Re: “Local gas prices still high,” Daily Mail, Aug. 10 (SDN 8.10)

Let me start by saying I don’t like paying high prices for anything, especially a needed commodity such as gasoline. However, I choose to live in Summit County. I choose to work in Eagle-Vail and thus choose to bear the additional transportation costs. My family chose to forego a long road trip to see the grandparents this summer. Do you see a pattern here?

Fuel stations, and oil companies, too, are operating in a relatively free enterprise system whereby the laws of supply and demand will dictate prices. In other words, they can set any price they want.

As consumers, we have to make a choice as to pay what they charge, or not. Just because prices fall elsewhere around the country what law or regulation or anything else requires a local gas station to change its own prices?

If oil companies are making big profits, more power to them. This is America, right? Sounds like a good time to have part of my investment portfolio with Big Oil. If people will be pay $4.09, that is what they will charge.

As consumers, we need to make our own choices — carpool, bicycle, mass transit. Maybe the choice is for you to open your own gas station and sell fuel for, say, $2 a gallon. I know I would buy fuel from you and hey, if you can stay in business at that price — great! The other companies would be forced to adjust their prices accordingly.

According to www.gasbuddy.com, the current average price in Sedgwick County, Kan., near Wichita is $3.48. IF the price of gas is the number one lifestyle factor for you, the choice is obvious.