Since the the GDP of the U.S.A. (13.1 trillion dollars) divided by our population (300 million) = $43,700 per person, there's no reason for anyone to be poor in America? So how do we do away with poverty in America? We elect a President who'll work with Congress to dismantle Empire-USA plus turning things around here at home. And then what sort of world? It'll be up to us.

It seems to me that the article is advocating for government relief to be given to those who are providing increasingly expensive humanitarian care in the face of rising gas costs. I might agree, although a problem arises as to who else ought to receive relief. Be that as it may, my main point is that, whatever the reasons, the higher gas prices go and the faster they do so, the better off we will all be. When everybody starts to really hurt, only then will we stop talking and get serious about energy conservation. They don't have small, high mileage cars in Europe because of altruistic reasons. They have small cars because gas is expensive there. And adapting to the high cost of gas gets people thinking about energy conservation in general.

check

I have long observed that there is something mean-spirited and nasty about this country. That doesn't mean that there are not a lot of kind-hearted, caring people out there, but it is a shame that one can make such a strong argument that ours has such a cast to it.

USAn said: "Sound's like an "ism" to me - specifically, communism."

Maybe all the best parts of the "isms" USAn? Or maybe something like KISS - keep it simple, stupid? Part of the human problem is that we have made our various systems so darn complicated - law, medicine, government.

We need to run the new communities of the Long Emergency(see Kunstler)as simply and intelligently as we can. We have learned a lot since the Dark Ages so we shouldn't have to go back to witch-burning and rain-dances just because the oil runs out.

Most of us are going to have to learn to work with our hands and our backs again - but that can be rewarding too. Many of our current communities totally segregate us from our neighbors. And the media uses "shock stories" to get our attention to sell us something. Many of us feel terribly isolated - that's why the cellphone is so ubiquitous.

We need to work together with our neighbors as insurance - you help me when I am sick or hungry and I will do the same for you. Enlightened self-interest.

Instead of putting criminals in jails/prisons, make them repay the economic damage as some aboriginal tribes do through community work. If they don't, they are "cast out" to fend for themselves.

Some communities will be good places to live and some will be awful dictatorships - our involvement in simple local government will help to decide.

http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/torture/

kempatrick.....that is exactly what the bush administration wanted....a bankrupt us treasury,so that a possible democratic administration would be tied up in knots with overseas situations(war like footing in iraq and afghanistan and now russia and georgia) and not have the enough money to help americans at home. see neo conservatives do not like the "common good" for everybody

spinoza: "while there might be a great deal of ignorance and selfishness in this country, there's also a lot of quiet compassion. That, more than the embracing of any ideology, might be what saves us from total oblivion"

Of course there's a lot of quiet compassion in this country. The selfishness NEEDS the compassion, it's a parasite on the back of compassion. Progressives won't tolerate this scenario. This is why we won't support the Demok party.

Speaking of ideology, there are two basic ideologies - the ideology of selfishness and the ideology of compassion. Selfishness is extreme right, compassion is extreme left. Selfishness is the parasite, compassion is the host. Your body's immune system does not give 50% to the pathogens does it? So why should your ideological platform give 50% to selfishness? Seems our ideology should be extreme left - 100% in defense of our bodies from pathogens. This is why progressives refuse to vote Demok party.

By the way - the selfish are dropping gas prices now in order to gain votes in November. Is everyone going to reward them for illegally manipulating the market?

The only real thing wrong with social security is the government has used our deducted SS money and spent it to wage unjust wars, or finance Haliburton, Blackwater, allow FEMA to give no-bid multi-million dollar contracts to cronies to furnish bags of ice and buy over priced shit house trailers, which sit empty on acerage in Arkansas rotting away, etc etc, etc and so on and on. The S.S. money is not there, except on some phoney rigged government managed accounting books.

Charity has it's place, but nothing can replace the dignity of earning a decent income for good, productive, and needed work. The best thing about Social Security INSURANCE is that it is EARNED. Retired and disabled people who collect the money can keep their dignity.

The Republican idea of privatizing Social Security INSURANCE is supported by the misguided people who calculate a return on investment. INSURANCE isn't figured that way. What is my return on home insurance? I hope zero. In countries where privatized retirement has been adopted many end up on welfare robbed of much needed human dignity.

But the point remains, Gasoline is still way too cheap if all it's costs to humanity and the planet are taken into account. We need to move to a car-free infrastructure, if you believe that's impossible, use your imagination some more - and get out of suburbia. There are many more opportunities to perform acts of compassion in the city where you can use the bus, subway or trolley.

