Gasoline prices fuel ongoing debate

Re “High Gas Prices Will Last Years, Bush Aides Say,” May 1

The White House chief of staff says the high gas prices are a problem built up over decades. He should know -- the Republicans have systematically opposed any beneficial changes to our energy policies for that long. They have held us hostage to the oil companies’ wishes, denied any serious attempts at developing renewable energy and kept Detroit producing gas guzzlers. We end up paying the price.

BEVAN MANSON

Santa Monica

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I see the Bush administration has warned that gas prices will continue to be high for the next few years. Let’s see, the next presidential elections will be in a few years. A coincidence? I think not.

LESLIE N. HERSCHLER

Garden Grove

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Re “Crude economics,” Opinion, April 29

Jonathan Williams inserted some clarity into the debate over who is to blame for $3-plus-a-gallon gasoline. Most proposed solutions to our high costs involve attacking big oil companies or requiring us to change our driving habits in some way. But, as Williams points out, the last time we tried a windfall profit tax back in 1980, domestic oil production dropped and foreign imports increased. The best long-term solution is to ease the restrictions on oil drilling, build new refineries and leave the oil companies alone to invest some of their profits in producing more refined oil as well as developing alternative fuels. Do we really care how much profit they make as long as the price of gas remains reasonable?

FRED FERKETIC

Newport Beach

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With all the economic geniuses and pundits in Washington and on Wall Street, how come none predicted the precipitous rise in gas prices?

LENORA LOWE

Pacific Palisades

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So where do we sign up for “A Day Without a Gallon of Gas”? The oil companies would sit up and take notice.

KIM RIGHETTI

Upland