RAPID CITY, S.D. -- A recent study pointed out the obvious, that people in rural areas pay a higher price for gas, in proportion to their income, than those in urban areas.
It stands to reason the absence of a well-developed public transportation system and the presence of miles of roadway between destinations -- typical in rural areas -- will result in consumers burning more gas.
What doesn't stand to reason is the response to the study.
Seeing opportunity, two members of the House Rural Working Group pointed to Fred Rozell's study (published in The New York Times) to highlight energy-related legislation. (Rozell is a retail pricing director at the Oil Price Information Service, a fuel analysis firm.)
Reps. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., and Bob Etheridge, D-N.C., both representing rural states, say more needs to be done to ease the burden on rural families and highlighted legislation they say would do that. Clearly alternative and renewable sources of energy, mileage standards and combating price gouging will have an impact on the country's energy future.
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Congress, it seems, isn't willing to use the words most Americans already are: Conserve and sacrifice.
We'll bemoan the high cost of gas right along with the next person. There are long-term options, such as biofuels, but the only immediate solution to saving money at the pump lies with the consumer.
But congressional leaders are missing the point in this election year -- we all have to tighten our belts, not open our wallets hoping Congress will drop in a few pennies.
-- Rapid City (S.D.) Journal
