High gas prices threaten small towns
July 1st, 2008 by Jim JustAn article in the Kansas City Star (reprinted at Truthout) points out how our transportation, land use, and economic policies reshaped the rural landscape in ways that are proving to be dysfunctional in an era of rising gas prices.
“Since the advent of the automobile in the early 20th century, the American rural landscape has been one of spacious land and cheap fuel.
“It was commonplace for people to drive long distances for jobs. In isolated areas, such as western Kansas, the drive could be 100 miles or more. Those commuters may have complained about the time in the car, but seldom about the price of gas.
“Throughout that period, too, many towns had a factory, and mom-and-pop stores lined main streets.
“That has all changed.
“Factories in many towns closed years ago as small companies folded or manufacturers sent jobs overseas. Mom-and-pop stores gave way to Wal-Marts in bigger towns. When those changes occurred, jobs and shopping required trips out of town.
“And now, gas prices are at all-time highs. . .
”It is in rural America where lives are being turned upside down.”
High gas prices changes the equation such that commuting no longer makes economic sense. As a consequence, people will be forced to move out of small, rural towns to urban areas where the jobs are. Those consequences are as inexorable here in Oregon as they are in Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska.
”When people move away, towns lose their tax base. . . Then you can’t fix streets . . . you can’t do much of anything. That makes even more people leave.” Pretty soon, won’t be much left in these old towns.”