said he'll withdraw our troops on the spot and raise taxes if elected. Sounds a little fishy to me! So...yay...more money for the government, less security for the people. Yes, let's go ahead and disable our military at a time where western civilization is the target of radical Islam! Another 9/11 won't be too far off when that happens. Citizens - slaves to their government. An America unprotected from terrorist attacks. Is this the "change" he is referring to?

All I know is this nation is the strongest and most accepting in the world. No, gay people can't get married yet and you can't shoot up in public. (Oh, and I wish people would stop bringing up Roe v Wade. McCain won't turn it over. Bush didn't. Identify the real issues and you'll see who wants to help you and not the government - and that is McCain!) People here have more freedom than they do anywhere else, and I don't want to lose that. Yes, you can do drugs legally in places like Denmark (is that freedom to you?), but people are reliant on the government for survival. Cashiers and doctors make similar wages...is that even fair? Is that what we want to happen to us? Personally, I want this country to remain a place where hard work is rewarded and morals govern us. I don't want the government to take away the power of the individual, make us complacent to live like little fish in a bowl...not when there's an ocean out there.