This is the most regressive situation for people who are poor and for organizations marginally on the fringe. Senior meals-on-wheels is rigidly grant-funded. They can't sustain services at these high gas price levels. Neither can the volunteers who commit themselves to driving cancer patients to chemotherapy every day. Food deliveries to food banks will slow and become less frequent-- reducing choice and availability for low income people. For those who do have cars, they will become more isolated as social traveling becomes restricted and more optional. All of us will feel the effects of the increased price of consumables at the supermarket.
The "knee-jerk" reaction to raise prices because of Libya (despite the absence of evidence to indicate that the U.S. supply is realistically affected...) is causing knee-jerk organizational management strategis for thousand of non-profit administrators as they limit staff travel, limit services they provide... and ultimatly control and limit the lives of people who don't have many choices to begin with.
I was just discussing this at my field placement and we were wondering if any agencies have considered going to 10 hour days 4 days a week to help employees offset gas prices. I can somewhat see this occuring and worry how services to consumers could be affected.
ReplyDeleteI recall back in 2007/2008 (can't remember for sure) when gas prices were also at around $4, our organization created a car pool link on the intranet for employees to find other employees coming from the same area and had similar work schedules. I think it was popular for a while, but became less of an issue as gas prices fell. Although devistating for many people, (my SUV costs around $80 per fill up now!) I do hope that this may spark some renewed interest in alternative energy and may serve as a way for us to re-establish ourselves her in Michigan.
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