Not About Oil it's about me

Numerous big wigs make a good living by waving the banner of clean environment or fuel dependency. We, the soldiers without wigs, are ready to fight under that banner. Liars - the former and the latter! The former will just change the banner depending on the winds that blow. And we? Our actual fight is on the road–to get to work–and at home–to heat it up and then turn on the AC. Resources, energy, environment – how are we going to balance between consume and pollute? The black gold and the words about it are so big, and we are so small. However, small acts can make a big difference.

Somewhere in the middle of a breath, I just stopped believing that the big wigs do care about the environment or fuel dependency. Why should they? There is a good profit to be made from that liquid. The mega companies make mega profits, and we, as consumers, make our small profits too. It is in the interest of all of us to burn it all. And sincerely, we just feel better by doing it. And what is better is that we just feel important by talking how bad the burning is.

As a consumer in Europe, I had to drive one hour in the city traffic, to pass about seven miles during rush hour. Next, I needed 30 minutes to find a spot to park. I thought that I should have spent half of the combined time at most. In a city of one million there was endless traffic congestion and only limited parking lots. Did they care that for 45 minutes I just burned fuel and contributed to the Earth’s death?!

I believe that global warming is coming. And I believe that global warming is a made-up problem. There are two parts of the story, and I trust both of its advocates. They speak so well. They appeal to my moral values, but sincerely, I don’t care that much about the global warming.

What I care more about these days is my 80-mile two-way commute. The Maglev Project research mentions that there are about 32,000 cars commuting between Baltimore and Washington. To me, they seem a billion or two. Between 7am and 9am, there is a constant flow of metal, rubber, and smoke – in both directions of I-95. And if I look intensely, I occasionally see in the cars some amount of flesh too. Living matter. People. Humans. One in every single car. Then I remember the Beatles with their chorus “Ah, look at all the lonely people.” Then I look in my own car.

Until a few months ago, I car-pooled with a guy from Towson, a nice person. I think he liked my driving since he would often fall asleep during the commute. Yeah, it was a nice thing to ride in two. We did not have long conversations about how expensive it was to feed our cars, how much carbon monoxide we released in order to get to work, or how much time we wasted in the heavy traffic jams. No, none of these. But when in the first miles of our trip the jovial highway sign saluted us with its “expect congestion and delays,” deep in our hearts we felt like winners: “Yeah, one car less on the roads today!” I wish there were more winners like that.

Then my commute-mate moved to another city, and I was about to switch my everyday adventure to a part-time format. No one wanted to share my ride anymore. It was only for about half the days of the week – it seemed worthless to those who called. So I got back in the rows of losers.

I was again alone in my drive to work. Again – no conversations. But I got the chance to listen to all the local radio stations. I got the chance to roll tapes in my car radio and study another language. And when I was tired of all of these, I could just drive and contemplate. I dedicated a few thoughts to the lady in the apartment above mine. Poor being, she had to use the air conditioner in the winter because there was too much heat coming from the radiator. Maybe all that carbon monoxide around me was not a waste after all – if only I could put it into her apartment for an hour. Such thoughts are natural after miles of congestion.

I’m not a violent person, and I’d rather ask gently: please, please, please big wigs! Could you do something about the traffic? I promise to give you the same money for less fuel, but please do something about the traffic! For example, you could make a law that favors carpooling. But not like the one that dedicates a 15-mile lane to carpoolers. It is great, but that lane is so far away from my route. Or how about reducing the insurance for those who share rides? The 32,000 commuter cars would be reduced by a few thousand soon almost spontaneously.

I could perform my job from any point of the Earth, as long as there is a computer connected to the Internet. But my employer wants me to be on site, so we can communicate properly with the colleagues in the cubicles around me. We communicate by email. Occasionally we’d exchange a verbal question like, “Did you get my email?” I begin to suspect that my employer owns some slice of the fuel industry. Why not otherwise support telecommuting? Probably half the employees could do their job from home. He (the company) would save big money – fewer utility bills and fewer goods to buy. Maybe you, dear Big Wig, could make a law that favors companies that allow telecommuting?! The 32,000 commuter cars would probably be halved.

Big scientists know that smaller beings use less food and produce less waste. But even a small kid knows that the same is true for cars. When I came to the USA, I had a small American Dream – to drive a big SUV. This dream has grown into something bigger now. In my big dream-come-true situation I will drive a small car and get a job that allows me to telecommute. And I will complain about the too much heating instead of turning on the AC. I will do this in order to get more easily to my workplace. I will do my small act of balancing resources, energy, and pollution. I will do it for myself.

I hope that all those lonely-driving commuters are contemplating the same things. It cannot be that they are just transporting their body matter from one place to another. I believe many of them have the same dreams. Many will join my dream, and I am joining someone else’s dream probably. It’s the simple dream of getting easily and quickly to work. Then the cleaner environment and fuel dependency solutions will come as a natural consequence. The world will be a better place. Why do I care? 'Cause I'm an egoist.