Enjoying low gas prices? Give Big Oil a hug

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It was me who said it would never happen again. Actually, twice before, as though I knew what I was talking about, I said the same thing. That's right. Three times over the years I have said: "Never again will gas sell for less than a dollar per gallon!" Each time I was wrong. |ret||ret||tab|

As you know, gas prices recently went up to more than $1.60 per gallon (I'm not talking about those few service station owners that immediately jacked up gas prices after the September 11 terrorist attacks.) Some predicted $2 per gallon gas would become the norm; my most recent "no more under-a-dollar gas" seemed to be a can't-miss prediction. |ret||ret||tab|

So much for can't-miss predictions. |ret||ret||tab|

As I write this, regular gas is selling at most Springfield service stations for under $1 per gallon. When prices were high, we all bad-mouthed American oil companies for raising prices. In fact, BIG OIL and BIG TO-BACCO were held in equally low esteem by many. Well, I haven't heard anyone thanking big oil for lowering prices to what they were 20 years ago. Fair is fair.|ret||ret||tab|

Gas in other parts of the world always has been much higher than in America. Small economy cars were created in Europe and later Japan in response to high gas prices. Japanese automakers gained a foothold in the American market because high gas prices in Japan led to economy cars that eventually became popular here in spite of our relatively cheap gas. |ret||ret||tab|

Check out rush-hour traffic in any American city, you'll see the high demand for gasoline. Yet American oil companies have kept prices here lower than anyplace in the world. High demand equals low prices?! With the return of cheaper gas, I dipped deeply into my memory bank to come up with the lowest gas price I remember. |ret||ret||tab|

After a VERY DEEP dip, I came up with 17 cents a gallon. It was long ago, but I remember the price because I associate it with a meaningful childhood experience: The service station attendant let me, at my dad's suggestion, crank the hand-crank gas pump. |ret||ret||tab|

Young whippersnappers don't remember when gas pumps were called that because a pump had to be cranked manually to siphon gas up into a globe at the top of the pump before flowing down a hose into the car's gas tank. I felt like such a big shot as I pumped the gas that the price somehow stuck in my head. |ret||ret||tab|

By the way, the 17 cents included very little tax. Today, taxes are a significant component of price, otherwise gas would be even lower. When 17 cents bought a gallon of gas, a gallon of milk cost about the same; today a gallon of milk costs around $3 a gallon; like gasoline, it's a bargain. |ret||ret||tab|

Back then a hamburger cost a nickel, a cheeseburger a dime. Ice cream cones, soft drinks and candy bars all cost a nickel. In comparison, gas was a bargain; it still is. Have you hugged your favorite oil company lately?|ret||ret||tab|

Running neck and neck with gasoline as a whopper of a bargain is a postage stamp. When gas was 17 cents, a postcard cost a penny to mail, a letter was three cents. At 34 cents, mailing a letter today is a real steal. |ret||ret||tab|

Like big oil, folks are quick to badmouth the U.S. Postal Ser-vice. In today's economy, our postal service, like gasoline, is a bargain. I can honestly say that I know of no letter I've ever mailed that wasn't delivered; nor am I aware of not receiving one sent to me. |ret||ret||tab|

While you're hugging an oil company, save a hug for the post office. Speaking of the post office (how is that for a subtle segue?), postal workers have been thrust onto the front line of defense against the recent an-thrax assault on America. |ret||ret||tab|

Regardless of whether the slime balls responsible for the attack are foreign or domestic slime balls, they use the mail to spread anthrax. The men and women who handle and deliver our mail are at risk. Millions of pieces of mail any one of which could contain anthrax spores are handled daily by postal workers. A heavy load indeed. |ret||ret||tab|

American postal workers have joined police officers, firefighters and military personnel in receiving the public acclaim they richly deserve. Terrorists, be they foreign or domestic, certainly never intended to ignite the national spirit of patriotism and hero worship for those who one way or the other deal directly with the results of terrorism.|ret||ret||tab|

The single-digit IQ types who have attacked this country have propelled postal workers onto the pedestal where other newly crowned icons dwell. True champions all!|ret||ret||tab|

(Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury Un-iversity.)[[In-content Ad]]