Stop Complaining at the Gas Pump America

So gas prices here in Missouri are currently $3.59 per gallon, and almost daily I stop by the local gas station for what ever reason. I stop by to get fuel, cup of coffee, a snack, or cigarettes, and every day I hear people complaining about the price of gas.

They complain while they fill their gas tanks, moan and groan while they hand over their money, debit or credit cards. I don't see or hear many people take action against the rising prices of gas.

I was working a job about thirty miles from my home, commuting to work six days a week. My fuel costs where reaching over $400.00 a month, every other day I filled up the gas tank of my 4 cylinder 1997 Ford Ranger pick up truck. My budget was getting tighter and tighter each week as gas prices kept raising.

Instead of joining in on the complaints I decided to take action. Once gas prices reached $3.49 a gallon I put my two weeks notice in at my job. I tightened my belt and started looking for a job closer to home. After a few days of searching I found a job paying close to what I was making, and took on other odd jobs around town to help pay the rent.
Still with out complaining, but everywhere I go everyone else still moans and groans about the price of fuel.

This is America, a country founded on rebellion from tyranny and taxation, yet why do Americans just sit back and complain today.

Where are our modern day Son's of Liberty, where is our modern day Boston Tea party?
I know, I know we shouldn't go out and start dumping barrels of oil into our harbors and oceans. That would be an environmental disaster worst than any other. But why are modern day Americans just complaining and not standing up and finding solutions. Some buy Hybrid cars, and trucks, or flex fuel vehicles, but when you factor in the monthly loan payment and interest rates of these over priced automobiles, it's hardly saving any money.

STOP BUYING SO MUCH GAS AMERICA! Stop commuting to work, or car pool, stop driving to silly places and walk, or ride a bike.

If you play the stock market dump your stock in the oil companies, and drop the value of their stock. Then hit them where it hurts right in the profit margin. Study the oil companies and find out what other ventures their vested in and boycott those companies products, services, and stock as well.

Unplug some of your electronics at home, unscrew a few light bulbs and save a penny or two on energy costs. Start shopping at discount stores, bite the bullet and use coupons for the things you just have to have. Reject the need for status symbols of the new and latest gadgets like laptops, Mp3 players, and buy used models our obsolete electronics and gadgets. Stop going to the mall and buying over priced clothing, by used at a thrift shop, or discount store like Wal-Mart, Target, or K-Mart.

This is not a how-to article here people this is a call to arms! It's time for a new American Revolution, and I'm not talking about buying a Chevrolet Hybrid. Ask your grandparents about how they used to live during the great depression in the 1920's. I've watched my grandmother over the years, she's not afraid to reuse aluminum foil a couple times after cooking. She simply wipes it off with a clean cloth, folds it up neatly in a drawer full of other scraps of foil for later use. Water down your shampoo in the bottle a little. When clothing gets old, torn or stained, simply cut them up to use as cleaning cloth and to patch other holes in clothing.
Stop buying microwave meals and actually cook a meal or two. Stop going through drive thru at a restaurant, park your car and go inside, or just don't go to the restaurant at all.

They say were heading into another depression or recession, and I say GREAT!
We've grown soft, fat and lazy as a nation, fifty to sixty years ago most people didn't have two cars, and most families didn't have more than a two bedroom, one bath home. They certainly didn't have three television sets, TiVo, Blue Ray DVD players and such.

Forgive me if I'm sounding harsh, but we as a country need to stop following and start leading again.

It's time to wake up and take action, we have no one to blame but ourselves. Gas prices aren't going to go down if we keep handing them money on a daily basis. Instead of filling your tank up to the Full mark, just put in a gallon or two. Buy just enough gas to get you where you're going, then walk from store to store. Park a few blocks from work and walk a half mile each day. God knows most of us need the exercise, put your brains to work and turn the television of for a few hours and just look around your house and local neighbor hood. Think of ways to save money, eat a little less at each meal, or buy some candles to light your bedroom in the evening. Drive ten miles an hour slower on the highway, I can remember when the speed limit was fifty-five miles an hour just les than fifteen years ago. So leave a few minutes early for work, and drive a little slower. You will notice a big savings in your automobiles miles per gallon each week. Or just swallow your pride and buy a bus pass, you may have to sit next to a crazy person for five minutes, but hey just imagine what they may think about you sitting next to them.

Think America, we're in the middle of a war with a country filled with people who for the majority have never seen a light bulb, or a pair of blue jeans. These same people are feeding families of four or more kids on a bag of grain or rice each month. We are an over privileged nation, we need to de-evolve our selves by about thirty to fifty years.

We're quick to feel sorry and judge the Amish when we see them, but hey they've had it right all along. We don't need technology, automobiles, and expensive clothing, or fast food.

So in closing stop complaining at the gas pump, and start standing up for your selves!
Start looking at the past to see how we can change the future for the better!
Work smarter not harder as our grandfathers would always say!