We’re All at Fault for High Fuel Costs

We have no one to blame but ourselves for America’s dependence on unreliable oil supplies and market forces (“Supply Fears, Speculators Pumping up Oil Prices,” April 24).

U.S. oil production has been in steady decline since 1970. We have responded by driving bigger vehicles.

We haven’t taken serious steps to move to alternative fuels, while poorer countries like Brazil have made tremendous strides in this area and are now oil independent.

And we have badly underfunded urban mass transit and intercity passenger train systems.

The politicians and people of this country need to stop pretending the oil companies are holding us hostage. We have done that to ourselves through our shortsightedness over the last 35 years.

Matt Mason

Los Angeles

*

My prediction is that this current elevation of gasoline prices won’t be going away anytime soon. We’ll never see $2-a-gallon gasoline again.

For me, an automobile is only transportation -- period. I don’t try to impress anyone with a big macho-type piece of junk getting 10 to 12 miles per gallon. Those of you who are paying $75 to fill your tank, you deserve what you’re getting.

As for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, they also deserve what they’re getting: huge losses. So long as they emphasize overpriced and overweight gas guzzlers, they can expect no change.

Arnold Daitch

Northridge

*

Gas consumption rises with higher speeds. To save fuel costs, one only needs to slow down.

I occasionally have need to drive up Interstate 5. I follow the rule that the safest speed is to go with the traffic flow, so that I am passing few cars and few cars are passing me. In the left lane I still find myself driving 75 to 80 mph.

Maybe if gasoline hits $4 a gallon, the traffic will finally slow down. Or will it?

George Schroedter

Glendora