Ham on Wry Award

This week's Ham on Wry award goes to..........ta dah, all of the well-known automakers that have produced cars for more than a half century.  In October 1973, OAPEC announced an oil embargo in response to the US support for Israel during the Yam Kippur War.  Once that took effect, Americans were designated odd or even days on which to purchase gas and waited in lines that snaked around gas stations and onto neighboring streets creating chaos with every fiil-up.  Prices rose, spirits sank, and people's tempers flared.  This situation continued until the embargo was lifted in March 1974.

Did all of the ramifications of this register with the automakers?  Consider what people pay at the pump to day for an answer.  Gas prices in Florida are hovering aroun $3.79 and show signs of further escalation.  Some pundits predict we might see prices rise to $6.00 a gallon later this year.  Some readers might be wondering what the automakers have to do with this.  They're producing cars that get higher gas mileage and experiement with alternative fuel sources.  What more could they do?

It isn't what they are doing now; it's what they didn't do then that earns them an award.  If an ordinary citizen can think about changing cars' fuel systems in 1974, why did the automakers ignore such an obvious solution to a long-term dependence on oil?  Many explanations exist; however, it doesn't matter which one or ones operated at the time.  The fact that nothing changed after the embargo shows an astounding lack of foresight and strategic planning on the part of every automaker of that period.  Placing funds into research and development of alternative fuel sources in 1974 would have averted the choke-hold oil-producing nations have on the world today.

Congratulations to the automakers of the 70's for putting on blinders and merrily conducting business as usual.