The Most Important Issue In This Election

[Jessica Soto Sanchez]

Jessica Soto Sanchez


What Really Matters in This Election

How important is oil in this country? Is the price for gas going to increase? Can you really afford gas to get any higher? Years ago people wouldn’t ask these questions, but it seems like today it is all people are asking. Without oil, or with oil being so high, how can we survive? When I asked Melanie Romero what matters most to her in this election, she quickly and firmly replied that she cared most about our oil prices.

Melanie Romero is a personal trainer at Spectrum gym. She has these big blue eyes and a warm smile. She is 29 years old and is in great shape. Melanie has three kids, which she talks about constantly. She is very much involved in her church and in animal shelters. She is always telling me stories about all of the different rescue dogs and cats she has, and how she got them. Every now and then at the gym, I’ll see a picture of an animal looking for a good home, and I’ll know who put it up. She is not only a personal trainer but she’s also a nutritionist. Her job as a trainer is to help people get in better shape and inspire them to eat right.

When I got a chance to talk to her, it was at the end of our workout session on a Sunday afternoon. Luckily, she had no more clients to see after me. As we ordered our salad at the gym, I couldn’t help but to feel a little nervous. I finally asked her if she would be willing to be my subject, without hesitating she said sure. When I asked her what is the most important thing that mattered to her in this election she replied, “What matters most to me is the rising prices of oil, and everything that is effected by it.” As she was talking, I noticed her getting red in the face and becoming louder. She mentioned that she hasn’t told anyone about her growing concern on this issue. The whole economy seems to be crashing down right in front of our eyes. The rising oil prices not only makes it expensive to drive, but everything else goes up as well.

I noticed that everything she was saying really meant something to her. Something seemed a little personal to her. So, I asked her why does this issue matter to her so much.? She put down her fork, and finished the food she was chewing. She told me that her husband is a truck driver, and that the company that he worked for will have to start laying off some of it’s employees. I knew that she was really worried about her husband loosing his job. She said, “I’ve just been so stressed out recently.” She went on to tell me that she not only worries about her husband, but she has a sick mother in Florida. Since the air fare has gone up because fuel is more expensive, she hasn’t been able to see her mother. She went on to tell me that her husband is the bread winner, and that recently not to many people have the money to hire a personal trainer. She is even considering putting her children in public school next year.

Before this interview I never really put to much thought about high gas prices. I never thought about everything that is effected by the oil. When I asked her what is one thing that could be done to help this issue, she said that we should do what the Japanese are doing. She went on to tell me that in Japan people can only drive their cars certain days out of the week. They put color stickers on the cars to represent what day of the week they can be driven. She said, “If the Japanese are doing it why can’t we.” However, Melanie is just one more citizen feeling the effects of oil prices. A recent survey by the American Automobile Association revealed that “with the cost of oil rising as high as $135 per barrel, airlines significantly increased costs for jet fuel, and have hicked fares while cutting services.” Not only has it affected the airlines, but also motorists on the road are thinking about driving less. In a recent ABC News report, it stated that “23 percent of drivers say they’ll drive less over the next few months because of the price for oil. Just a third say they will continue to drive the same amount and just find a way to pay for it.”

As we wrapped up our interview and said our goodbyes, I told Melanie that I hoped everything worked out for her. You see, Melanie is a very good person because of so much that she does for animals. People like Melanie are hard to come across. As I drove home that afternoon, I couldn’t help but think about all of the other good people that are going through the same thing. Not only is oil a problem in this country, but also global warming. We need to start doing something now before it’s to late. Once all the oil is gone we can’t bring it back.


--Americans feeling effects of higher oil, gas prices. www.america.gov/st/elections08/2008/May

--ABC News starts here.
http://abcnews.go.com/politics/poll/poll voult

[Quinn Kevresian]

Gas prices have been skyrocketing for no reason. I've heard that the people that have all the oil, like the people in Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan are only raising the prices because they know that people in the United States are willing to pay the price no matter what. They have such an abundance that they're just power hungry and greedy that they just decide to raise the prices on oil just to make more money, when they aren't going to run out anytime soon. I think it's strange how people are always talking about wanting to do better for the economy and whatnot, but they don't really care that the cars they drive give off such bad emissions and aren't hybrid, and some people drive suv's when it's only one person driving and they could have saved gas, and money, just by driving a different car.

[John Suchy]

I can totally agree with Melissa. Your described her very well. The fact that she bases her concern around the raising gas prices, interests me. Because like all, everyone suffers from it. I really liked how you described her emotions througout the interview. This helped me gert a better understanding of what she was trying to say. I also enjoyed reading the information that you provided from ABC how 23 percent of drivers say that they will drive less in the next year! Thats crazy! Trasportation is a main route towards buisness commerce. I cant imagin what our country is going to be like when it happens. I seen how you stated that with the raising gas prices comes other effects such as higher air fare services. Our country is heading towards madness! Good essay though!

[Rachel Bowers]

Reply # 5
Oil prices are a very improtant issue, most people have cut back on how much they drive every week. More people are carpooling or riding the bus to and from work. The price has gone down recently, but how much longer will they stay this way? When the economy is in a better place, will the prices go back up again?

[Claudia Charles]

Peer Response No. 3 by Claudia Charles
High prices in the oil industry are such of big issue in our economy. The interview with Melanie has really made in impact in my thoughts. Here we have a person who enjoys her job helping people to save their lives eating healthy and excercising, a person who is a great asset to our society for her caring for animals and on top of all of that she has to worry about this gas prices. Melanie is suffering the domino effect in our society. Economy is bad and we have a high rate of unemployment. As a result of unemployment our community is cutting corners trying to save money and one of them is canceling the gym memberships. Here we go again with how much each one of us can be affected.

I have enjoyed reading your writing piece very much. I feel that all of us have been affected by the poor government in our country and the fact that we do not have a back up plan to help it at this point. I sure hope our new government can get a grip and do something quick to help us.

[Gopi Mehat]

I can agree with you on this Jessica. Oil is major factor right now to why our economy isnt doing that great. It has seemed to effect everything in our daily lives. Not to mention that falling stock market. It seems that no matter what we are doing during the day, oil is somewhere on my minds. It is also on our wallets. With the raising and dropping, very little dropping i might add, most of our paychecks are going into the gas pumps. I found it interesting about what the Japanese are doing. It is a good way to save oil and bring down the pollution. The only thing that can fix the problem in my opinion is time. With hybrids and alternative fuels being invested, oil with be a thing of the past in the future.

[Traci Lothringer]

I agree oil costs are extremely high and getting higher. It is very hard for everyone especially if you have to drive far to work or school. It is also very high on the farmers, people usually don't think about how much fuel they use on planting and thrashing, and everything else they have to do. Especially if they lease land down in the valley, 5-6 hourss away from their home.

[kevin]

i believe that the high gas prices were the main cause of the problems with the economy. With gas prices as high as 4.00 more of peoples money is going toward their gas bill so they can get to work. I have friends who spend over $200 a week on gas. Some of them having only a part time job while going to school are having trouble surviving. They are using a substantial part of their paycheck each week just so they can get to work. I dont think its right that someone should have to use a large amount of the money they make just to drive to work and school. With all this money that is being used to pay for gas less and less is being used to pay their mortage.

[Josue Garcia]

Problems like gas hase noticable over this year sas gas went up as food and many other sources. What jessica soto meant by meaintaining better the economy it been in use in Mexico city for several years for global warming i been there and the situation is serious. What people have been doing is for some actuall cars been able to drive for certain days so the other they can take a bus or walk, and there has been certanly aprove that it has work.