Oil reaches $127.55 a barrel

[Towntalk]

This morning oil hit $127.55 a barrel and for a time was nudging $128.00. This means that the cost of fuel is digging even deeper into our pockets not only in the cost of gas, but just about every necessity that we can think about.

The big question that we need to ask and answer is: given the economic conditions that exist for the average family here in the Mahoning valley, how can we sustain these constantly increasing prices right here and right now. Forget the long term down the road some ten to twenty years from now, but think about the situation that is immediately in front of thousands of families that are sitting around their kitchen table trying to figure out how they are going  to pay the bills that are coming due right now.

We all know of many things we can do in the long term, but they all cost more than the average family can possably afford.

This crisis isn't just impacting the poor who already have a safety net (welfare and food stamps as well as help with their utility bills) it's also impacting the middle class folks who make too much to qualify for those safety nets.

We wonder why more folks don't support the arts and eat out more often? The Vindicator today answered that question. Folks are having to set priorities that exclude dining out or going to shows. They can't afford it and still put food on the table ... pay the utility bills ... pay the mortgage on their homes and yet put cloths on their backs.

What earthly good is "quality of life" when we simply can not afford "the better things in life"?

Can anyone here seriously justify asking the folks that are being impacted by the skyrocketing prices of essentials to cut back on them so that they can go out for a night on the town? Eating out for a family of four isn't cheap by any measure. Going to a show? Same thing.

I don't have the answers, but answers we need.