Oklahoma Gas Prices Biggest Election Issue

The Effect on the Latest Election

Commerce, Oklahoma -- While gas prices are on the rise everywhere in the U.S., many times rural communities get the brunt of it. Living in a small town, I personally see this. After September 11, 2001, we declared a war on terrorism, which lead to the war in Iraq and gas prices began to rise. This rise hits hard in many areas, but in rural areas, where you have to drive miles to get anywhere and minimum wage is just barely above the federal minimum, it can really hit the pockets hard.

In 2004, gas was about $1.64 a gallon. That seemed terrible. In the past four years, it has more than doubled. In Oklahoma, the current minimum wage is $5.85. You have to work over an hour at minimum wage to get just two gallons of gas. This has lead more people to get involved in politics, and more people who will not get involved to gripe about politics.

The biggest question on everyone's mind right now is who will or can reverse this process. People wonder can Barack Obama and his multi-billion dollar plan really help our economy. They do say that you have to spend money to make money, but will that put our nation in debt beyond repair and only sky rocket prices even higher. To many from a small community spending billions seems ridiculous. Part of the problem may be the fact that dollars in that amount do not even seem tangible.

For many rural states and communities like the one I am from, they see this as an issue that could potentially be the deciding factor in the election process. Finding the man who really will boost the economy to its fullest potential.

The reasons for these concerns are understandable. Farmers have no choice but to use oil and its products. Tractors do not get great gas mileage. Most farm equipment is lacking in that department. There has to be a logical solution for this problem. Rural communities can not survive when they can not afford the gas required to run their equipment or drive them to work.