This letter was on my local OpEd page today: I think his points are valid. I would much rather have seen a $1/gallon tax to a. fund alternative fuels and b. discourage waste than see the prices get to where they are now, with the increases in profits we’re seeing. It’s a thin line between maximizing one’s leverage and war profiteering. With an administration led by oilmen, I doubt we’ll see any action taken on this: the health of the resource extraction sector is more important than the health of the nation.
The Seattle Times: Opinion: Letters to the editor:
When the same vehicle goes by my house several times a day, the price of gasoline is still too low. When people rush to a stop sign just to brake hard, the price of gasoline is still too low. When people accelerate rapidly from the same stop sign to ride the bumper of the car ahead, the price of gasoline is still too low. When people speed 10 to 15 mph (above the limit), the price of gasoline is still too low.
When a broadcaster at KOHO moves to Lake Wenatchee and now commutes at least 50 miles every day, the price of gasoline is still too low. When the same broadcaster jokes about riding a bicycle around town, the price of gasoline is still too low. When I see all the large SUVs, motor homes, fifth-wheel trailers and cars, the price of gasoline is still too low.
In short, until people reduce their consumption of gasoline by walking or riding a bicycle for trips around town, quit driving vehicles that waste gasoline and organize their lives to reduce the miles driven, the price of gasoline is still too low.
Many will complain this would reduce their quality of life when actually, a strong argument can be made that everyone’s quality of life will be improved by reducing our dependency on motorized vehicles through the reduction of noise and air pollution and the positive health benefits of exercise.
John Price, Leavenworth