East Aurora Advertiser

Editorial: Remembering the “A” Sticker


Most Americans, if they know about World War II rationing, know about it from a history book or second hand from someone of the Greatest Generation. So as complaints increase about the rising price of gasoline due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, consider the “A” sticker.

The “A” sticker entitled the owner of a car to three or four gallons of gas a week during World War II rations. Today a generous assumption of 30 miles per gallon means an “A” fill-up would provide about 120 miles of travel, roughly 17 miles a day today. Of course, back then the car owner was lucky to have decent tires because buying a new one was unlikely.

In short, the cost of sanctioning Russia is a small price to pay in the support of the Ukrainians in their effort to save their country while they take the brunt of the pain of holding Putin’s forces back from further expansion and an expanded war.

This nation, and to a greater extent, European nations, discouraged exploration and production of oil and natural gas. It is hard to conceive that Mr. Putin would not have seen his source of oil, gasoline and natural gas as a strategic advantage. 

While the production of oil from shale and other domestic sources is approaching pre-pandemic levels, increased investment in the means to produce more has been discouraged by recent public policy and attitudes. It is time this nation regains the energy independence that it had created. Security can be exported to our allies in the form of oil and LNG. There is no need to create a carbon versus an alternative choice when it is possible to do both. This isn’t a “guns or butter” choice.

In the short term, a voluntary “A” sticker ration is in order. This nation is on pace to use about 400 million gallons of gasoline per day. With about 290 million cars on the road, saving just one gallon of gasoline a week would reduce consumption by about10 percent. Planning short trips efficiently, car-pooling, shutting off the engine while waiting for passengers, better driving habits and walking more are some simple ways to save on gas. It’s one way to thank the people of Ukraine for standing up to Russia.

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