LOOKING AT THE BRIGHT SIDE

Has anyone noticed that the fluctuating prices of gasoline is a lot like a manic-depressive person?

Fortunately manic-depression is treatable with medication. The rising price of gasoline is not!

However, like manic-depression, gasoline never returns to it's historic lows and one never knows when the highs will be reached.

So, when gas goes down a few cents and stays there for a while, we as a people develop a comfort zone of passive acceptance. The next rise begins another vicious cycle. New highs are reached, and new lows follow--though never as low as the last cycle. Once again, passivity sets in. And the next cycle begins.

For those who don't believe in cycles, try out this one: Back in the 70's when gas lines wrapped around the block, the advent of the four cyclinder car rose like a shining light. Fuel efficient foreign cars were more desireable than ocean cruises. The gas-guzzling American muscle cars became our dinosaurs --extinct.

Then we became accustomed to the new gasoline reality and went for six cyclinder cars, then turboed six cyclinders.

Of course, we all know what came next--mini-vans, SUV's and back again to 8 cyclinders.

We are at the apex of the current cycle--SUV's are being traded in for hybrids, 4 cyclinders and anything that smells of fuel-efficiency.

These cycles will only stop when we can no longer extract oil from its scource. Remember, folks only a limited number of dinosaurs became extinct. I know it took a million years for it to happen, but, because we are the ultimate consumers, we've used most of it up in about one hundred years. Who in his right mind believes that oil companies will still be extracting oil one hundred years from now?

There is a bright side to this cyclical phenomena.

But that's for the next blog.