In our plastic-oriented society, we often forget just how many things we buy are petroleum-based products.

Stupid article in our paper recently about how people are trading in their autos for more gas-efficient models. There was a story about the poor stockbroker who traded in his Hummer for a Volvo convertible, which gets 22 miles to the gallon. He actually keeps a picture of the Hummer with him because he misses it so much. Oh, boo hoo, you elitist jackass.

Of all the human interest stories they could do, THAT'S the one they picked? How about the poor guys who cram 6 people into a Sentra to save on gas, so they can keep going to their $8 an hour pick and pack jobs at some warehouse?