THE LOWER DEPTHS

USA TODAY tells us that another historic event happened last week. For the first time in more than a quarter of a century, Americans are cutting back on their driving.
We don't know the cause of this big trend reversal. The pundits are blaming high gas prices. Apparently, prices at the pumps are also hitting records - up to $3.18 per gallon on average.
If drivers really are cutting back because of the price of gasoline, it suggests that the consumer is weakening. A poll of consumer confidence says that the poor consumer's spirits have fallen to an 8-month low. And the housing problem seems in no hurry to go away. "Gloom settles over housing market," announces a weekend headline.
It appears that the world is in the grip of two major and contradictory trends. At the top, money has never been easier to get…nor have rich people ever been more eager to get rid of it. Money changes hands so fast…and in such volume…the markets and bankers are having trouble keeping up with it. Institutional investors have so much money they don't know what to do with it.
Meanwhile, down in the Lower Depths…the poor lumpen can't even afford to drive to the store to rent a movie. They're not earning any more money…while their costs continue to rise. Every year, we get a notice that a college has raised its tuition. Our insurance and health care costs seem to go up annually. Every time we fill up our tank…or eat in a restaurant…we get a nasty shock. True, the cost of fuel and food is higher in Europe than in America, but the trends go in the same direction. Thanks to our Dear Readers we have enough income to keep up with these expenses; but we wonder how most people are able to do it. Maybe this latest news on U.S. driving habits tells us something…that they can't.