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I strongly dislike the term 'sheeple,' which refers to people who follow like sheep whoever or whatever appears to be a leader or trend.

Nevertheless, recent news reports suggest that there might be a lot of sheeple out there.

December's snowstorms stranded thousands of travelers, many of them trapped inside airports when flights were canceled due to weather. Most of them whined about the situation, even though they must have had access to weather reports and therefore must have suspected that travel would be difficult.

It's likely that many of them also complained about the new and more invasive security measures in airports, involving body scans and pat-downs that constitute sexual assault when employed by anyone other than government-sanctioned workers.

Despite skyrocketing prices, additional fees for luggage and food, the loathesome security measures, and the general lack of reliable transport and customer service, air travel increased 3% in 2010 over the previous year.

Now the former president of Shell Oil Company tells us that gasoline prices will almost certainly hit $5 within the next year. There are all sorts of explanations for this, ranging from increased oil use by developing countries to a shut down at an oil pipeline in Canada.

I believe the most likely explanation is quite simple: because they can.

In recent years when the price of gasoline has jumped up, drivers complained but kept on pumping. No doubt the same will happen again. Why?

It's as if people don't realize that they have a choice. Our my-car-is-my-independence culture has erased any memory of another way to do it.

Carpooling, biking, walking, and the one-car family don't register as realistic options. Neither does consolidating trips, or so it would seem based on the number of times my down the road neighbors zoom past my house every day.

Yes, many of us have to get to work, but do we have to drive there alone in a gas-guzzler? Can we not manage a half hour of social interaction on a bus?

I agree that having one's own car is convenient. If you are happy to pay the price without complaint, I see no problem with going on as you've always done.

On the other hand, if you find gas prices and travel in general to be out of control, stressful, expensive, offensive, or in any way disturbing, take your stand. Find another way.

You do NOT have to put up with the status quo. You do NOT have to follow the sheep into That's How It Is Land.


Take your stand, I say. Sacrifice a little convenience. Our country was founded on sacrifice, after all, and generally that sacrifice was considerably greater than a pleasure cruise.

The only way to bring about change is to break away from the flock and head in the right direction.