Free at last

We had a wonderful day (once we were out of the big city) driving cross-country on US highways, through farmland and often near Amish farms as well.  It is amazing how much there is to see--if you just get off of the expressway.  I think many more people would do it more often, if only they realized.

Lunch was at a nursery near a small Indiana town.  Perfect, and inexpensive--except for the customers who were smoking.  I am so surprised that is allowed anywhere anymore!

Saw several drive-ins, including one where the carhops were on roller skates.

I haven't seen any signs of politics.  Probably, for the Amish, there isn't even an "energy crisis"--unless their horse dies.

I did notice that there are an awful lot of BP gas stations, which of course we are avoiding.  It looks like Marathon is a main competitor in this region.  I'm still trying to form an opinion as to which energy companies or brands are worthy of my business.

Comments

[Jenn F.]

We're planning a road trip this summer, and I've been contemplating the whole BP thing and what to do. (Though my husband is contemplating it more directly-- he's in Louisiana now doing this:http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/985294629/exposure-an-expedition-to-the-oil-threatened-gulf-0). My plan was to avoid BP stations like the plague. But then I heard a story on npr (I think on marketplace?) that most of the stations are franchises owned by small business people, so the boycott is killing them. So I'm conflicted about it-- it seems like the only way to send BP a message is to put the stations out of business... which will devastate the small business owners. I don't have a solution, mind... I feel very strongly that I don't want one cent of mine to go to BP, while still worrying that I'm punishing the wrong people. And part of me also thinks that all of the oil companies are the same: it was Exxon in Alaska and BP in the Gulf now... it was the Mexican oil comglomerate in the Gulf in the late 70s. They've gotten much better at being able to drill, but the disaster response technology hasn't changed... like ever. 

[DoctorD42]

Jenn, obviously everyone has to make up their own mind about BP, but I am avoiding their stations. And we have seen one convenience store that is advertising that they will switch providers at the end of the month.

The problem is, there are so few ways to "protest" BP's policies. I am not a stockholder so I can't vote that way.  As a citizen, I can want tougher energy regulation, supporting Democrats over Republicans. But as a consumer, all I can do is change providers. Isn't that how a free market should work?

[Jenn F.]

I agree. And I will be avoiding BP stations on our trip (it is easy to do at home-- there aren't any on the way to work)... I'm just disappointed and conflicted about having no other options for protest.