50 Years Ago

By Staff
Current gas prices are ridiculous. Out-of-control ridiculous. Citizens-should-be-outraged ridiculous.
After Hurricane Katrina, the United States saw gas prices reach higher levels than at any time in history. We were told then it all had to do with refineries being down, supply lines interrupted, shipments delayed, etc.
Well, now the prices are right back up in the stratosphere, conveniently just in time for summer travel, and what's the reason now?
According to some prognosticators, gas prices could reach $4 per gallon by next summer.
High gas prices hurt us in a number of ways. Obviously, we pay more out of pocket at the pump, but also since many Americans rely on cross-country truck delivery of food and other goods, higher gas prices mean higher consumer costs for other things.
According to constitutional attorney and author John Whitehead in a recent press release from the Rutherford Institute, the Senate Judiciary Committee recently introduced a bill that would increase competition in the oil and gas industries, therefore reducing the monopolies and large profit margins currently enjoyed by several giant companies.
Big oil officials, of course, blame auto companies, and the auto companies in turn blame big oil. But the facts are that nearly all American car companies are losing money, while the oil giants are raking in record profits.
There are movements on the Internet for Americans to boycott certain big gas companies, but it hardly seems realistic to think that a grass-roots boycott of that nature would cause the company to lower prices.
Our government, despite the fact that it is led by a president who is deeply connected with big oil companies, should take action.
There is no way we believe that in a country as powerful as ours, some short-term relief could not be found somewhere. Release some oil from the strategic reserve, grant some immediate aid to build more refineries, sanction price-gouging oil companies, or perhaps there is some other viable way to help.
Citizens need to raise their voices and let our leaders know that we are drowning under high gas prices, and we must take steps to combat the problem.