LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | Build a fuel efficient vehicle

To the editor:

The price of a gallon of gasoline has spawned all sorts of rumors, facts, figures and lies. President Obama stated he would try to get a pipeline  laid from Canada to the Midwest. He also wants to encourage petroleum  exploration off the southeastern seaboard. And he encourages the efforts to create more efficient gasoline engines and electric cars. None of this will affect the price of gas.

What does it take for the public to realize none of the above has anything to do with the price of gas? We live in a capitalist society, which means enterprise is the engine driving progress. Anyone in America can charge whatever they want for a product. The limit is when the consumer will not pay the price. Why not charge $100 for a gallon of gas? Because no one will pay that price.

A need for fuel efficient vehicles is known and those involved in the auto industry are scrambling to create a vehicle that will go a mile in a teacup of gas. The petroleum companies producing and selling gasoline know the public will pay the price as long as they can afford it. The really tricky part is how high can the price for gas go before the general public can no longer buy it. Five dollars a gallon is on the horizon and the price of gasoline will never go down to three dollars a gallon again.

Is the supply of gas scarce? A recent Associated Press story said there is “an ample supply” of gasoline in the U.S.

The only thing that will change this situation will be the invention of a more fuel efficient vehicle, be it electric, gasoline, hydrogen or whatever.

Richard M. Brauer

Langley

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