(no subject)

[pearwaldorf]

Residents of the south and Midwest are a bit more likely to say they have been affected "a lot" by higher gas prices than those living in on the east and west coasts.

[insert requisite disclaimer about expensive European and Canadian gas here] 2.25 a gallon, bitches. A random unscientific survey of South and Midwest cities through gasbuddy.com yields gas prices that hover between 1.80 and 1.90-something. Don't fucking talk to me about high gas prices unless you live on the coasts.

[edit:] My bad. I keep forgetting costs of living in parts of the Midwest and the South are much lower, the public transit sucks, and they don't have urban growth boundaries, and are consequently much less dense. Mea culpa.

Comments

[starstealingirl.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, though, overall cost of living is lower here, as well. You can get a one-bedroom apartment here for less than $300/month. Also, the minimum wage is much lower-- I think that where I go to college, it's $5.15/hour. And that's if you can find a job-- due to increasing de-industrialization and manufacturing jobs going overseas, there's a lot more unemployment here, and more people in dire straits.

At least, that's my impression. Maybe that's because I live in unambiguously affluent circumstances in Portland whereas here I'm right next to the working class and poor people, but I think that gas prices are worse here when you take the overall life circumstances into account.

[unlovablehands.livejournal.com]

It's $5.15/hour in my part of Ohio. and same on the apartment. Also, gas has broken $2 here. It's been around $2.05 for a while now.

[unlovablehands.livejournal.com]

Also, the Midwest is less urbanized and has less public transportation available to people. Also, in my area, which is very rural, some people drive 30+ miles away to go to the store or to work.

[starstealingirl.livejournal.com]

Also true. Public transit sucks ass in this town.

[filmfemme.livejournal.com]

I'm in Illinois, and lately I've been paying 2.19 a gallon for regular gas. I've always felt like anything 2.00 and over is extreme, but I need to go places. It sucks though.

[lost-earthling.livejournal.com]

To be fair though: wages are a shitload lower here and there aren't any jobs available. Gas may cost me $1.87/gal, but I make around $6/hr.