‘Oil and Common Sense’

The Times has done it again. It has misused sophistry and statistics to try to separate motorists from their hard-earned money in the form of an increase in the gasoline tax. The principal rationale for proposing a gas tax increase seems to be that no one will notice. The editorial’s final paragraph begins, “Higher gasoline taxes would not be a hardship for consumers.”

How can The Times justify such arrogance? Does The Times really believe that motorists, i.e. truck drivers, secretaries, teachers and businessmen, won’t notice what they must pay every week to fill their gas tanks?

If The Times really does believe that people don’t care about the price they pay for gasoline, why not propose a statewide referendum on a gas tax increase? I think it would be overwhelmingly rejected.

LAWRENCE W. KNEISLEY

Torrance