Gas Prices

In all the hoopla about high gas prices, has anyone noticed that it happens at the same time every year? Just before spring break. Interesting. Then it stabilizes a little bit by Memorial Day, just in time for the peak-demand summer months, and then amazingly goes down again after Labor Day. Funny, that. It happens every year, like clockwork. I think OPEC and the oil companies are better friends than they would care to admit.

MATTHEW McFADDEN

Sherman Oaks

*

Recent soaring gasoline prices will have a major impact on our economy. Our local service station increased its prices by 6 cents per gallon overnight. Where is the leadership of Bill Clinton and Al Gore? How quickly OPEC cartel members forget our commitment to send American troops to protect their nations during Operation Desert Storm. Several American servicemen and servicewomen who “answered the call” gave their lives supporting the royal families of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Although I agree with suggestions about reducing state and federal taxes on gasoline, let’s apply some pressure on our “friends” who control the spigot.

LARRY GILBERT

Mission Viejo

*

It was just a matter of time before the demand for gasoline spearheaded by our love-of-SUV mentality pushed prices to their nearly $2-per-gallon level. Is it a case of not remembering the 1970s, when the Muslim fundamentalists took over Iran and OPEC had the world’s industrialized nations on their knees? Deja vu all over again!

If this isn’t insulting enough, we have a presidential candidate, George W. Bush, who attacks the current president for allowing this to happen, instead of telling the truth that we are energy gluttons (March 13). Does anyone really believe that global warming is a natural occurrence? We Americans should stop complaining about self-inflicted wounds and grow up to be global citizens.

JEFFREY SCHLUNTZ

Long Beach

*

The shoe is on the other foot now. People are screaming about the increase of about 12 cents a gallon at the gas pump. They can drive a smaller car. They can walk to the store. How many of these people who are so upset about having to pay more for gasoline voted for Prop. 10 to make smokers pay 50 cents more per pack of cigarettes?

NANCY L. LITTLE

Claremont

*

The fact that The Times and most Democrats are against repealing the 4.3-cent surtax reveals so much (editorial, March 15). This tax was imposed for deficit reduction. The deficit is gone. Repealing this tax would not bring it back. We are in surplus. The tax should go. But as always, Democrats never met a tax they didn’t like. This should be a lesson for everybody. Once a program or tax is established, Democrats will never let it be removed.

This also demonstrates the big Democrat lie: We’re for the little people. Just like the cigarette tax here in California, the gas tax hits low-wage earners the hardest by taxing them for something that they are addicted to or can’t do without. Why should a low-wage earner who drives a clunker to work have to put more into deficit reduction than you and I?

WARREN H. RAABE

South Gate