In a turn of events that surprised absolutely no one with a basic grasp of geopolitics, gas prices in Texas have skyrocketed to a delightful $3.78 a gallon. Apparently, when you close the Strait of Hormuz during a war, the magic juice that makes your oversized dually go “vroom” gets a bit pricier. While the average Texan is now shelling out $223 a month just to commute, Lubbockites are facing the unique West Texas horror of realizing their 15-minute drive to literally anywhere is starting to cost more than their Actual Home™ mortgage.
The “temporary sacrifice” we were promised has turned into a reality where construction workers are dropping a cool $100 a day on fuel. Meanwhile, our local scholars are having to choose between a full tank and a bag of groceries. It’s a classic Lubbock Sophie’s Choice: do I eat this week, or do I maintain the ability to drive 80 mph down Slide Road in a vehicle that gets six miles to the gallon?
Our fearless leaders promised us gas under $2.00, but instead, we got a $5.00 price tag on diesel and a side helping of 3.3% inflation. It’s a great time for the local economy, if by “economy” you mean the predatory payday loan centers that are probably salivating at the sight of every GMC Sierra pulling into a Circle K.
Of course, the experts say things will “stabilize” eventually, which is code for “get used to it.” Between the “risk premiums” on oil and the fact that we live in a city designed entirely for cars and zero pedestrians, we’re essentially trapped in a dusty, expensive bowl of our own making. But hey, at least the wind is free, even if it’s currently blowing $80 worth of unleaded right out of your exhaust pipe.
I guess the real silver lining is that with gas this expensive, maybe people will finally stop idling their engines for 30 minutes in the Chick-fil-A drive-thru—but let’s be honest, we’d rather go bankrupt than turn off the AC.
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