The pit of my stomach falls out whenever I have to fill up my tank. I'm sure I'm not alone. National newscasts are constantly reporting the plight of American families burdened as gas costs gouge deeper into already thin budgets.
There was a national gas boycott May 15. Before the protest, a gallon of gas along Michigan Avenue cost $3.49.
The cost after - the same.
The reality is that boycotts and news coverage will never lower prices, and things are currently bound only to get worse.
Even if everyone was able to replace their SUV with a hybrid (good luck selling that beast in today's market), even if we convinced oil companies to slash bloated profit margins (fat chance) and even if we won the war in Iraq (yes, oil plays a part in that whole quagmire), it would all be only a Band-Aid on a critical wound. Oil is a finite resource, and it's going to run out even if we secure oil reserves and drive less.
Iran reminded the United States how finicky oil can be when it recently mentioned its capability to disrupt shipping lanes out of the Persian Gulf.
Forty percent of the world's crude oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Any Iranian blockage could quickly push the price of oil up $100 per barrel.
The United States is in a bad spot: We're no longer in control of our own energy agenda. But instead of moving forward, there was Vice President Cheney in front of American flags and warplanes, celebrating the United States' two carrier strike groups in the gulf, and vowing, "We'll keep the sea lanes open … delivering justice to the enemies of freedom."
Way to go, Dick.
Iran has us. The Middle East has us. Every oil producing country the world over has us.
The U.S. continues biting the hands that feed, stuck in love-hate relationships and paying for it - all of us.
With every Tomahawk missile and bomb that blows over Iraq and every hubristic speech of U.S. dominance, our tax dollars burn away along with our social and political standing.
Harvard's Kennedy School of Government released a report this month arguing the initial estimates on the cost of war were grossly underrepresented, with a suggested $200 billion cost ballooning to $1 trillion to $2 trillion.
What has all of that cash bought us besides problems and enemies? Not much, and it's time to change our ways.
We need to commit to moving beyond oil and advancing our energy policy with the help of the federal government.
During World War II, the United States wanted the atomic bomb and won the race through the Manhattan Project, with massive support by the federal government.
The Space Race was the same, with the best and brightest committed to a common goal with federal backing.
Today we sit on the edge of another technological breakthrough. Imagine if our government stopped blowing money on lost Mideast ambitions and instead, funded a complete effort to move to the next fuel source. This could come in the form of ethanol, hydrogen or even garbage.
Alone, struggling American automakers can't get the job done. But with help, U.S. industry could once again sit on the forefront, manufacturing the future of energy while simultaneously cutting our problematic relationship with oil barons.
Independence from oil will require time and money.
You don't change a complete infrastructure overnight, but it needs to be done. Traditional solutions have caused more problems, and I would rather put my taxes toward advancement than destruction.
We can't hide from the truth any longer. America is addicted to oil and needs to be cut off.
We can't afford to waste any more time or money, and the time of reaction is over - let's become visionary.
Chris Matus is an MSU English senior and State News columnist. Contact him at matuschr@msu.edu.