USAn said: "we need to resort to compassion, logic and the common good to survive." — Sound's like an "ism" to me - spcifically, communism.

So, helping out your fellow man, and having a sense of community and working together for the common good is communism? Wow. How incredibly stupid.

What do you mean? What is communism or socialism by an economic system that is based on Christ's Sermon on the Mount? I'm all for it.

A lot of companies do not reimburse people for their mileage. I do not think it should be up to the worker to pay for these costs.
The senior services of most states do not pay mileage.
Funny how it is too expensive for the company but they expect it not to be too expensive for the worker who is making a lot less.

elmysterio - its human nature to protect itself. i have seen plenty of the world and have seen this phenom in every major culture , therfore i reason its human and not national specific. just a thought.

USAn said: "we need to resort to compassion, logic and the common good to survive." --- Sound's like an "ism" to me - spcifically, communism.

So, helping out your fellow man, and having a sense of community and working together for the common good is communism? Wow. How incredibly stupid.

You know, western culture is the only one that promotes "every man for themselves" to our own detriment.

We are still our brothers' keeper.

Two ways to think about it?

When I fill up at a Circle K, the main thought I have is, that the CEO of EXXON gets five BILLION dollar annual bonuses and pays less income tax than his secretary does.

As Paul Newman says in "Hud", "The only helping hand you ever get is when they lower the box." If you haven't seen that film, by all means do. Newman's character is the personification of George Wanker Bush 40 years before that rat bastard showed up to ruin the United States.

The gas prices are high because the Speculators are making profits. Just follow the money.

About empathy in the US - there isn't any. It is an 'every man for himself' culture. I have been trying to stir up interest in 'The Celestine Project'. So far, no success. Read about it on the link below. Anybody have any ideas or suggestions?
http://mwcnews.net/content/view/18156/247/

This article is a good reminder to sometimes-cynics like me that while there might be a great deal of ignorance and selfishness in this country, there's also a lot of quiet compassion. That, more than the embracing of any ideology, might be what saves us from total oblivion.

Compresses air cars - Better than electric? http://www.gizmag.com/compressed-air-car-set-for-us-launch-in-2010/8896/

And here's a third way. Let's put an end to the drug war and allow people the freedom to grow their own hemp for fuel. Besides, this is a great path towards giving local fuel, food, love, and heart-warming support a chance. Plus you'll be giving Mother Earth a rest from all this mayhem for a change.

Kindness goes a very long way.

"we need to resort to compassion, logic and the common good to survive."

Sound's like an "ism" to me - spcifically, communism.

This article really resonates with my fiance and I. Instead of getting wedding shower gifts we don't need or really want, we asked people to instead buy gas cards from gas stations and bus tokens instead of the traditional gifts. We then will donate the gas cards and bus tokens to a local charity that will distribute them to single mothers and others that need assistance with higher gas prices.

It's a win-win for everyone, people can still get satisfaction that they are giving us something and also helping our neighbors that need more assistance than we do.

Well done. It is probably past the point where state/province, national and international governments can do a lot to mitigate the coming contractions of human society. But it is vital that we become more active LOCALLY in our communities to prepare and provide for as many neighbors as we can. We need to keep or start the vital institutions (one-room schools, lending libraries, free clinics, coops, community gardens) functioning as best we can. We will need to know and work productively with our neighbors - and manage the community for the common good. The 'isms' (communism, capitalism, catholicism)have failed us - we need to resort to compassion, logic and the common good to survive.

I am confused.

Is this article supposed to be an argument for cheap gasoline?

Why isn't home health care worker not getting reimbursed for personal car use? The standard rate is 58.5 cents per mile.

In Europe, I'm sure the quality of home health care is much better, and gasoline is three time more expensive. The workers are well paid, and get reimbursed for transportation expenses.

The solution to the home health care worker's probelms is not cheap gasoline, it is getting rid of cheap employers, establishing a livable minimum wage, and better funding of the county health departments.

The price of gasoline needs to reflect it's true cost of it's impact on the global environment, and the wars and bloodshed it is causing. Based on the latest oil-war in Georgia, it's price still isn't high enough. Only if gasoline and car use becomes expensive enough will the alternatives be re-developed.

Meanwhile, no one who relies on a car to do their job and earns minimum wage and be expected to pay for their transportation expenses.