Simply use less gas
There are only two ways to decrease gas prices in the short run: increase supply (increase imports) or decrease demand (use less gas). Those are our only options. Increase supply or decrease demand.
Only OPEC has any substantial control over supply. Bush pleaded with OPEC for an increase in supply and they rebuffed him with "mismanagement of the United States economy (is to blame) for the current high prices." Whether Bush's actions are to blame is irrelevant. OPEC is unwilling to increase output in the short run.
Several writers have suggested that Bush's plan to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will alleviate high prices by increasing non-OPEC supply. Unfortunately there just isn't enough there. Reputable estimates suggest that if drilling started today it'll take 15 years to bring the product to market, lowering gas prices by approximately $.01 per gallon. Yes, that's right, one cent, 15 years from now.
So, what to do? Use less gas. Trade in that Grand Cherokee (13 miles per gallon) for a Focus (32 mpg). And while you're trading it in, take that yellow ribbon off your gas guzzler. If you don't think that Iraq is about oil you're just not paying attention.
Chris Young
Traverse City
End the war
Appoint Bush and Cheney as dictator and assistant dictator of Iraq. It wouldn't be long before al-Qaida would be too broke to function or even survive. Al-Qaida would lose their houses, and they couldn't afford to buy ammunition; their guns would be useless. They would get their vehicles repossessed, couldn't afford gas to go to work, the price of food would go so high they couldn't afford to eat. They wouldn't be able to afford to buy shirts for their backs; the desert sun would just boil them away.
Maybe Dick could take his gun and leave his friends at home. There's al-Qaida over there to take hunting. Maybe there should be a collection taken to buy two tickets to Iraq -- one way! Funny how the two who started this whole mess could end it. The price on a barrel of oil rises, so be it on a bushel of wheat. Do you suppose George and Dick have a recipe to make bread from oil?
Joseph R. Pelky
Manistee
Tacky tourist attraction?
What were they thinking? The new construction at the southwest corner of Three Mile and U.S. 31 will no doubt take the prize as the most hideous building in this area. It's across the street from the Traverse City State Park Beach and East Bay, and yet the facade depicts a snowy mountain scene, with a few spruce trees as part of the mural. Everyone can see the real spruce trees immediately behind the building!
The most bizarre addition to this monstrosity is the gigantic fiberglass statue of a snarling grizzly bear. We were wondering if they might care to replace it with another symbol of northern Michigan -- a white elephant. Was this building plan approved by the zoning board of East Bay township? If so, is this really what they want folks to think about when they are entering the Traverse City region?
Lois Goldstein and John Heiam
Williamsburg
Print this story
E-mail this story
