Actually, it is the high prices, too. People in Europe that pay more for gas must also realize that in most of your countries, some of the basic human needs are met by the governments--such as medical care.
If I want health insurance, I have to pay 300+ dollars a month. A couple I know are paying 854.00 a month, and a family of three is paying over 1000.00 a month.
When you start adding in high gas prices, and the much higher prices we'll have to pay at the market (most of our transport is by truck over very long distances) then you can see why gas over 3.00 a gallon is the difference between a family making it, and not.
Unfortunately, the people who have the expensive SUVs aren't necessarily the ones who are most negatively impacted. In addition, many of them have options where they can live, and they can live close in or not. It is the lower income levels that are already feeling the crunch of higher gas prices, outrageous medical costs, having to live further out to find affordable housing, while income is growing very little.
Even then, many of us don't want to see new drilling techniques, which after all, come with an environmental price tag, regardless of the spin. We would like to see better mass transit and cars that are a whole lot cheaper to run.
We don't need pity, and no one should feel sorry for us. But empathy between people who are all just trying to make it in a world where 'just making it' is tougher for everyone would be welcome.
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Actually, it is the high prices, too. People in Europe that pay more for gas must also realize that in most of your countries, some of the basic human needs are met by the governments--such as medical care.
If I want health insurance, I have to pay 300+ dollars a month. A couple I know are paying 854.00 a month, and a family of three is paying over 1000.00 a month.
When you start adding in high gas prices, and the much higher prices we'll have to pay at the market (most of our transport is by truck over very long distances) then you can see why gas over 3.00 a gallon is the difference between a family making it, and not.
Unfortunately, the people who have the expensive SUVs aren't necessarily the ones who are most negatively impacted. In addition, many of them have options where they can live, and they can live close in or not. It is the lower income levels that are already feeling the crunch of higher gas prices, outrageous medical costs, having to live further out to find affordable housing, while income is growing very little.
Even then, many of us don't want to see new drilling techniques, which after all, come with an environmental price tag, regardless of the spin. We would like to see better mass transit and cars that are a whole lot cheaper to run.
We don't need pity, and no one should feel sorry for us. But empathy between people who are all just trying to make it in a world where 'just making it' is tougher for everyone would be welcome.