Hype caused it. Panic made it worse. More hype is breeding more panic and, 2 weeks later I am about to become yet another person in Georgia who might be panicking. What am I talking about? Well, just before Hurricane Ike hit Texas people started panicking in Georgia about being able to get gas. So, they all went out and hit the pumps whether they really needed it or not and, bing bang boom...now we are in a gas shortage crisis. Stations are running out on a nearly daily basis. I say on a "nearly daily basis" because a gas station may get gas at 7 AM and be out of gas by 11 AM that same day, leaving them to close the entire station until they can get refilled maybe 2 or more days later. Lines at the stations span out to the streets. My hubby and I tried to get gas today at a Kroger station and the line for the gas wrapped around the entire Kroger (a grocery store chain) parking lot. I am not exaggerating here. Imagine the size of your average grocery store parking lot. Now, imagine the perimeter of that parking lot being entirely wrapped by vehicles just waiting in line to get gas. Yes! That is really bad. People are literally running out of gas waiting in line to get...GAS! I have roughly a quarter of a tank of gas left and my hubby has less than that. I, unlike the general panicking public, tried to keep from adding to the headaches and the crisis by keeping my butt at home and staying away from the pump for as long as possible. I was hopeful that by the time I did need to start thinking about going to the pump, this crisis would be over. So much for hope. Now I need it and because of the hoarders and the initial panickers, I can't get it. And, yes...there are people out there who are going to the pump to put 1/8 of a tank of gas in their tank to top it off. IF YOU DON'T NEED IT, STAY AWAY SO THAT THE PEOPLE WHO DO NEED IT CAN GET IT! There is a basic principle being overlooked here. If you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem and those who are just "topping off" their tanks are a HUGE part of the problem. Our governor mentioned that if this problem persists for another 5 days, which was maybe 4 days ago, he was considering closing school for a few days. There are some stations that are limiting how much you are allowed to pump to 5 or 10 gallons. The government needs to step in here and mandate that allowance until this is straightened out. But, when all is said and done, I am a little fish in a big pond and I have no say in the matter. All I can do is bitch about it and worry.
At this point, I am ready to get a horse and buggie.
No comments:
Post a Comment