Posted September 8, 2005

     Perhaps there are such things as coincidences. Just two weeks ago in our August 25 issue, we editorialized on energy, particularly on the necessity to conserve gasoline and to find other energy sources. This was a week before Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast. When South Boston Online hit the streets a fortnight back, we had no idea how much damage Katrina would cause.

      Now we know that our energy supplies are far more vulnerable than we thought. Refineries and pipelines have run at full capacity for years. Katrina knocked out 15% of them, many of which will take weeks to bring back on line. Three-dollar gas, along with spot shortages, are here to stay, at least until year-end. Heating oil won't be much less.

      There is one major conservation step whose time has come. It is time to stop forced busing of Boston's public school students - it is, purely and simply, a waste of precious diesel oil and gasoline.

     There are many reasons to act now. With gasoline, diesel oil, and heating costs escalating, we cannot afford forced busing any more. It is estimated that forced busing already adds $30 million a year to the city's transportation costs. That's equivalent to one new (or completely renovated) school every twelve months. Would anyone like to estimate how much forced busing will cost at the new fuel prices?

     In addition, busing never worked. It didn't help - it hurt schooling. And Boston's schools are no more diverse now than they were a generation ago. Furthermore, Boston's school system needs the improvements that can only come from more neighborhood schools, charter schools, and exam schools. Conservation savings can be used to fund these schools, which accept diversity as a prime, "unforced" goal.

     Finally, we are no longer going to have completely reliable gasoline/diesel oil supplies, at least through 2006. Katrina showed us that. It is wrong to continue any government program that uses fuel inefficiently. There were some parts of the country that ran out of gas for short periods after Katrina. It could happen here.

     America is now bordering on a national emergency. That's bad enough, but it could become more serious as winter approaches. Remember, we are less than halfway through the hurricane season. What if another Katrina shows up?

     We are sure that the official reaction to the elimination of forced busing will be negative at first - "It can't be done; don't even ask." Just recall the negative reaction to lifting the state's gas tax temporarily. And even sillier, politicians are now covering themselves by talking of a "gasoline price cap". That didn't work in the 1970s; it won't work in 2005.

     Given enough political will, busing can certainly can be stopped. We must not take "No" for an answer. If our elected officials refuse to consider it, given our current energy situation, then it's time to find some new elected officials. What will our officials say when there isn't enough gas or diesel fuel in Boston to run the school buses? The Davis-Bacon Act can be suspended during national emergencies. Why not busing?
There are many other ways to save energy, such as adjusting school hours and upgrading insulation, but let's focus on getting rid of forced busing. Its time has come and gone. In fact, it's long overdue. Perhaps Katrina will do some good after all.