Gasoline Prices

* Ninety-five cents for a gallon of that precious 87-octane when only a month and a half ago I was paying $1.30 and two years ago it was around $1.50. Have gas prices just suddenly arbitrarily dropped? I doubt a simple supply-and-demand curve can explain this one.

Why is it that in the midst of a threat of another Persian Gulf conflict gas prices dropped? Maybe “Wag the Dog” isn’t so farfetched after all.

I must admit that whenever one deals with a product that is essential to the economy, skepticism can be uncontrollable. But a 10-year backtrack in nominal gas prices is almost absurd--not that I am one to complain.

Now, weeks later, gas prices are headed back up, and I’m still looking for an explanation of why they went down in the first place. I’m not necessarily looking for a conspiracy or some underhanded political scheme, I just have a hard time getting a straight answer from anyone.

CHAD BERMAN

Moorpark College Student

Camarillo