Gas Prices

* Re “ ‘Government Knows Best’ Is Simple Arrogance,” Commentary, May 28: Arguing for U.S. oil companies, M. David Stirling says they have kept the price of U.S. gasoline four times lower than the cost in European countries for over 40 years. Had he mentioned that government taxes on European gasoline are four times higher than in the U.S., his case against Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer might be four times weaker.

I’ll forgive him that oversight. But when he praises each virtue of the American free enterprise system (generating tax revenues, jobs, wealth, etc.) and then calls the Justice Department and judicial officials “arrogant” and “ignorant” for enforcing laws designed to guard that very system--I get curious.

Is it arrogance that keeps Stirling from realizing that consumers and the system need protection from corporations that would control or stabilize the marketplace by monopoly or power--or is it ignorance?

J.B. THOMAS

Arroyo Grande