Posted on Thu 09/01/05 in South Florida
I am hearing from my co-workers that Governor Jeb Bush declared that we have about six (6) more days of fuel left before we run out. I figure I should go out and fill my lawn mower with gas because you know how grass grows during the summertime in Florida. To be safe, I should fill twenty 5-gallon tanks of reserve gas just to be safe—so I will have enough gas to keep my yard looking nice for the rest of the summer in case the gas shortage materializes.
My sarcasm is due to my distaste for the ongoing panic that I seem to be pushed towards, quite often in recent years. The rumor mill turns out so much garbage and everyone seems to buy into all of it—how am I supposed to filter the stuff I should really worry about? Terror Alerts. Email Petitions. Stock Market Crash. Mad Cow Disease. And now, the possible gasoline shortage we could face.
For days, we’ve been asked by state officials and representatives to conserve our energy and gasoline in the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s path of destruction. Yet, I have not heard anyone encouraging their friends and colleagues to conserve resources. But, once the grapevine unloads its grapes of wrath, people of all kinds will rush to the pumps to hoard gasoline. And this is the action that will most likely ensure the projected gas shortage.
So, I will refuse to top my autos’ gas tanks off until I am at least below half-a-tank. I will NOT participate in the panic that makes the problem worse. I will be part of the solution. And if I am a fool and end up on the side of the road with an empty gas tank, I’ll know I tried.
Related story: Palm Beach County workers shift to 4-day week to conserve gas
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