Cost of Alternative Fuels

     Certainly we are all concerned about the cost of gasoline. This has happened before – several times. If you were alive and aware since 1970 you will recall at least 3 major price surges that resulted in wide spread panic, long lines at the stations and very testy consumers. Frankly, compared to the lunacy, violence and vandalism during the scare of the late 1970’s this current landscape is quite tame.

     I don’t like this any more than anyone else. Part of me engages in rage whenever I read that Exxon has earned another 12 billion dollars in the last quarter when we are busy fixing flat tires and greasing chains on bicycles that haven’t been used in 15 years. On the other hand, I continue to see a country that complains very loudly about a handful of issues and then seems to go on about their business without questioning outrages in other areas.

     With this in mind I would simply point out what it would cost us if our automobiles ran on other oft-consumed, liquid commodities most present in our society. Following is a short ‘for-instance’ list premised upon filling a 15-gallon gas tank with the following consumer products:

          Milk – $56.25 (about the same as regular gasoline at $3.75/gallon)
          Coke-a-Cola – $61.80
          Tropicana Orange Juice – $112.50
          Bottled Water – $189.00
          Starbucks Coffee – $240.00
          Budweiser Beer – $266.85
          Dewar’s Scotch – $1168.05

     Reminder: don’t drink and drive.