Editorial - The Regional: March 2012
There has been a fair bit of recent media
hype about the possibility that gas prices could be set to rise as much as 20
cents between now and mid-summer 2012.
This is not good news for anyone, but is especially distressing for
those of us who live in a rural area of Caledon
Could our eventual increase really be that high? It’s difficult to know, but my personal
observation is that we typically get an annual warning of an enormous price
increase, but usually end up with what the experts like to call more “modest
increases.” My cynical side feels that this is done deliberately in an act
designed to make us feel like our outrage over a ridiculous price increase has
somehow had an effect and caused the powers that be to see the error of their
ways and come up with a way to keep the increase from being too substantial.
At this point in time, the only thing we know for sure is that
there will almost certainly be an increase, but the reality is that even a more
“modest” hike of 10 cents per litre will cost the average car owner an
additional 5 to 10 dollars per fill up.
If you fill up once per week, that eats up $250 - $500 per year. To most of us that is a couple of week’s
groceries. Another way to look at it –
it’s a big chunk of your Christmas shopping budget.
These ridiculous increases have been happening regularly for decades
now. Every year, we’re hit by yet
another price hike just as the summer travel season begins. Myriad numbers of
experts spout sound bite after sound bite of technical sounding baffle-gab,
outlining hosts of vague reasons for the increases: crude prices rising, instability in eastern
nations… even the weather gets blamed. In reality, it doesn’t really matter
what the reasons are – we all know the increase will happen.
We also know there
are really only a few options open to us when and if the increases take place;
we can limit our travel as much as possible, making every trip count, we can
buy as much locally produced material as possible and we can try to find ways
to stop being as dependent on fuel.
Is it time to start
looking into purchasing a horse and buggy?
I’ll let you be the judge of that.
I don’t think we’re there quite yet, and I certainly can’t imagine
riding up to the Caledon Farmers’ Market that way. But it is clear that something has to
give.
In The Regional this month, we have
another visit from the Motts – this time talking about moving. Deb Robertson gives us “the Road Less
Graveled” view of Facebook, Justin
Popovic discusses “living by design” this month and David Mielke gives us some
pointers on “search savvy”. Dr. Katie chimes in on the benefits of dietary
cleanses and Granny’s Kitchen shares a recipe for Wacky Cake (an old family
favourite of mine.) And as if that isn’t
enough, we have an im-PULSE-ive look at St. Patrick’s Day, info on what to do
if you have a flat tire, a spring savings primer, our usual look at events and
happenings in the area and much more.
We hope you enjoy the March 2012 issue of
The Regional. Have a great March Break!
