Gas Prices

It's hard not to laugh as we listen to Republicans attacking President Barack Obama over sky-high gas prices. As we all know, the Republican Party has long been in the pocket of the oil and gas industry, allowing them to reap obscene profits during the eight-year reign of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney at the expense of the American consumer. Where were these Republican hypocrites then, when gas prices reached $5-a-gallon in some states? Perhaps, it's time for President Obama to revisit the windfall profit tax on the oil and gas industry which he shelved in a show of bipartisanship when he took office four years ago. I suspect the mere threat of this would send gas prices tumbling.

Isn't it funny, when gas prices were going up all we heard from the Republicans was how gas prices were totally President Barack Obama's responsibility, and how every cent we were paying was all due to his administration. Oh yes, the Republicans told us, President Obama controls gas prices himself, and it was all his fault that gas was over $4 a gallon. But what do you know, gas prices have been going back down again. And since the Republicans swore on their "honor" that everything is totally under Mr. Obama's control, that can only mean that it is entirely President Obama and no one else that has brought those prices back down for us. Thank you so much, Mr. President!

Letter writer Ron Wirsing seems to have a conveniently short memory when it comes to gas prices ("Obama's policies mean we will soon see $5 gas," Feb. 24). He wants to "go back to 2008 prices. " I remember 2008 gas prices well, as I had a service business at the time. Gas was $4.20 a gallon for regular. This was duringGeorge W. Bush's presidency. When President Bush came into office in 2002, gas was only $1.40 a gallon. So gas tripled in price during the time Mr. Bush was in office.

Dear Mr. President: So far your election strategy can best be summed up as: "We're on the right track, my economic policies are working, we still have a long way to go, but stick with me and you'll be fine. " I'm afraid this won't be enough to win you the election. The recovery is too anemic, and the chance of an economic stall between now and Election Day far too high. Even now, Mitt Romney's empty "I'll do it better" refrain is attracting as many voters as your "we're on the right track.

After two years without seeing an increase in their Social Security checks, more than 59 million retirees and other beneficiaries can expect a bump up in benefits next year. The Social Security trustees' annual report released this month estimates that the cost-of-living adjustment in next year's checks will be 0.7 percent. The increase, which will be announced in October, could be higher, depending on where prices head in the coming months. Still, experts say, retirees could see all or some of that raise eaten up by higher Medicare premiums.

So, gas is going up to $5 per gallon, probably more. Hey, this could be a real problem. In fact, it's a huge problem for the hard-working Americans, especially those in the lower middle class. We have to do something about it. An example: Joe Doaks drives his SUV 20 miles one-way to work, 40 miles total. He gets 10 miles per gallon so he burns up four gallons just back-and-forth to work. At $5 per gallon, that's $20 and climbing. And he's not giving up his SUV. The problem is, he only makes $10 an hour, no benefits, so he will be working two hours a day just to cover his transportation costs.

President Barack Obama deserves a hearty "Thank You" from the millions of Americans who are alarmed by historically high gasoline prices for unveiling his sure-fire fix of the problem: tune-ups, algae, windmills, proper tire inflation, the Chevy Volt and a pipeline to nowhere ("Facing heat over gas price rise, Obama vows to speed pipeline's southern leg," March 24). Barry C. Steel, Phoenix

We were told during the eight years of the previous administration that high gas prices were a result of evil, greedy oil companies and the Bush/Cheney ties to that industry. Now we are told that high gas prices are a result of evil, greedy oil companies and the Republican-led Congress. Now there's change we can believe in. Dave Reich, Perry Hall

How come the gas prices went up every day for the past month and a half when the price per barrel of oil went up, but now the price of a barrel of oil dropped almost $15 and not one gas station has dropped their price per gallon. Someone needs to check on the oil companies and see why prices have not come down and what are the oil companies doing with all their profits. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. If we had to pay when the price went up, we should get the benefit of lower prices when oil prices drop.

I have a confession to make: In a recent story about perpetually increasing gas prices, The Sun quoted Susan Sutter as saying "someone is lining their pockets, and it sure isn't me" ("Gas-pocalypse?" Jan. 7). I must admit - it's me. Am I among the 1 percent? An oil company executive? A Saudi prince? Nope. I'm just a normal Baltimore resident. Well, mostly normal. I am a little unusual in that I don't have a car (in fact, a third of Baltimore households don't). Instead, I go everywhere by bicycle and transit.

