Working Together, We Can Combat High Gas Prices
The findings show that it is just going to get worse. This opens the door to government incentives to stop America 's insatiable consumption of gas. Stop the demand at the pump and gas prices are sure to drop.
Relying on the government is not the only answer. Business owners can help lower gas prices by working with employees to reduce gas usage. Rather than wait for the government or businesses, we as consumers must take steps now to cut our gas consumption to help lower gas prices. There are lifestyle changes that can be made that will reduce our gas consumption. With a combined effort Americans can use less gas and lower gas prices.
The government could help lower gas consumption by offering incentives to consumers and business owners that take measures to reduce gas usage. They could offer tax breaks to businesses that allow more than 50% of their workforce to telecommute several days a week. Another incentive could be offered to those businesses that switch to a 4 day work week. They could reach out directly to individuals by offering tax credits to consumers who purchase cars that get better gas mileage.
Business owners should allow their employees to telecommute or switch to a 4 day work week. Reducing the work week by one day would allow employees to use 1/5th less gas a week. That equals 10 business weeks a year with no cars telecommuting. The amount of money employees would save on gas would equal more than a cost of living raise. If a large number of businesses would make this adjustment the gas saved would be enormous. Less gas used would decrease the gas demand, which would lower gas prices. Supply and demand is a business principal every business owner can understand.
Consumers need to do their part as well. If you can't grow your own vegetables and fruit buy from a local farmer or a co-op. Eat vegetables and fruits that are in season. Out of season means it was trucked in from somewhere else. The gas used for shipping foods is substantial. By using locally grown foods we reduce gas consumption and help local farmers.
By reducing our gas use we break the hold foreign oil has over us. We can lower gas prices by lowering the demand. We all need to do our part to lower gas prices. By reducing our reliance on our cars we can reduce the amount of gas we need. We can lower gas prices and help protect the very air we breathe.
Sources:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/30/20080530warming-times0530.html
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/ la-me-warming30-2008may30,0,4571589.story
Published by Rissa Watkins
Rissa is a freelance writer whose first love is fiction. Her contest winning short story has been published in the book "Elements of the Soul", and she is currently working on her first novel. She is availab... View profile
2007 Hurricane Season PredictionsExperts have just announced that U.S citizens living in near the Gulf and Atlantic coast should be prepared for a busy 2007 hurricane season.- Vitamin D Cuts Down Cancer Risk"The findings ... are a breakthrough of great medical and public health importance. No other method to prevent cancer has been identified that has such a powerful impact," a researcher said.
Bush Administration Handed Subpoena in Wiretapping ControversyUS President George Bush and his administration have been issued with subpoenas for the allegations that they were wiretapping the conversations of US citizens illegally, report...
Is it Time to Close the Guantanamo Prison?Former Secretary of State, Colin Powell says Guantanamo Prison should be closed- U.S. Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Separation of Church and State CaseThe U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in the first separation of church and state case since John Roberts sworn in as chief justice. The case before it was brought by the Freedom From Religion Foundation,...
- Politicians Deserve Some of the Blame for High Gas Prices
- Gas Prices Bloating the Nation
- How the United States Became Gas Dependent
- Karl Rove and the Leaking Leaks that Leak News
- Breaking News: VP's Brain to Be Rewired
- YFZ Ranch, Warren Jeffs' Polygamist Compound in Eldorado, Texas, Busted
- Party Leaders Say the Bipartisan Immgration Bill is Dividing the Republican Party
33 Comments
Post a CommentOne would think that the telecommuting option would be gaining even more traction than it has. Nice post!
Wonderful thoughts and ideas with this Rissa :-)
Good points here.
Great article, other than the fact that the oil industry wants to keep pumping gas, we should convert to hydrogen. Honda now has a car that runs on hydrogen, when it burns it turns to water, with no other toxic fumes. Convert water to hydrogen, run the car and hydrogen converts back to water. A green solution that will never run dry, (pun intended). As for global warming mentioned by Bush, the global average temperature has actually decreased over the past few years. We cannot begin to affect the power of the sun and nature when it comes to our global climate, we are like a drop in the ocean. The sun radiates a huge amount of pico-watts every second, and we can't even measure that power, let along compete with it. Still, I like your article, we just need some new entreprenuers to undermine the oil pumping tycoons and create a new, green industry.
Great advice. The Michigan State government is considering many of the options you've mentioned, like the 4 day work week and more telecommuting. I agree - we all have to do our part.
Great ideas on a very important topic.
Some businesses provide virtual office capabilities that allow employees to work from home a few days per week. This will likely become more and more common as technology advances.
very nice ideas on an important topic !.................
Great topic, Rissa. We've really been pushing for the telecommuting option at work. One day a week would save so much money on gas costs.
Planting on doing some canning this year too! Good suggestions!