Gas prices, low income, and driving(or not)

Well, lately there has been lots of media attention on the continually rising gas prices; and, i think for good reason. While before the steadily increasing price was an inconvenience, it is now becoming prohibitively high for many, many Americans. While many of the news stories focus on those who have to stop going out as much, or drive to the mall fewer times, they seem to ignore those who are effected on an even deeper level then that. Where are the stories about the people who have to start choosing between medical care and being able to get to work; birthday presents or picking their kids up from school; even between what kind of food they are forced to buy or not being able to buy gas at all. Sure, the story of the man who sells his car and buys a motorcycle, reducing his weekly gas bill from 120 to 8 are endearing and show a fighting spirit, the story of the parent choosing between dental care and feeding his kid because he has to get to work don't seem to make it into the news

TIP
(New York Times, 5/24/08, "Teeth Gritted, Americans Adjust to $4 Gas" Jad Mouawad, Mireya Navarro)