The argument for increasing oil production in the U.S. to decrease gas prices at the pump has sparked passionate debate, but it undervalues the influence of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). In recent years, OPEC has shown an ability to manipulate the price of oil around the world, making it unlikely for an increase in U.S. oil production to reduce gas prices. However, this unfortunate fact has a silver lining: OPEC's need to sustain its market base and hold off the alternative energy industry is likely to keep oil prices from skyrocketing.

Maryland has joined a club to which most don't want to belong: States where the average gas price is $4 or more per gallon. According to AAA Mid-Atlantic Thursday, Maryland's average gas price hit $4 a gallon, or 6 cents than the national average. In Baltimore, motorists pay an average of $3.99 a gallon, down from $3.65 a year ago. The difference between gas prices across the state is about 50 cents. The priciest fuel, at $4.30 a gallon, is sold in Bethesda; while motorists can find gas as low as $3.80 per gallon in Kennedyville on the Upper Eastern Shore to Ridgely in Caroline County, AAA reported.

Never have I agreed more with Susan Reimer than I did with her column on gas prices ("Driving force behind high gas prices: me," April 2). Has anyone ever seen more than 10 percent of cars with more than one person within and each one with an unnecessary errand? There still remains primarily one 150-pound person per 3,000-pound automobile, and they all have trouble entering the highway. They all, like I, will start a car and drive two miles just to pick up a tube of toothpaste, so why get upset?

As Baltimoreans watch gas prices soar above $4, it's worth asking: why don't we have a better public transportation system? Do we lack the imagination? In decades past, we had the imagination to fund and build our port, our tunnels and bridges, and what is now BWI Thurgood Marshall airport. They're vital everyday elements of life in Maryland now, but they took conviction at the time to build. Today, our legislators need a similar conviction to fund and build the east-west Red Line transit project.

Gasoline prices continue to climb, and the Republican presidential candidates would have us believe that this is the direct result of President Barack Obama's energy policies. They say that if only he would get out of the way of the oil companies and stop dreaming up ever more environmental regulations, we'd all be paying $2.50 a gallon. They are wrong, of course. Gasoline prices are high because demand is high. And while the unquenchable thirst for petroleum in India and China has a place it all of this, it is mostly my fault.

Campaigning for office, President Barack Obama promised to do something about high gas prices, but now he is denying he can do much about what Americans pay to drive. He is too modest. In September 2008, Steven Chu said to The Wall Street Journal: "Somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe" - and Barack Obama picked him to be secretary of the Department of Energy. When President Obama was inaugurated, gas was selling for $1.90 a gallon, and it is now nearly $4. Not quite European levels, but doubling gas prices is a good start.

Are you factoring additional fuel costs into your travel plans for this spring and summer? Here are some additional tips and thoughts from experts I spoke with for the story that Hanah Cho and I wrote about the impact of high gas prices on travel: The current trend of adding fuel surcharges on top of base fares is infuriating, said consumer travel advocate Christopher Elliott. “They have the gall to quote you this low base fare when no one is able to pay that,” he said.

I am one of the owners of Ray Adolph's Citgo on York Road in Lutherville. Earlier this week, our station was mentioned in an editorial ("A dime's worth of difference," May 23) for having gasoline prices more than 10 cents higher than neighboring stations. While that was accurate, I would like to enlighten the general public as to what occurred that week. On May 9, our station was posting a competitive price for fuel. But looking ahead, I saw on my supplier's web site that the cost of fuel was going to be 10 cents per gallon higher on Tuesday and 20 cents by Wednesday.

President Barack Obama deserves a hearty "Thank You" from the millions of Americans who are alarmed by historically high gasoline prices for unveiling his sure-fire fix of the problem: tune-ups, algae, windmills, proper tire inflation, the Chevy Volt and a pipeline to nowhere ("Facing heat over gas price rise, Obama vows to speed pipeline's southern leg," March 24). Barry C. Steel, Phoenix

Our country and state face serious challenges. Too many people are unemployed. Gas prices are too high. And President Barack Obama is not helping to solve these problems - in fact, he's making them worse. We need only look at the records of our candidates to know who is the best person to replace President Obama. Newt Gingrich has forced big changes before by winning big debates. He's proved he can do it. As House speaker, Newt reformed welfare, lifting millions of Americans from poverty.