I’m not the kind of person that drives an SUV. Who needs to take so much stuff with them that it can’t fit into a car? Why taunt the environment when it isn’t necessary? Why announce to the world that you think you deserve to ride two feet higher than the peasants in cars?
But since PetroBank built a new oil battery site a mile south of my house, the heavy truck traffic on the road has been taking its toll. Our gravel road is a disaster. Not only is there not enough gravel, the road is poorly maintained – it’s not uncommon to see a rock bigger than your head right in the middle of the road. Cars just don’t cut it. They don’t have enough clearance. You need to be driving something higher, that has at least a half a chance of making the five mile drive to the highway.
And then there was the Reconstruction Summer of 2008. After the rains on our “under construction” grid roads, there were four days when we couldn’t get to the highway with the four-wheel drive, let alone a car. The Husband doesn’t want to be stuck in the house like that with me again.
And so…. I am now the reluctant owner of a large SUV. The Husband found me the smallest one possible (that would have reasonable clearance). But it is still more expensive than a car, uses more gas than the Nissan Altima I used to love.
Thanks, oil industry, for directly increasing my transportation costs.
Saskatchewan reporters this week have been hounding provincial MLAs for ordering Jeep Liberty's to drive around the Province. My MLA has explained himself by saying that he can’t possibly drive an environmentally responsible car in the roads in this riding. His choice of an SUV is necessary. Apparently, I’m not alone.
I see two options. Why aren’t we dragging enough cash out of oil companies to pay for the damage they’re causing to our infrastructure, and then using the money to actually maintain our infrastructure in a reasonable way? If this industry can’t pay its own way, do we need it? Or…. It wasn’t long ago that Brad Wall was reduced to announcing that he had so much money, he didn’t know where to spend it all. How about a rebate program that would provide a subsidy to people like me that have to live near this industry, and can no longer get around with a car? I’m not asking for a free Jeep Liberty or anything. Just some cash to cover the difference between driving a mid-size car and driving an SUV.
ps. Of course, on our way to the Creelman Dinner Theatre last Thursday, we met a semi hauling oil to Petrobank's Creelman battery site. After the stone hit our windshield, the crack spread from one side to the other, right before our eyes. The Husband phoned around - it will cost $1,000 to fix. Thanks again, oil industry.
post-ps. On the weekend, our local Petrobank rep stopped by to bring us a handful of hats and a couple of fleeces. Ahh.... my troubles are over.
Sounds awful. I heard of your grief and this just confirms it.
Our laptop is outta commission and I am not sure whether I will have your email with your blog's address once it is back in commission. Pop by my blog and leave a comment so that I can link back to you! Thanks!
Posted by: Maureen | December 01, 2008 at 07:33 PM