A quick observation that I wonder if anyone else has noticed: the increased number of people running out of gas.
It seems like at least once or twice a week I happen upon some poor soul who has pushed the gas fumes too far. This of course, is directly related to the catastrophic increase in gasoline prices over the course of the last year. But it is also a sign of the times, a sign of things yet to come.
Take note of the prior purchase at gasoline pumps. I have noticed a lot more “fixed dollar” or pre-paid purchases rather than complete fill-ups. At $4 a gallon, that last $10 to top of the tank is the difference between trimmings at dinner and an extra afternoon of leisure driving.
So my question is this: does this new price consciousness effect our political participation?
Now the obvious is, of course, people doing the wonderful work advocating for domestic oil production, such as drillforamericanoil.com or drillheredrillnow.com. But I have a theory that these gas prices are influencing more than just immediate policy considerations.
With people being more conscious about how much they have to extended themselves, and conversely, what their limit (financial or otherwise) is, it is highly probable the the political parties could become more fragmented should this state of economic turmoil continue. It should be especially worrisome for the McCain camp who is already having trouble rallying conservatives and libertarians behind him.
Let me put it this way: Politics is like any transaction. When the price gets too high, we have to limit our purchases, or if the cost is too great, skip it altogether. As it stands, with peoples mindset on limiting over extensions, it is possible that voters will curtail their political purchases of those ideas where the price is simply too great to pay. Namely- amnesty, opposition to ANWR drilling, free speech limitations and generally being a burr under the saddle of conservative politics.
Like the stranded motorist walking along side the road with the emergency gas can for a fuel fill up, these voters will jump at the first party to come along and offer them some assistance along the way. That is, they will find new markets for their predicaments.
I don’t expect this movement to be very big, but I do expect it to be significant enough where both parties will reel from the defectors. The Libertarian and Constitution parties would seem to benefit most from the wayward Ron Paul or Mike Huckabee supporter. McCain simply does not represent this class of voters well. Like the motorist needing the most bang for the buck they will pass on the $4 premium gas in favor of the discounted $3.50 gas down the street, even if it means going a little bit out of the way to accomplish the feat.
Now of course the owner of the premium station has two choices: 1) become indignant and reemphasize his position in the community (after all he does have cleaner amenities for the motorists needing a commode) or 2) lower his prices to keep from losing the defectors.
As it stands, it seems, the premium owner is refusing to budge and people are choosing to risk it. A wonderful sign of the times don’t you think?
