Letters to the Editor
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Another Band-Aid Approach to Buy Votes
I disagree with this article. A temporary federal tax reduction of 18 cents is essentially meaningless and a true ploy to buy votes. The price of gas is determined by supply and demand, those who bid on commodity futures due to world events, and the current value of the dollar. In the last 18 months, the price has skyrocketed on these factors alone.. many times the 18 cent proposed reduction. If people feel a sense of relief from this change, they will be freer with their summer driving habits, and push up demand as is typical this time of year. The prices will continue to rise with or without this proposal, and seem destined to reach $4 or even $5 a gallon soon. We need to change our past habits.. fewer trips into town, fewer long distance trips, sharing rides with others.. and the longer term approach of switching to (and demanding ) fuel efficient vehicles and getting serious about finding alternative sources of energy. Its time for America and the US Gov't to stop thinking of short-term, band-aid fixits and plan for the very real changes that we have to deal with as a result of so many other thriving economies ( China, India, Russia, Brazil to name a few ) competing with us for finite resources.