$100/tank
Gotham Chopra - June 29, 2008
Yesterday, Candice and I took our baby boy down from LA to SD to see my dad. We have two cars in our household but when making a long distance trip with the baby, choose to use the bigger (albeit less eco-friendly but safer) SUV. Yesterday, before getting on the road, we filled the empty tank. Price:$100.00.
There was something very symbolic about it landing squarely on 100 dollars even. For months now, we've all seen gas prices steadily climb. And we've gotten used to seeing spending 70+, 80+, 90+. But crossing that threshold, see all three digits followed two more after the decimal point register on the pump for the first time was a jarring introduction to the summer of 2008, the conclusion of which will send American voters into the booth with a critical decision to make about this nation's future.
Gas prices and the economic recession we are in (and yes, this is a recession) are just two of the very significant issues we are facing. Now comes news that General Bush has been for months laying the groundwork for a military strike into Iran as a sort of last hoora. And oh yeah, that's not where uncle Osama is holed up by all reports. Then again, who knows, seems the trail has gone cold since circa 2002, and General Bush's "dead or alive" hunt is not much of a priority anymore, resulting in what various intelligence agencies are declaring as Al Qaida's resurgence to pre-9/11 prominence and some sort of imminent attack.
Right - then there's that pesky Iraq thing which won't seem to go away. We're sort of obligated to nation build there after we tore the place apart. Not a liberal rant - it is what it is. We shock and awed the shit out of the place, and all would agree that a hasty pull out won't stop the unwanted pregnancy that's already midterm. You think other Islamists haven't been watching as the US brutally violated Iraq the last few years, building up their venom, rousing their vigilantism? Sorry for the crude descriptions, but sadly they're apt.
Then again, what difference does it make? Because such scare tactics will likely not work this time around in this election. That and the fact that McCain doesn't have the same sort of Republican Guard that Generalisimo Bush had in 2004. And truthfully, I think we have some serious nation building that needs to happen here in the home of the brave. There's an undercurrent of uncertainty and anxiety that is starting to rip through the fault lines of this country. How do I know? Because I am feeling it. I'm not sure where there is a rebound from this scenario we find ourselves in. Pretty sure just buying that Prius won't do the trick.
And as much as i like to think that that black dude (who speaks so well!!!) is gonna turn this titanic around, I have my doubts he can do it without some Harry Potter-like sorcery.
I had started to write this blog when I started poking around the internet to find some facts to back me up and stumbled upon Tom Friedman's latest op-ed in the NYTIMES. He says all of the above better than I do, so check it out. Call it a vast left wing conspiracy if you like, but if that's the case, can I at least submit my gas receipts for reimbursement to the relevant party?
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Posted by Gotham Chopra at June 29, 2008 08:57 PM
Comments
1. Posted by
Trish
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on
June 29, 2008 10:01 PM
If it can help the American voters at all with their critical decision this fall... let me just mention that the price of gas is more than double here in Sweden than it is in the USA. So don't kid yourselves... people on this planet already pay 200$ for that tank. There is no upper limit for our ignorance just like there is none for our intelligence.
Which way?
2. Posted by
Aurora C
on
June 30, 2008 01:12 AM
And Gotham, the black dude can't turn the titanic around. He is just a sign that the titanic is turning, and it's turning inside and through us all IF we feed the change with our clear intention and action.
The thing is that the only thing that will calm us down is to notice that the change is truly happening in ourselves. Am -I- changing? Then it is possible, it is happening, and I can proceed with conviction, knowing that the power of change is present in human beings.
3. Posted by
Aurora C
on
June 30, 2008 01:19 AM
Hello Gotham and Everyone,
$100 bucks, WOW. For sure, we are in an interesting place at this time, in America, and I actually find much comfort in the fact that it is what it is and that we are going to have to do something about it one way or another. I have a feeling we Americans are going to start to sober up, now, after 8 years of indulging our Republican leadership's whims and fantasies, we are being handed the bill and I have a feeling we will be facing some serious adjustments in the future. All the new leadership will be doing is being the bearer of sobering news but it will be up to us to fork over the payments and the sacrificing of...whatever...
