And You Say It’s Not a Cult?

A true believer

Photo by Ali Mkumbwa on Unsplash

There is probably more than one reason gas prices are so high. Of course, the reason most Americans attribute to the skyrocketing prices is the war with Iran.

Needless, unwise, dangerous to life and limb for American service men and women, a money drain for taxpayers, the reasons for NOT engaging in hostilities with Iran seem much more numerous than the benefits.

The most recent excuse given by our leaders for war; the vague prospect of preventing Iran from having the materials for developing a nuclear weapon.

If I hear any one of the present administration promising that gas prices will come down rapidly once the military action with Iran is resolved I’ll lose the little faith I have left in its ability to govern.

Clem

Is an unusual guy in one respect only, politics.

Meaning he disagrees with me.

Otherwise he’s upper middle-class, with a wife and a couple of kids who are both in college. He works in a bank. Clem has been in banking for pretty much all his life since his graduation from Yale. He went on to get his masters in economics from Penn, I think.

Always enjoyed talking to Clem, as long as we avoided the subject of politics.

We managed to stay clear of the topic most times.

The other day was not one of them…..

Gas

I saw Clem at the senior center last Sunday. We were talking about many topics. Subjects other than politics, naturally.

I‘d walked the mile to the senior center and Clem offered to give me a ride home. He asked me if I’d mind if he stopped off for gas.

Of course, I said no, I didn’t mind.

A Gulf station was on the way to my place and Clem stopped there. He got out of his car and went through the motions one must do to fill their tanks.

I waited inside the car for him to finish.

After, it seemed about two minutes, Clem was back in the car ready to drive me home.

Far too short a time it would take to fill his tank.

I brought this to his attention!

“Clem! I said, was there a problem?”

I thought, maybe he forgot his credit card or something I could be of help.

“Oh, no Brian! Everything’s cool!” he said reassuringly.

“I just feed my tank a gallon at a time. President Trump says the gas prices are coming down soon and I don’t want to be stuck with a full tank of $5.00 a gallon gas when that happens.” Clem said.

“You mean you stop for a gallon of gas every day or so because you believe gas prices are going to drop?” I said incredulously.

“Yes, that’s what the President said!” he replied stubbornly.

I offered to pay Clem for the fuel he used on my ride home.

He looked at me and said generously, “Wait until the war is won and gas is cheaper.”

Clem smiled, thinking he’d saved me money.