Sacrifice at the Pump

Does anyone remember that famous President Carter speech about sacrifice?  The one where he bundled up in a Mr. Roger’s sweater and urged Americans to accept the notion of personal sacrifice? Where he called for mandated gas rationing and lowered thermostats to help buck America’s dependence on foreign oil? You can go to PBS.org to read the full text of his speech.

As you might imagine, President Carter’s call for personal sacrifice went over like a lead balloon.  And interestingly enough, every subsequent American president has avoided the word sacrifice like the plague.

Then in last night’s Presidential debate, a viewer emailed in a question asking about sacrifice: What would each candidate ask Americans to sacrifice in order to move past this current crisis (credit, energy — take your pick)? I had to laugh as I watched both Obama and McCain dance around the word sacrifice but never actually say it. (To read a much more in-depth analysis of Carter’s sacrifice speech and the current Presidential election, check out this August 2008 article from Salon.)

As far as energy sacrifices go, my dad says that Americans think cheap gas is their birthright.  I think he might be on to something.  Personally I’m thrilled to pay “only” $4/gallon (and you should have seen my happy dance when it dipped below $3/gallon this week). In Israel, where my family lived for the last 14 years, we were paying the equivalent of $9/gallon. Despite the relatively “cheap” cost of gas here, I do try to be mindful about maximizing fuel efficiency — checking our tire pressure, driving a steady speed, etc.  Here’s a quick list with more suggestions for getting the best gas mileage.

The question in tonight’s debate get me thinking.  What else can I do… what sacrifices can I make? In addition to setting our AC on 78 this summer, I’m working on implementing these tips for minimizing heat loss in the winter.  But I know that’s just the tip of the iceberg. So, let me ask you: What sacrifices are you and your family making (or willing to make) to help America reduce its dependence on fuel — foreign or otherwise?

Photo Credit: StockXPert