Why do we pay more than anyone else for gasoline?

Why do we pay more than anyone else for gasoline?

EDITOR:

Having noticed that gasoline prices here in the Youngstown area are always higher than prices everywhere else around us, I have been tracking prices in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Akron-Canton, etc. for the past few years.

Indications are that we are always 10 to 20 cents higher per gallon than everywhere else, and sometimes we have been as much as 30-40 cents above our neighbors. Our price changes also lag everywhere else by 1-2 weeks or longer. What gives? I called Tim Ryan’s office and asked that he or someone there investigate this but have received no feedback and have not seen any news story suggesting they are doing (or more importantly, saying) anything about this. Perhaps The Vindicator should assign a reporter to look into and report on this situation. There is no reason I can see that we should always be behind the curve and with prices so far above our neighboring communities so continuously and consistently for so long.

Although I don’t normally subscribe to notions of price fixing, it certainly seems to be happening here. As an example, prices in Cleveland on Nov. 23 were around $1.60/gal and around $1.64/gal in Akron-Canton while our price was around $1.80/gal. If you are as bothered by this as I am, you might want to contact Congressman Ryan or other of our local politicians and complain and ask for them to investigate this situation. Unless we citizens make this an issue and get involved we’ll all be paying these exorbitant gasoline prices forever.

MICHAEL J. NOVAK

Austintown

GM and its workers are an asset to the Valley

EDITOR:

I retired from General Motors 10 years ago. I am saddened and shocked at the number of people who don’t like anyone who works or retires from General Motors. The people I am referring to are the people in our own community.

I listen to 570 AM talk radio everyday. Ever since General Motors asked for a loan to restructure the company, the hateful people have popped up everywhere.

They want to see General Motors go under and do not want the retirees to receive health benefits or their pensions. I have never begrudged anyone that made a good living.

I worked hard for 33 years, retired with a pension and health benefits, and because of that, people hate you.

I have always bought General Motors cars, and my paychecks are spent at the Eastwood Mall, local restaurants, stores and grocery stores. I have given back to the community, yet it is this very community that wishes I didn’t get any benefits or a pension and don’t care if General Motors goes under.

These hateful people have a misconception about how much I make, how much health benefits I have and how hard I worked.

Isn’t it sad to think that the neighbor down the street, or the person standing next to you at the store, the people in your own community, don’t care if you lose your job or your pension?

PATTY TOWNSEND

Liberty

Bail out the average Joe

EDITOR:

Why don’t we bail out the consumer? Aren’t we all tired of hearing why we should have to bail out GM, Ford or Chrysler, on top of the numerous financial and insurance industries failures? They were the ones who negotiated contracts that paid their employee’s higher than the average college graduate earns. They were the ones who refuse to follow the lead of competitive countries and make smaller, more fuel efficient cars. They were the ones who spent more than they made on outlandish office space, elaborate meetings, outrageous bonuses and larger-than-supported inventories.

My suggestion is bail out the average Social Security recipient, double the monthly allotment from an average of $938 month to $1,800. This would allow all a decent living. This money would be respent back in the economy and the government would collect the additional tax revenues. This would increase GNP, retirees would live better and longer and this would a save the nation from a likely depression.

It’s pretty much a fact that Japan, South Korea and Germany make better cars than the USA. Let GM, Ford and Chrysler figure their way out this solution without the help of the average Joe. After all, if the average consumer gets in financial trouble, their credit tumbles and the banks would turn them out in the cold. They are pretty much out of luck.

LANCE SMITH

Youngstown

Suppliers deserve a hand too

EDITOR:

I would like to add suppliers of American auto industry to the proposed government bailout list. I’ve been a supplier to the auto and electronics industries since 1969. Over the years, normal business cycles resulted in periods of good earnings and poor. This is a reality that anyone in business accepts as normal. However, for the past seven years my business has deteriorated to the point that I can now be considered a part-time worker. This is the direct result of outsourcing work overseas, not normal business cycles. These offshore suppliers are not burdened by costs related to Social Security, employee medical insurance, OSHA and EPA regulations, etc., nor are they required by law or conscience to pay their workers what we all consider to be a fair, living wage.

I am now being asked to pay for the gross mismanagement of the same auto industry whose practices have devastated my business. The automakers should be asking the beneficiaries of their outsourcing practices for help. Auto executives have shown no concern for the fate of American suppliers and their employees and families from whom they are now begging for money.

Management is not exclusively responsible for the financial crisis of the auto industry. The UAW needs to accept some responsibility. My sacrifices, as well as those made by other suppliers, have been significant. Before my tax money is used to bail out the industry, it would be good to know that the autoworkers are making greater sacrifices than contributing to their healthcare costs and allowing new hires to earn less than half their wage (no personal sacrifice at all to most UAW members).

ROBERT F. MOLLIC

Liberty Township

Time for the prices to fall

EDITOR:

When the price of gasoline started rising drastically, and went to just over $4 a gallon, all the grocery chains immediately raised the prices of their products and continued to until some had more than doubled. The price of gasoline has now decreased to lower than it was when it started to increase, yet not one grocery chain has started lowering the prices of products in their stores.

Because of the greed of the petroleum companies, banks, and home mortgage companies, our economy is going through very difficult times. Many companies have had to cut back and lay off employees. So there is less money coming into many households. Are the grocery chains going to do what is right and start lowering the prices in their stores to help consumers during these difficult times? Or are they going to become part of the “Greedy Gang”?

RAY F. LINEBAUGH

Youngstown