Readers sound off on oil, gas prices

It’s not about government stepping in and lowering prices or pumping more oil or going to Alaska in search for the promised plethora awaiting the American demand. The solutions are not solutions to get Americans off the dependence of foreign oil.  If Americans do not learn to stop consuming so much then our economy will crash. Yes. That is a bold statement. As our trade deficit grows, then our dollar will continue to devalue itself autonomously raising oil prices. The real solution is developing vehicles with alternative fuel or better yet developing better infrastructure. Public transportation in the U.S. is terrible and the road system is designed to waste more fuel. Stop lights waste fuel by having cars idle and so do stop signs. Roundabouts and give-way signs save tons of fuel. When will people learn to stop consuming?
          Steve C. -- Portland, Ore.

Gasoline prices are strictly the result of financial greed ! OPEC uses the media like a puppet to justify outrageous pricing and profits for crude, and the media report the lies just like it was the gospel. How naive of consumers and the media. If you want gas prices to drop, park your car for a week and prices will drop like a rock because the port storage facilities are full to capacity. This nonsense goes on year after year because OPEC knows consumers are really, really dumb and refuse to be inconvenienced, so they can be price gouged until the cows come home.
          Randy

I realize you cannot just force the automobile industry to change overnight.  But why is the government not working to force all passenger vehicles to be hybrid in a reasonable timeframe?  Our dependence on so much foreign oil effects our economy in such a drastic way, is killing the environment and while is not the only factor it certainly does not help on the terrorism front.  I'm very confused by the fact that the government seems to ignore this.
          Chris -- Weehawken, N.J.

I know a guy who has invented an engine which runs off of compressed air and does not use any fossil fuel. It is patented. It can be used in cars. He has presented his engine to our government and they won't even return his phone calls. Gee, I wonder whose interests they have in mind?
          Mike C. -- Orange County, Calif.

Since the price of diesel has gone up to the point I, myself, can not get my business off the ground.  The maintenance and inspection of my truck and trailers is cheap, but the price of fuel is just hurting my business to the point of not fully starting it until the prices comes down.  I hope the price comes down far enough to get my business rolling again.  Have the oil wells in Texas been closed shut permanently or temporarily?  True or False?
          Charles -- Pataskala,OH

EYE ON ENERGY Gas prices jump to record, could go higher Oil 'peak' not seen coming any time soon Can Saudi Arabia keep its oil promises? OPEC members pledge to pump more oil Have higher gas prices changed your habits?

The real reason: THE DECLINE OF VALUE OF THE DOLLAR. The price of crude (and gasoline) has NOT increased!!!   If you plot a graph of oil prices vs. the dollar decline, say against the euro - you will get the picture. Since oil is traded in "funny money" -- i.e. worthless dollars -- the producers want more of them. This is not rocket science.  And factor in the fact that steel and the energy used to produce steel are also traded in dollars you will see a catastrophic picture emerging. The commodity traders are using oil as a hedge against the dollar. Now why is the dollar falling? I'm waiting for that story!! So get on with the program and get the true facts out. Sorry for being so blunt but I'm tired of the media bull.
          John S. -- Sarasota, Fla.

Why doesn't Congress call the Oil Executives before them to explain what is going on? These companies and their top executives are getting richer by the quarter, as they continue to break new profit records across the board.  Why is that, are they taking advantage of the situation? Does anyone know what "Approximate Pricing Strategy" is?  Simply stated, it is where a Company/Industry keeps raising prices until they see a drop off in business.  Then they let the new price level settle in with the public, and then start all over again at a latter date to set a new higher level.  This is very effect in those segments of our economy which are dependent on the product/service. The Companies associated with energy production/distribution are practicing this strategy. Congress should at least call them before the public and grill them like they are trying to do the Ball Players.
         Larry F. -- Atlanta, Ga.

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