| I don't buy bananas every chance I get, though | | | | barrel of crude oil is touted every day and night in |
| there was a time when they were part of my | | | | the news, and we've been scared into believing |
| cereal ritual. | | | | gas would climb to $5 a gallon and more, |
| But I have noticed something, perhaps not | | | | seemingly by fiat, we flip out. |
| earthshaking, but interesting. | | | | We forget that we have power, we can make |
| During certain times of the season they seem | | | | constructive choices. |
| stuck at sixty-nine cents per pound. Then, just a | | | | I mentioned carpooling, which in the age of the |
| few months later, they can dip to three pounds | | | | internet is ripe (sorry!) for exploitation. |
| for the same amount. | | | | As there is "just in time" stocking of grocery |
| Most people don't notice these fluctuations, or the | | | | shelves, there could be "last second hookups" |
| fact that raspberries can sell for $4.99 at one | | | | between prescreened commuters, ones that don't |
| market, and the very same package, by Driscoll | | | | have carjacking on their criminal records. |
| Farms, can fetch only $1.99 two hundred yards | | | | Before you leave your door with an empty |
| away. | | | | vehicle staring at you in the driveway, you could |
| At least subliminally or unconsciously, we accept | | | | check the web to see which passengers you |
| these variations with relative tranquility. We don't | | | | could pick-up on the way to your destination. |
| dash from one retailer to the next, lavishly | | | | Drivers could earn miles or exchange chits or |
| praising one while lambasting others for their | | | | coupons that would be redeemable for gas or for |
| pricing practices. | | | | Hawaiian vacations. We wouldn't be saving fuel |
| Yet we go nuts when gasoline spikes. | | | | because it's nice or environmentally friendly, but |
| I realize you don't put bananas in your gas tank. | | | | because it makes dollars and cents, as they say. |
| You don't rely on a steady supply of green | | | | If you believe we're helpless victims, that we |
| grapes to keep your car running. And if there | | | | have to quake or buckle at the news of the next |
| were a raspberry shortage tomorrow, it wouldn't | | | | gas price hike, think again. |
| prevent you from commuting or handling carpool | | | | Or, for fun, check out a disaster movie, like "Mad |
| duties that day. | | | | Max," where people kill each other for a liter of |
| With fresh fruit becoming scarce, you could eat | | | | gas, or "Water World," where the vision of a sack |
| your way around it. | | | | of arable soil or a piece of fruit grown from it, |
| Still, we do overreact when pricing becomes | | | | can set off wars. |
| publicized and politicized as it has, incessantly, since | | | | You'll appreciate we're not there, yet, and we're |
| OPEC initiated cartel pricing. When the cost of a | | | | not even close. |