We're trying, even if government is not

It's summer, those months of mirth when we make more room for fun. It's prime vacation-taking time.

Only this summer we're less laid-back. It's harder to relax. The economy has us on edge.

We've been here before, through recession after recession. And we've hunkered down, weathered the financial storms, and put the bad times behind us.

But this economic slowdown feels different.

It's harder to see the light at the end of the tunnel, as much as we squint.

And in large part it's because something has happened to our economy that is not going to change. That is, the high cost of gasoline. And we know a gallon of gas is not going to come down in cost, as it did with previous price spikes. If anything, it is going to keep rising.

Yet we do more than stay idle in worry.

We adapt. It's hard, but we adapt.

We are cutting back on vacations, to save money. Maybe a short weekend getaway, but fewer trips to faraway places that require expensive airline tickets to get there.

We are trying to correct our mistakes. We are starting to exchange gas-guzzlers for cars that get better mileage. The demand for hybrid vehicles is so strong that many dealers are having to put customers on waiting lists for these high-mpg means of travel.

We are reacting as quickly and nimbly as we can to an energy crisis that is unlike any other we have been through.

If only we can say the same about government.

We look to Washington, and don't see an urgent, realistic policy to truly reduce our use of expensive gasoline now and over the long term. All we get are electioneering gimmicks.

Locally, we have a fine public transportation system. If expanded and made more accessible, more of us would doubtlessly use it. Perhaps we would even pay more for such, if we are given the chance to make such a sacrifice. But the state can't even find a way to pay for what is in place now, let alone make mass transit more massive.

And we don't see many local governments urgently exploring, on their own, what they can do to help offer more alternatives to car travel within the suburbs. Even simple things that can save gasoline aren't readily apparent to local governments. Such as urgent regional cooperation in traffic signal timing. Or agreeing to use government cars only when necessary, or reducing vehicle fleets. Or cutting out costly out-of-state travel.

Pay hikes for public officials, though, never get off the agenda. We sacrifice. Those who take our money in the form of tax dollars don't.

Sure, we have to take much blame for an alarming energy crisis. Instead of conserving, we got greedy in use of energy. But at least we're taking some steps to save fuel, requiring sacrifice we have forced upon ourselves.

Even as we wait for government to be as quick to grasp the severity of the problem and act accordingly, as we have.