Washington Energy Hypocrisies
I found this article, Going a Short Way to Make a Point, very fascinating. It details the gas mileage of the vehicles that members of Congress took to an event at a gas station, where many of them complained about high gas prices. The amazing thing is that most of these Congressmen and women could have easily walked to this event instead of wasting fuel. The ones who did drive, drove horribly ineffecient vehicles. Take a look at this quote from the article:
“Since George Bush and Dick Cheney took over as president and vice president, gas prices have doubled!” charged Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), standing at an Exxon station on Capitol Hill where regular unleaded hit $3.10. “They are too cozy with the oil industry.”
She then hopped in a waiting Chrysler LHS (18 mpg) — even though her Senate office was only a block away.
Barbara…the fight against oil addiction begins with you! Republicans were just as bad though. Overall democrats’ vehicle got 23mpg while Republican cars got 18mpg, both horrible figures. However despite Republicans being on average behind the Democrats on this one, a Republican had the car with the best gas mileage of the lot. Richard Luger drove his 60 mpg hybrid.
I have complained before and will again here. Americans are spoiled brats when it comes to energy and blame everybody for high prices but themselves. Apparently Congress is the same way.
Can we partially blame the government? Yes. Can we partially blame oil companies? Yes. Can we partially blame OPEC? Yes. However, if we Americans would cut our consumption by even 5%, we would see gas prices nearly collapse overnight. So far, we don’t seem to be willing to make that sacrifice, so instead we get a public that complains more loudly and a government that heaps on the band-aids, while we really do little about the problem.
