Many Oregonians are starting off 2018 in a snit over a new law that allows some patrons to pump their own gas.
Since 1951, the state has banned self-service gas stations, but that all changed on January 1 with a new law revoking the ban for cities with a population of 40,000 or less. And the “beavers” are not thrilled with the idea.
KTVL News 10 asked its fan base what they thought about the new law on its Facebook page, and the number one complaint seemed to be that the industrious beavers do not know how to pump gas. Just take a look at some of these responses:
Sandy Franklin: I don’t even know HOW to pump gas, and I am 62, native Oregonian…..I say NO THANKS! I don’t want to smell like gasoline!
Tina Good: Not a good idea, there are lots of reason to have an attendant helping, one is they need a job too. Many people are not capable of knowing how to pump gas and the hazards of not doing it correctly. Besides, I don’t want to go to work smelling of gas when I get it on my hands or clothes. I agree Very bad idea.
It is pretty handy and convenient just to have an attendant take care of everything for you, especially when traveling. However, until this year, Oregon and New Jersey were the only states in the nation that prohibited people from pumping their own gas. The theory behind the original ban stemmed from concern over handling hazardous and explosive materials by the untrained populous. But that was decades ago, and we’ve come a long way since then.
Today it is almost impossible to drench oneself in gasoline or cause an explosion – unless it’s intentional, of course. As David Poole sarcastically posted on KTVL’s Facebook page: “pumping gas is hazardous so you want MINIMUM wage people in charge of that?”
It’s not that Oregonians are lazy – well, maybe a little – it’s more of a fear of change. It’s ludicrous to think that most of the State’s population is legitimately terrified of pumping gas on their own. It would be the scarce person who has never had to self-serve their vehicles. This exceptional individual will have never traveled to another state where there aren’t any self-service gas stations; doesn’t own a car or drive, or has someone (a spouse) take care of these tedious matters.
But the complaint of “what, I have to do it for myself? Someone else can’t do it for me?” is a common grievance from the left. Pampered doesn’t even begin to describe this attitude. For decades, the majority of the nation has been filling its gas tanks without the help of attendants. I can remember walking to the gas station with a coffee can to get gas for the lawnmower as a child, pumping the explosive liquid myself, then carefully walking back while trying to keep the stuff from sloshing over the sides.
Cheer up Oregonians; the new law doesn’t make it mandatory for all gas stations to go to self-serve. They still have the option of keeping attendants on hand to make sure you don’t blow yourself up or spill gasoline on your trousers.
