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Rising Fuel Costs Force Us To Change

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JOSEPH H. BROWN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 6, 2008

With energy prices soaring, Americans are reacting by changing their basic routines and opting for smaller, more fuel-efficient automobiles. I'm not surprised; I saw the same response following the nation's first "energy crisis" in the 1970s.

It seems like a small sacrifice when we consider that we have U.S. soldiers and Marines fighting militant insurgencies in two countries in the Middle East. Since troops were sent to Afghanistan and then Iraq in the aftermath of 9/11, few Americans have felt the need to alter their lifestyles in any way.

Now, with high energy costs taking a toll on already-stressed budgets, many governments and agencies that serve the public are starting to act like consumers and making needed cuts. School districts are cutting back on students eligible to ride school buses, which are major gas guzzlers. Police departments are cutting back on patrolling some areas or shifting to two-officer patrol cars. And some libraries have even decided to keep their bookmobiles parked for the summer.

Wouldn't Miss Mail On Saturday

It struck me last Saturday, however, that one of the largest government agencies, the U.S. Postal Service, doesn't seem ready to make a big change that made sense even before the current fuel-cost surge.

When I went to my mailbox to retrieve a monthly magazine and three pieces of junk mail, it got me to wondering if many people remain opposed to the idea of eliminating Saturday delivery. In 2001, according to a poll commissioned by The Tampa Tribune and News Channel 8, 58 percent opposed five-day delivery of the mail. The USPS was facing $2 billion to $3 billion in losses that year and was seriously considering it, but such a change requires congressional approval, and several members of Congress came out against it.

Since then millions of Americans have started paying their bills online and e-mail has become the primary means of written communication. The volume of first-class mail has dropped precipitously, but we still cling nostalgically to six-day mail delivery, even though the cost of postage continues to rise annually.

Five-day delivery has been a no-brainer for many years, but with rising fuel prices, Congress should demand it. Six-day delivery is from a bygone era, and those who insist on keeping it should check their mail on Saturday and ask themselves if it couldn't have waited until Monday.

For Garbage, Once A Week Is Fine

Earlier this year Tampa City Councilman John Dingfelder came up with a novel idea by suggesting garbage be picked up once instead of twice a week. It made sense to me since I only set mine out once a week, as do half of my neighbors.

While it might sound radical, consider Houston does it weekly. So does Atlanta, another city where it can get real hot in the summer.

Also consider that garbage trucks probably get, maybe, 5 mpg with the continuous stopping and starting required to empty hundreds of garbage cans in a day. So if we can cut down on a day, why not do so? Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio has come out against the idea, but as rising fuel costs keep eating up the city budget, she may have to reconsider.

Changes like these are never easy, and many people will be against them while also being opposed to increased taxes and fees. But change is necessary, and on Independence Day weekend, it's a good time to start getting serious about how we can become less dependent on foreigners for our survival.

Joseph H. Brown is a Tribune editorial writer.

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