As I drive past the gas pumps and see the price going up at the rate of 5 to 10 cents a day, I wonder what the reason for the increases really is. We have been told OPEC was the controller, then the war, then supply and demand, then no refineries.

All these may be excuses but you have to wonder: If the excuses keep changing, what is the real cause? Oil companies’ profits are at record highs and there seems to be enough gas to sell at the high prices.

Our president tells us we have to bear the burden but things will get better. The wealthy don’t really care, they can run their SUVs, pay their chauffeurs and go where and when they please.

Look at the trend; gas prices rise to an “ungodly high” then get lowered to “extremely high” and they expect us to be happy with that.

I don’t know what the solution is, but if something isn’t done the highways will belong to the rich while the poor and middle class get to walk or just stay home until they really need food or medicine, which is another story.

Timothy Smyth

Millinocket