BCT Editorial – 6/27/07

This page was last updated on July 3, 2007.

Gas junkies; Editorial; Beaver County Times; June 27, 2007.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“Americans just don’t get it when it comes to high gasoline prices.

“With the price per gallon jumping higher every day, Americans continue to line up at pumps. They whine about what fuel is costing, but they keep buying it.

“What they don’t seem to understand is that the price of gas is based on supply and demand. That means if you buy less, the price comes down.”

[RWC] Wow, this is at least the fourth time since April 2006 a Times editorial asserted the price of oil and gasoline is a function of supply and demand. I’m impressed. <g>

“From their actions, however, Americans aren’t buying that argument.”

[RWC] Hmm, it couldn’t be that we are making an informed choice, could it? Consistent with its jihad against smoking on private property, the Times apparently doesn’t believe we can make the “proper” choices.

“As The Times reported last week, fewer people are taking advantage of public transportation, carpooling and other options to help them conserve, even as prices continue to skyrocket.”

[RWC] The editorial fails to note convenience, flexibility, and time have an economic value.

“The U.S. Census Bureau reports that almost 77 percent of U.S. workers older than 16 drive themselves to work each day, up more than 1 percent since 2000 when gas averaged $1.57 per gallon.”

[RWC] I know I’m nitpicking, but the $1.57 is closer to $1.85 in 2007 dollars.

“Americans must find ways to conserve on fuel. Otherwise, they’ll just continue to pay.”

[RWC] Here’s another example of a Times editorial referring to Americans as “they.”

Finally, note the editorial didn’t tell us what the Times is doing “to conserve on fuel.”