As one of the many people who don’t make enough money these days, a little piece of me has died every time I have had to put gas in my car. I think it’s safe to say that we’ll never see gas below the $2 mark again, and you would probably find me doing a happy dance if gas were to drop into the $2 range.
However, when Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, gas prices climbed yet again. Iran threatened to close the strait over disagreements with its nuclear program. Other countries, America included, believe Iran is planning to build nuclear weapons. Iran says this is false, and they are simply attempting to develop a program to produce electricity.
Though Iran has agreed to back off from that threat for the time being, my question is: what’s next?
According to the New York Times, the Strait of Hormuz moved nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil in 2011. Control like that is what has the United States, among others, hogtied – not that this is news to anyone.
My hope is that the U.S. will find a way to become more self reliant and soon. We are one of the greatest nations in the world, and we have very few potential moves to make. I know I can’t continue to pay the ever increasing cost of gas just because our nations can’t play well with each other and learn to share. There are a lot of people out there that have it worse than I do. I don’t know how you do it, as I am barely able to tread water myself.
Another question came to mind when I read about the threat in the New York Times. According to the article (“U.S. Sends Top Iranian Leader a Warning on Strait Threat”), the U.S. said if Iran closed the strait, the U.S. would take measures to reopen Hormuz. Is this going to spark more war? I really hope not. I don’t think the American people could stand more war.
At least I don’t think this poor, broke American could.