Gas Prices Reach Absurd Levels

In “Gas Concerns Force Drivers to Buy, Drive Less,” which was published last Tuesday, April 17th in The Valley section of the San Jose Mercury, gas prices across California has hit record-setting highs. Many drivers are learning an inconvenient truth: driving may be too costly to even do it anymore. As a struggling college student, I myself am dumbfounded at how much money it takes to fill up my car, which just 6 months ago was only $30. Due to current prices, I now drop $40 for a full tank. According to the article, prices climbed to an average of $3.33 a gallon, which was just $0.05 short of last year’s high. Something needs to be done about this, and protesting may be an effective way to draw attention to this absurdity.

In April 1997, there was a nationwide “gas out” to protest against the high fares. After just one day, gas prices dropped as much as $0.30 a gallon. On the social network, facebook.com, a group has been started which calls for another “gas out” to take place this May 15th. With thousands of students already agreeing to partake, this idea could potentially have a beneficial effect if it can gain more national attention. Personally, I would be pleased to see if a protest such as this could make more people realize that we are getting ripped off by these oil monopolies.