May 9, 2008Discuss Friday's commentary and lettersThe long commute soon won't make sense Read Friday's letters here. |
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May 9, 2008
Discuss Friday's commentary and letters
The long commute soon won't make sense
Michael S. Abraham
Abraham is a businessman and a writer who lives in Blacksburg.
Joseph Staniunas Jr. explained why, in his drive from Roanoke to Radford, the commute still makes sense ("The commute still makes sense," May 1 commentary). While I'm uncritical of his decision, that he's written this commentary at all illustrates the perception that with historically high gasoline prices, many commutes are making increasingly less sense. Let's explore why a commute like his formerly made sense, makes less sense now, and whether and for how long it will continue to make sense.
Read more.
Read Friday's letters here.
Comments
[May 9, 2008 6:41 PM]
AlAn bit of a rather frightening picture here. Some data I have seen suggests production is about the same as last year, capacity is higher than last year,supplies are higher than last year and demand is actually lower (US or worldwide ??). What I would really like to know is what the impact of speculation in oil futures is doing to the cost? There is no reason a futures contract for delivery in August should cause prices at the pump to go up 5 cents per gal today. Futures on commodities can result in stabilization of an industry giving it access to raw products without interruption and with some degree of price stability. That does not seem to be working in the oil market AND furthermore, because it is not working in oil, it is also resulting in higher prices for other commodities.
Wonder what a serious look at this "problem" would show if made by experts who really understood? Maybe trading in oil futures should be suspended. Would still have the issue in other countries of course. Maybe if the major world buyers formed an group to suspend such futures we would see. BUT, I agree, in time there will need to be some serious adjustments made in life styles and transportation. Might bring a return to all those old "downtown" cities which stand to benefit from centralization of population, business and recreation. Good for Roanoke City. City fathers cannot seem to get it engineered!