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[OC] Meanwhile.. in San Jose, California (lemmy.world)
submitted 6 months ago by to c/pics@lemmy.world
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[–] 19 points 6 months ago (6 children)

I also don’t sweat gas prices but it affects a lot of people disproportionately. A lot of low income earners have to drive a lot, either because of the job or because they can’t live closer to where they work. It’s not like they charge a fuel surcharge for lawn care for example.

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  • [–] 2 points 6 months ago (4 children)

    I have heard this, and it sucks, but also good. Low income earners also have considered gas an "ignorable expense" for too long. It's something that some budget for, but for most its simply ignored.

    Everyone should realize how much they depend on oil. For low income hopefully they wake up and start considering other modes of travel. Carpools, bikes, transit (and demanding better transit too). It's not fair that it affects them more, but the vast vast majority of Americans consider gas to be "normal" and its high time everyone gets real with how fragile the system is there.

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  • [–] 13 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (3 children)

    But also good?

    Try it sometime. Being poor saddles people with so many extra burdens, what's one more right? Fuel has never been an "ignorable expense."

    Lots of this demographic rely on tools and supplies to perform their jobs. How would that work with carpools, bike and transit? It simply doesn't.

    I had a contractor call up 2 weeks go and tell me he couldn't fix a problem simply because he couldn't afford the gas to my site. He's a great guy we've used for years.

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  • [–] 2 points 6 months ago (2 children)

    I have been poor, most if my life, and I stand by it.

    Your contractor? You're thinking about gas, and your contractor is. Good. We should be thinking of gas as this wildly volatile thing that can completely upend life on the whim of giant corporations, and thinking of using alternatives.

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  • [–] 2 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    I think of gas as a necessary thing that I need to buy to get somewhere. I'd LOVE to have an EV or a hybrid but they cost more money than I can spend on a car. The cheapest used hybrid here is 5 times what I paid for my current very reliable diesel.

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  • [–] 1 point 6 months ago

    My parents recently saw this when buying a new car. My mother really only drives within a 30 minute radius of home, not far. Fuel-wise, an EV would be perfect for her. But even a used hybrid was outside of the price range they could spend. So used gas engine it is.

    Long term they'll be paying more because they couldn't handle the up front cost for the better option. What was that bit about good boots from Discworld again?

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  • [–] 1 point 6 months ago

    It’s not like they charge a fuel surcharge for lawn care for example.

    A college student in my area rigged a small trailer behind his mountain bike to pull a mower and blower. His fuel costs: zero. He actually sells his service as a green lawncare and is completely booked.

    Meanwhile guys roll up in their F250s and idle and blame Obama because they are not making money.

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