How the Oil Industry Takes Us for a Ride

Re “Gusher to a Few, Trickle to the Rest,” May 13: The oil industry has created a separate empire that I believe we in the U.S. are just beginning to realize. Indeed, these alliances with many poor nations’ elites thrive as people starve. ExxonMobil’s beautiful housing compound in Angola is surrounded by children in poverty. ChevronTexaco is guilty as well.

The hard part is that the oil companies are doing our bidding. They are, and our government is, making alliances with these oppressive governments so we can have our gasoline.

To stop this greed for energy we must reduce our consumption first and foremost and, second, develop renewable fuels. Ethanol, a renewable fuel made from plant sources, is now blended into California gasoline. Ethanol is cheaper than gas, improves air quality and reduces our dependence on foreign oil. Why are we blending only 6% in this state when other states using ethanol blend 10%? Those same oil companies that support oppressive regimes have bought our legislators to work in their interests, keeping ethanol and other biofuels from being promoted.

Cindy Toy

Davis, Calif.

*

Having worked at Chevron’s Richmond, Calif., refinery, I have never understood why a vertically integrated industry like the oil industry cannot control costs. Oil goes up a few dollars a barrel and gasoline prices soar to historic levels. Perhaps there is no incentive to control costs. The oil companies cite the same excuses for raising prices year after year. They never seem to anticipate summer driving demand, tight supplies and environmental regulations. Who needs advance planning when you can jack up prices at will and make record profits?

Richard Deight

Buena Park