Fuels costs depend on consumers

To the editor:

Upset about high gasoline prices? From the mid-1980s to the late-1990s, Americans drove front-wheel drive cars that got mileage between 25 and 30 miles per gallon. Since the late-1990s, when gas was relatively cheap, we reverted to rear wheel-drive SUVs and pickups that averaged 12 to 15 mpg. Use of rear wheel-drive vehicles resulted in unnecessary fuel consumption.

I speculate oil companies refused to build more refineries here -- they require a long lead time -- because they may have incorrectly forecast that vehicles Americans would drive would be more fuel efficient.

Our prosperous economy bolstered the economies of China and India to the extent their successful populations increased demand for oil we want as well. When we invaded Iraq, our own operations and terrorist resistance have thwarted a major supplier. Refusal of our government to encourage drilling offshore and in Alaska placed less pricing competition against foreign sources of oil.

Auto manufacturers throughout the world are responsive to the demands of that all-powerful special-interest group: the American consumer. If we would simply refuse to buy cars until they were more fuel efficient, manufacturers would quickly provide them. The technology exists. My wife drove a Honda hybrid that averaged 40 mpg around town for four years. Her new Toyota hybrid is averaging 50 mpg. These cars are less complicated than your child's Game Boy. I have already informed several truck salesmen I'll not replace my Silverado until they offer a half-ton pickup that gets 30 mpg.

LARRY BILL, Jackson