Editor, The Times:
Re: Redo the math with federal and provincial gas taxes
I write this letter with mixed emotion, both anger and disgust (I should have patented that phrase; it seems that everyone wants to use it!). At least it got the attention of a lot of people.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Borrow for the compliment, "... well respected business person of the community." However, I have not been in business for three years. I've had a knee joint replacement and am still waiting for a back operation. This makes me a physically handicapped pensioner on a "fixed income." If I were still in business, I'd be writing these ridiculous fuel costs off as a business expense rather than writing letters to the editor.
Converting fuel to U.S. gallons was done to compare the difference in price, and please don't be so naïve as to think that the U.S. doesn't have gas taxes. (And yes they are included in the price at the pump.)
You seem very fixated on my six five-gallon jugs. With the number of times I've fuelled up at your stations, you must have noticed that my vehicles also have gas tanks. Fueling up in Kamloops not only saves enough to pay for the drive, but it also leaves enough for a nice lunch at Duffy's Pub and enough time to shop at Costco, Wal-Mart, and Superstore. Now, "redo the math."
Mr. Borrow said that in June, 2008, fuel was $1.43 per liter. Wow. What is this? It's called "Because we can." Last week, the price in Golden was the highest in B.C. Why? "Because we can."
It's time people got together and said, "Enough is enough." "No you can't." Call your M.P. Force the government to lower taxes on fuel and scrap the carbon tax. Remember, we are the government.
I find this strange: on Nov. 30, I submitted my letter to the editor. On Dec. 1, fuel prices in Clearwater dropped from $1.21.9 to $1.08.9, stayed there for several days, then went up to $1.19.9. What's up with that? I guess some corporate person in Calgary went on vacation and took his hand off the gouge button. However, he's back now and things are back to normal, or maybe in the head offices of corporate greed, they are showing old age pensioners that even the oil companies are living on a "fixed" income.
Jim Lamberton
Clearwater, B.C.
P.S. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the people who have phoned to tell me how much they agree with my opinion.