It is hard for me to believe that we Americans would vote for McCain and simply continue the fantasy but stranger things have happened.
For now, I just fork out the bucks..for gas and food...and say, it is what it is.
have a great day, everyone, ruth
4. Posted by
ruth
on
June 30, 2008 11:19 AM
Maybe a little Holy Magick?
5. Posted by
Char4
on
June 30, 2008 12:07 PM
The world is a dream in Cosmic Consciousness.
If you or anyone believes oil (goop) inside
this dream planet has any significance at all
then you are in a deeper level of sleep (ignorance) than you realize.
6. Posted by
level7
on
July 1, 2008 10:01 AM
Saw u on the silver sreen, your cute! will we see you again?
7. Posted by
Tammy
on
July 1, 2008 01:57 PM
Gotham, your SUV was safer for whom? You and yours. Not me and mine or anybody else.
(I'm thinking, is this guy serious?)
My wife and I went camping in Nantahala national forest. It's a verdant slice of paradise, green beyond belief, an escape from the swarms of the insane city, a place you'd write poetry or sift riverbed rock for tiny garnets or just sit and breathe among hardwoods and mist-soaked rododendren. Even the dogs seemed to know it was different. You could see it in their eyes.
And among the thirty or so campers who intended to leave no mark whatsoever (either on the land or on each other) there was space A28, loud, drunk, and running their Harley well beyond the 10 PM curfew, copulating furiously, proudly in red, white, and blue. FREEDOM!!!
Heh-heh-heh-heh.
As they slurred and shouted well toward 1 AM, I thought to myself, at least we'll all get to sleep in in the morning.
They were up at 6AM like soldiers. Quiet at first, they racheted up the noise and woke up all the other campers by 6:15. The Harley RPM gauge was mach tested at 7:04 AM. Systems nominal.
Now I could blame George Bush for all that...after all, he's a drunken sot too. And stupid to boot. Or I could make a request that they could really hear and understand. They heard, and I believe they understood.
Camp nice, Gotham.
Don't be A28.
Get the damned Prius.
...it'll heal your boredom.
8. Posted by
danashields
on
July 1, 2008 05:49 PM
The real issue is how do we positively effect this world and issues of gas and war, how do we act in this world but not be attached to it and more importantly emotionally, mentally and physically yanked and swayed by these "daily events". When I am working with soul-sweating intention on my path to God, I find myself tunnel visioned in the stillness and then wham!, a very important "daily event" occurs somewhere in the world. This intrusion begets righteous indignation and off I go, high horsed on a moral crusade. And it feels great. And then I realize I'm as far from my center as I can get. Doh!!!
Is it just me?!
Jai Gurudev
9. Posted by
AdharshApeMan
on
July 9, 2008 10:38 AM
ya, I think that's how it works, I experience the same thing. I remember exactly where I was when the tsunami hit. I was in LA for a meeting, I was VERY nervous about.
Also, as small as things I am needing or wanting, seem to just happen, or be give. I know there is direct coralation, between my awareness and the universe. I think it is Mass Awareness that will bring healing and love, and safety from the storms, or maybe even avoidance of the storms all together.
10. Posted by
Tammy
on
July 9, 2008 12:25 PM
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Recent Comments
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Tammy commented on $100/tank
ya, I think that's how it works, I experience t
-
AdharshApeMan commented on $100/tank
The real issue is how do we positively effect t
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danashields commented on $100/tank
Gotham, your SUV was safer for whom? You and yo
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Tammy commented on $100/tank
Saw u on the silver sreen, your cute! will we s
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level7 commented on $100/tank
The world is a dream in Cosmic Consciousness.
Gotham,
It's a violent world with unpleasant consequences. Violence begets violence. When will peacemaking begin? How? Where? You know the answer.
Trish~~