Montana Postal Workers Union Local 208, Great Falls, MT

Rising fuel costs

After reading President Burrus’ article, "High Gas Prices Are No Justification for Five-Day Mail Delivery," I feel he is correct. I don’t believe the price of fuel has anything to do with demand. It is merely holding drivers hostage.

I know my family has made some cuts in the use of fuel this summer. We plan our trips to the store better, as to not have to make extra trips. We route our trips so we take care of things on the same side of town at the same time. These are things we never really paid much attention to before. The neighbors have even gotten together and asked while they were at the store if anyone needed anything and vice versa. I am quite certain that we are not the only folks doing this sort of thing.

As far as the cutting out of 6-day delivery, I think that is a joke. I have found myself using the mail more lately than I ever have. I guarantee it costs more to drive across town to pay bills than it does to send them in the mail. I know what you all are thinking. I can do this from home on the computer. This is true, but most of my bills are local and I would just as soon mail them, what with all the hackers getting peoples account numbers and such.

I also find myself shopping on eBay a lot as well. I can get just about any thing there. Don’t get me wrong. I still shop locally for most things. There are just some things that are not available in town. Another thing I do is call to make sure the stores have what I am looking for before I drive there, that way if they don’t have it I did not waste time and GAS.

Speaking of wasting gas . . . I wonder how much gas the guy who suggested this idea wastes jet-setting around with all his sponsors to all these so-called fund-raisers? I am sure this guy drives a Honda Civic or rides a bike to work to do his part.

I think cutting out 6-day delivery would be a huge mistake, as it is one of the few advantages we have over the competition. The only good thing I can say about high fuel prices is that it will drive the alternative technologies. For example, Honda has made available in California its fuel cell vehicle and a few people I know have started making their own bio-diesel. Bio-diesel is a great thing if you just do it for yourself, but if you plan on selling it, it is no cheaper than petroleum-based diesel thanks to all the regulations, taxes and the other state imposed regulations. To make bio-diesel for personal use costs about $1.75 a gallon, but by the time the state gets theirs, it’s about $4.20 a gallon. So, now remind me why fuel costs are so high?

The sad part of all this is that we as a nation have the power to change all of it, by demanding from the folks on capital hill that changes be made—like incentives for those using bio-diesel or just flat out getting to the bottom of this gas pump rip off. The technology is out there, but will the big oil companies allow it to beat them at their game? If we were really in a fuel crisis, would the government really let NASCAR burn all that fuel for a race? Would there be any racing at all if we were truly in an oil crisis?

The latest ripoff at the pump was that the billboard price was $4.07 a gallon, but because so many people were using credit and debit cards, when you selected cash or credit, it added another 12 cents per gallon. Because, who really carries enough cash for a fill up these days? There is no doubt that high fuel costs affect every thing, but people will find other ways to deal with it, like bio-diesel or scooters or staying home. People will find ways around high fuel costs and I think that will result in the big oil companies’ downward spiral.