Starbucks and Gas: The New Guns and Butter

One of the lead stories on virtually any news broadcast these days is the rising cost of fuel across the United States. With the average across the nation for a gallon of regular unleaded touching $3 a gallon; it is fast becoming a costly visit everytime we go to the pump. All the news stories cover the average joe who is complaining about the rising costs and how it is adversely affecting their lives. And why not? It's true. When I started driving about 15 years ago, I could fill up my tank every week for $10. These days I'll be lucky to get about 3 gallons.

While I know gas prices in Europe and parts of Asia are much higher, one can't help but complain. And why not? It's in human nature to complain about things. We must make it known that we're not happy about something otherwise how can we affect change? Had the colonials not complained we would still be a British colony. Had civil rights activists not complained, segregation would still be running relatively rampant. And had Star Wars fans not complained, Jar Jar Binks would have played an extremely prominent role in Episodes II and III. Gas prices are rising but what can we do?

There are many articles that discuss how young people can get ahead financially by cutting costs or spending wisely. One of the things that is often brought up is how you can save money by cutting out everyday expenses that are more of luxuries than necessities. Cut down on smoking and you suddenly are saving $30 per week. There's one tank of gas. Choose Spaghetti-O's as opposed to Spaghetti and you'll save on buying pasta and pasta sauce separately. There's another half tank of gas. One of the major culprits who always gets a finger pointed to is Starbucks. If you cut down on your $4 Latte everyday there's another $28 per week. Yet another tank of gas.

But now consider. These are options we were once considering cutting in order to save money for a more successful financial future. Now we're cutting them so that we can get from work to our jobs so that we can continue to earn money? Now if we're stuck staying up late trying to balance our checkbooks and figure out how to make the next rent or mortgage check then we'll obviously be sleepy the next morning Not all offices have coffee machines so then how are we supposed to stay awake at work? We lose our jobs and then what?

Conspiracy theorists out there have come to the conclusion that this whole deal is a collusion between the coffee companies and oil companies to keep parity with one another because they know that we Americans can't go without one or the other so then these companies continue to raise prices knowing that they can ask whatever they want because we will keep feeding them. But think about the little guy.... aw heck... think about the big guy as well. When we go out on dates with our girlfriends now we have to consider, "We can drive around or we can sit and have coffee, but with things as they are, we may not be able to do both."

Add dinner and a movie to the mix and oh brother do you have a situation! It's not all that bad and soon enough we'll either get bumps in pay that help balance the equation or we'll all start investing in the Segway people mover. Hmmm... there's a new conspiracy for you. The Segway company is colluding with oil and coffee companies to drive prices up so that in the end we will consider the Segway an alternative to driving. I hear they even have models with cup holders now.