Letters to the Editor
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Conservation is for losers
Okay so why does America pay less for gas? One reason might be we have the best economy (or did anyway). Gasoline taxes are probably lower here than in other countries. And of course exchanging crude oil for American dollars used to be a wise choice. Are the world energy markets uniformly priced, and fairly conducted? There is consternation at present, that oil is sold off market, and the major exporters want to reprice in Euros, or Yen, but maybe the market never was fair or fairly priced. We were always the big kid who pushed to the front of the line, and we could bring military power to bear, (and we still do).
American politicians learned that conservation measures means you have failed to play the game well. Raising the speed limits and building bigger, fatter cars means you get the best prices, and all the oil you want, right? Conservation is for losers. Cheap little tin-can imports are a symbol of economic stagnation, or worse. I bought a new Honda Civic in 1975, 35 mpg, front wheel drive. Those were the dark years of course, lines at the gas pumps.
I mean the message is clear, and who uses the most doesn't pay the most. At least that's the way it's always been.