BusinessReport.com

Gassed

To the editor:

We as a nation need to cut back on the unnecessary trips we make so that gas prices will begin to drop [Daily Report, April 24]. There are so many people who just cannot afford $4 a gas to drive to/from work.

It is terrible that we let it get this far. To a large extent, we are responsible for what happens with the price of gasoline. Even though the price of gasoline is obviously very elastic, the basic concept of supply and demand will eventually bring the price down if we make sacrifices and either carpool or make fewer unnecessary trips.

Margaret C. Young, Baton Rouge

To the editor:

Something has to be done. The oil companies continue to rake in huge profits while driving everyone else into poverty. As gas increases, so does everything else—except wages. We need a major about-face in energy policy, and it does not appear there is one on the horizon.

Chris Herring, Baton Rouge

To the editor:

The gas prices are terrible, but there are not many alternative transportation options in Baton Rouge. This city is not a pedestrian- or bike-friendly place, and the bus system is not an option for me. I drive a smaller, gas-friendly car, live close to work and try to limit my driving. The only other option would be to get a hybrid car, but as of this moment I can’t afford it. I don’t know how people who have to drive a long way to work are affording it.

Denise Chaney, Baton Rouge

To the editor:

Senate committees have drilled oil company CEOs time and time again on what can be expected in the future and what they are doing to come up with alternative fuels. Do we honestly believe that they care? What is their incentive when they are pulling down record profits and doing their job? When does government finally step in and say enough? If the government doesn’t step in and really do something other than have special committee meetings, the price of gas alone will put this country in a recession.

Mark Vincent, Baton Rouge

To the editor:

I have started telling the numerous charities that call me for donations to call the oil companies for donations, since they continue to report record earnings.

Marilyn Dunigan, Baton Rouge

To the editor:

While I hate paying $4 a gallon as much as the next guy, I think that we may all benefit from the pinch. Europeans have been paying more than that for years now, and as a result, their understanding of fuel conservation and control of emissions is far more advanced than ours. We complain about the cost of fuel while we spend more on bottled water, never mind the fact that tap water in Baton Rouge is probably better than what’s in the plastic bottle. Cheap fuel has spoiled us over the years and allowed us to develop without concern for the efficient use of it.

Perhaps the more we’re forced to spend on fuel, the more we will be forced to focus on a viable solution to our dependency on oil. I think that we, as a nation, have the talent, the creativity and the engineering capability to create buildings, cars and machinery that offer the same levels of performance to which we’ve become accustomed, but consume far less fuel and produce far fewer emissions. However, the strong demand for these items has not been made by our leaders nor have such demands been made by us as consumers. Perhaps high fuel prices will change that.

Chris Remson, Baton Rouge

Race relations

To the editor:

I am an African-American male living in Baton Rouge. I am a native of Lake Charles but have lived here for 10 years now. I concur with your position that the dialogue on race has to take place in order for us to ever progress as a people [“Random Thoughts,” April 22].

In January, my mother, Rupert F. Richardson, passed rather suddenly. She was an avid equal rights advocate and was a longtime state and national NAACP president. I could think of no greater way to honor her legacy and also help a community I’ve come to consider home, than to take place in this YWCA discussions.

Thomas Clemons, Baton Rouge

To the editor:

Race relations could be helped here a lot if there were no Black Mayors Conventions/Conferences hosted by Baton Rouge, our mayor would cease endorsing politicians and there were no Black Caucuses. What happened to One Baton Rouge?

Kelly Peak, Baton Rouge

No more earmarks

To the publisher:

Until we untie the hands of local governments by changing the state constitution, local governments, NGOs and nonprofits will continue to come to Baton Rouge to ask for money [“Publisher’s View,” April 22]. It is what Huey wanted.

Local governments are severely limited in methods and sources for raising local revenues by our constitution. Why not open it up and let each community address its own needs? In doing so, it would become less reliant on state government … and it could dole out the local funds as it sees fit.

Don’t like the way your mayor or council are spending the money? Vote them out!

Sterling LeJeune, Lafayette

Central parked

To the editor:

The proposed pullout by Central is a lose-lose situation, resulting in a diluted BREC and a very weak Central park system [Daily Report, April 23]. Not to mention that Central residents would still benefit from the use of the BREC parks.

Samuel J. Herpin, Baton Rouge