Americans Turn to Prayer at the Pump

2:40 PM EDT on April 29, 2008

As this country goes bonkers over $4-per-gallon gasoline, it would seem a good time for a sober discussion about our near-total dependence on one unsustainable mode of transport. But as modern Americans, we generally prefer whining to introspection. And when whining doesn't work, well, there's
always prayer.

Enter Rocky Twyman, a choir director and PR guy who, as the San Francisco Chronicle reports, has tapped into the national zeitgeist by arranging "pray-ins" at gas stations from DC to California.

"God is the only one we can turnto at this point," said Twyman, 59. "Our leaders don't seem to be ableto do anything about it. The prices keep soaring and soaring."
To solve the problem, Twymanisn't begging the Lord for any specific act of intervention. He is notasking God to make OPEC pump more oil. Nor is he praying for all thespeculative investors to be purged from the New York MercantileExchange, where crude oil is traded.
Instead, he says anyone who wants to follow his example should keep it simple.
"God, deliver us from these high gas prices," Twyman said. "That's all they have to say."

It's just that simple, folks.

At least Twyman is also encouraging people to alter their driving habits by carpooling and, yes, even walking. This is more than can be said for most of our current crop of pandering pols. Cue Madame Speaker:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,D-San Francisco, on Thursday asked President Bush to stop filling thestrategic oil reserve. And on Friday, she called on the Federal TradeCommission to investigate whether the oil market is being manipulated.

And can we get an "Amen" from the Clinton chorus?

God help us all.

Photo: San Francisco Chronicle

Brad Aaron

Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York's dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.

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