President

[C.Ann]

Anyone hear the President this morning? He was speaking about our need in general to conserve fuel and suggested that citizens cancel/refrain from any unnecessary travel..

Do you think this is a good idea or a bad one?

Will you cancel any of your travel plans?

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I'm about to unnecessarily travel right now.

 

[AllyandJack]

I didn't hear him. I'd like to know what he deems "necessary".

My trip in November is non-refundable. So, unless he plans to reimburse me, it's necessary.

No...I'm not changing anything. I'm still taking my leaf peeping trips. I'm still going apple picking.

I'm not going to barricade myself in the house....I'll do that all winter once it starts snowing!

 

[luvwinnie]

Hmm, I'd wonder what that would do to the tourism industry. I have no travel plans right now except taking our RV on a one-hour trip and flying to Calif. for work.

 

[C.Ann]

Hmm, I'd wonder what that would do to the tourism industry.

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I was thinking the same thing - which is why my jaw dropped when he said it.. Right now you have loads of people heading to WDW - the snowbirds will be heading south soon - and the leaf peepers will be heading to the Northeast..

 

[CheshireVal]

I drive a very fuel-efficient car, so I figure even my unnecessary travel is more environmentally friendly than some people's necessary travel.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

We will still take our very necessary trip to Disney in November!

 

[disykat]

I didn't hear him, but I'll take a stab at it. If the President has asked me to save fuel, I'll make an effort. I wouldn't cancel already made plans, but it will affect plans I make from now on. I'll work harder at doubling up on errands etc. to conserve fuel. If I worked, I'd check into bus schedules and carpooling to see if it was feasible. If it was feasible, I'd do it and if not, I wouldn't feel guilty.

I think if everyone makes a little effort it could make a difference as to whether we have a full out shortage. Like I said, I didn't see him speak, but I'd be surprised if he's asking people to change their lives signicantly at this point, but rather to look at how they could make small changes to help the cause.

 

[Jessd]

I can't see people really doing this. I don't have any vacation plans, but I wouldn't cancel them, especially if it was already paid for.

The president wants everyone to cancel their plans, but he is jetting around in his planes, helicopters and motorcades with dozens of cars wasting fuel? I think he should take his own advice.

I hardly think that my trip to go Christmas shopping 2 hours away even makes a dent compared to what he uses every day.

Jess

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I will try to cut back on driving, especially on weekends and try to consolidate errands into a single trip. However, we have our WDW vacation in Nov. which is paid for, so we are going on that. With Rita striking where she did, I think the impact on refineries was less than expected.

 

[C.Ann]

I have a feeling he may have spoken without clearly thinking through what he was saying.. So many areas depend on tourism it could create a whole new set of problems.. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if he rephrases that statement once he hears from the people who would be severely impacted by a drop in tourism..

 

[disykat]

Okay, I went and read some of his remarks. He talked about cutting down on non-essential travel and looking into carpooling, etc. He said the federal government is cutting down on non-essential travel at this time as well. He didn't say cancel everything, he just talked about implementing some conservation efforts.

 

[Christine]

He said the federal government is cutting down on non-essential travel at this time as well.

Hmmm, I'd like to see some evidence of this happening.

 

[Beth76]

Playa del Carmen was hit during Hurricane Emily. They need my tourism dollars. So, no, I will not be cancelling my vacation. I'm insulted that he would ask. Didn't he just get a 5 week vacation? I sure as heck am taking mine.

 

[CajunDixie]

I didn't see the speech either but I'd guess he wants Americans to become more aware of how much fuel we really use. Look at all the teenagers that drive to HS. Is that necessary where bus service is free ? Yes, I know some students have after school jobs and sports but otherwise what is the point? Same goes for all the parents that pick up students after different practices....usually you see one parent picking up one student. My school district has 1 HS for 3 small towns and the included rural area. Why don't people carpool more? Think about how much fuel those 1/2 empty HS buses are wasting driving their routes while parents let their kids drive to school.

And how about the people that just run out for milk or cigs or bread? Or people that drive 1/2 mile for 1 thing when they could have walked or biked or picked it up on the way home from work.

I'm sure the Pres doesn't want people to cancel vacations because that would really affect the economy but that's just 1-2 weeks of vacation time....what about the other 50 weeks throughout the year?

 

[jgmklmhem]

I would think people for the most part are doing this anyways to conserve their bank accounts more so than gas. I wouldn't cancel a vacation I had planned nor would I not plan one in the future if my budget could handle it. Right now we only drive my wife's car on the weekend and weeknights to conserve fuel because hers is more efficient. If I get my new job 45miles away versus the 8 I travel now I will buy a newer more fuel efficient car and we will look into moving closer after my daughter is done with school. I think in general conserving what you can is a good idea regardless if the president asks or not (again just from the personal bank account side of it). Some people just need an authority figure to advise it to actually think about it. Some are going to do what they want regardless. Some have been doing it all along.

 

[disykat]

I'd love it if someone could find a quote where he asked people to cancel vacations - because I didn't see it in the article I read.

 

[cl1067]

I'd love it if someone could find a quote where he asked people to cancel vacations - because I didn't see it in the article I read.

I don't think anyone is saying that he actually said that...but he did say to do away with unneccessary travel and most people do not consider vacationing a necessary thing...its nice and they are wonderful, but not necessary.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Anyone hear the President this morning? He was speaking about our need in general to conserve fuel and suggested that citizens cancel/refrain from any unnecessary travel..

Do you think this is a good idea or a bad one?

Will you cancel any of your travel plans?

Consevation is a good idea overall. I could hurt travel in the sort run, but save transportation cost in the long run. But to answer the question about my travel plans - I am combining trips and cutting out leisure driving, but will still do my Disney trips.

 

[Free4Life11]

To me unnecessary travel is driving 6 blocks to the Walgreens, making 5 trips to the grocery store each week, driving your kid to school each day because they don't like to take the bus (maybe bussing would save gas?), etc. Some people DO use way more gas than is necessary. Some very simple planning could cut down on use a lot.

If my job would just EMAIL us our schedules (would be so simple but they wouldn't actually want to help us out, woult they?) that alone would cut down on a lot of gas.