This is in response to the columns printed June 22, one about gas prices by Paul Munshine, the other about the new tax on beer, wine, soda and such by J. Paul Spellman.

Beer is not oil. Profit on a product that is not vital and one that is makes the situation different.

Big oil is taking advantage of a bad situation. The proof is in record profits every quarter since the Iraq occupation. Government agencies would step in quickly if, for example, the price of water jumped by an equal percentage just because of an emergency.

Oil companies can dig on coastal land now, but won’t. Why should they, as long as they are making record profits? What they want are rights to drill anywhere. But if they got that, does anyone believe the price of petroleum products would go down?

John McCain is right: Oil companies should take part of those profits and put them into alternative energy. Every person, corporations, etc., should join together, as was done to win World War II, and work on alternative energy.

What I want is a president like Franklin Roosevelt, who can unite the nation for the good of all. I don’t care what political party he or she represents.

Peter Hart, Auburn