When our frame of reference changes -- even when the facts don't -- so does our description. It's part of our never-ending quest for context. And that's fine, as far as it goes.
It's the same reason that Americans are being urged to dance a national jig over gasoline that costs only $3.81 a gallon -- because last month, we were paying a record $4.11. Over the same period, the price of oil has dropped from $147 to only $114.
We seem to have forgotten that a year ago, oil was $70 and gas was $2.77. Or that in late 2003, when a gallon of gas cost $1.55, the price of a barrel of oil hadn't yet broken the $30 mark.So cancel the cake, send the band home and, for cryin' out loud, take that silly hat off your head -- the cost of commuting to work, taking a vacation, harvesting our food and hauling goods to market is nearly 250% of what it was just five years ago, and you want us to party?
Someone needs to tell the government and the news media that one month's perspective is useless -- there's nothing here to celebrate.
