Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life. Or another: Life is hard. It’s harder when you make stupid choices. Yes, gas is pushing $5 a gallon in plenty of places right now, and most folks are calling it highway robbery. Folks, it isn’t. Not even close.
Embrace the suck. Complaining about it will get you nowhere.
Here’s the cold, hard truth staring us in the face: if we lose a couple of refineries to sabotage, an accident, or they simply can’t keep up with demand in this mess, a station with $5 gas and all you can pump might become the hottest spot in the county—complete with lines around the block and “Sorry, We’re Out” signs by noon.
A couple of refineries go down? We could be looking at $10 gas and hard pump limits. Or no gas at all. Remember these signs?
We’re already seeing the warning shots. The ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz—through which about 20% of the world’s oil normally flows—has turned into one of the biggest supply disruptions in history. Tanker traffic is a fraction of normal. Dozens of nations have rolled out some form of fuel rationing. Think 10 to 20 gallons per week for regular drivers in places that have already pulled the trigger. That’s not a road trip limit. That’s “decide between groceries and getting to work” territory.
Some of us remember the fuel crisis in the 1970s and how we (or our parents) dealt with it. (For example, my dad travelled for work… we rented a 200ish-gallon gravity-fed tank to ensure he had fuel to drive.)
Amazingly, we’ve seen some pols in Illinois rage about gas prices.
Donald Trump called the affordability crisis “one good line of bullshit.” This was the price at the pump today in Lagrange. Now that’s bullshit! pic.twitter.com/1f574prBhi
— Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (@SpeakerWelchIL) May 2, 2026
Yet these same day drinkers don’t lift a finger to suspend fuel taxes and sales taxes on gas purchases. That would lop close to $1 off each gallon in our state right out of the gate.
What You Can Do Right Now (Because Hoping for the Best Is Not a Plan)
We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating louder: take concrete steps to mitigate a fuel shortage before it bites you.
- Keep your vehicle’s tank at ¾ full or better. If that means filling up every night instead of every week, do it. Waiting until morning when the pumps go dry leaves you walking.
- Invest in gas cans—now. At least 20 gallons of stabilized fuel stored safely at home for your truck, generator, chainsaw, or emergency vehicle. Farm stores, Walmart, or your local co-op have them for $15–20 each. Fill them, treat them with stabilizer, and rotate the stock.
- Rotate your old gas. Got some cans that have been sitting? Burn it in the mower or daily driver and replace it with fresh. Old gas is better than no gas, but fresh is better than old.
- No cans yet? Go buy them today. While you’re out, grab a battery-operated transfer pump from Harbor Freight (around $15, half that on sale). It beats wrestling with finicky spouts and Amazon replacements any day.
Gas isn’t just about driving. With it, you keep the generator humming for emergency repairs, run the sump pump when the basement floods, charge critical electronics, and—most importantly—keep the fridge and freezers cold so your food doesn’t spoil. Life stays manageable.
Without it? Life gets a whole lot harder, real fast.
This isn’t panic. It’s preparedness—the same mindset that keeps extra ammo on the shelf and a first-aid kit in the truck. The world is unpredictable right now. Smart gun owners don’t wait for the shortage to hit before they act.
Plan accordingly. Fill the tank, stock the cans, and stay ahead of the curve. Your family—and your freedom of movement—will thank you when the pumps run dry.
I would add: get or check and have handy fire suppression/extinguishers (can include dirt, cat litter, flour, fire blanket, etc) and be prepared to use it/them, store stockpiled fuel away from house in a garden shed or similar structure if possible. Just sayin’.