As a result of the war with Iran that started at the end of February, gas prices have skyrocketed not only in Massachusetts, but also everywhere else in the United States to an average of $3.91. These rising prices have led people to express their emotions by having protests and sharing their feelings regarding and against the prices. Some are feeling really frustrated, especially the middle class because they have limited incomes and due to gas already being expensive, this made them very disappointed.
Since 1993, gas prices have been rising from around $1 to $4 as the years went on. This is because of inflation, yet the new war has caused them to increase rapidly and immensely. Due to the war with Iran, they have blocked out the Strait of Hormuz so boats wouldn’t be able to transport the oil to the United States. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea used for transportation of fossil fuels.
These gas prices have been affecting the U.S. citizens causing them to make cuts in life or in buying daily necessities for life.
Western New England University student Yanna Stefoglo has a lot of opinions on the effects of gas prices. This affected her everyday life and daily necessities needed for life. She’s sad that she can’t do anything about it and since she drives to college everyday, she gets gas on the regular. “This is taking a big portion of my check which is making me frustrated,” Stefoglo said. This clearly affects her a lot as a student especially because she has a part time job where she works at an eye clinic and also a college to balance.
Physical Education Teacher Tad Desautels is also frustrated due to the increase of gas prices. Since he has a 30-minute commute to work, it costs him an extra $40 per week just to drive to school and back home. This affected him by having to make cuts at home to pay for gas.
History Department Chair Timothy Balut said the prices aren’t making him happy since this is cutting into his daily necessities, but they are not affecting other parts of his life at home, yet. If the prices keep rising then this would most definitely affect his groceries, and other fun stuff he has going on in his life.
South Hadley resident Zachary Dennett doesn’t feel great about the prices going up either.
“Since I drive 30 minutes to work it costs a lot more money to drive the same distance,” Dennett said. However, similar to Balut the increased prices aren’t affecting his life in a significant way. Nevertheless they both want prices to go down.
