Why are local gas

prices so high?

To the Editor:

Recently, I drove through Orbisonia and Shade Gap, Huntingdon County. I saw gas prices at $3.29 a gallon. Also recently, I drove through McClure, Selinsgrove and Danville on my way to the Poconos.

I consistently saw gas prices at $3.19 and $3.29 a gallon. I actually purchased gas in the Poconos for $3.01 a gallon. On the way home I purchased gas in Lamar, Clinton County, for $3.15 a gallon.

As I drive past local gas sources in the Burnham and Reedsville areas, I continue to see $3.59 a gallon and $3.49 a gallon. I ask for someone from the gasoline distribution industry to explain why local gas pricing continues to be 30 to 40 cents higher per gallon than our neighboring counties.

Yes, I guess I am complaining but also curious for an answer from the businesses that distribute gasoline. I look forward to your reply via the “Readers’ Opinions” section in The Sentinel. Also, should a local gasoline distributor not reply then I invite the Sentinel to investigate the above noted gas pricing question.

Steve Swigart

Reedsville

Focus on criminals,

less on ICE raids

To the Editor:

I believe Trump is wrong with these endless ICE raids, trying to deport all these aliens who “crossed the border illegally.” He should get rid of the criminals and then call it a day.

Look at this from an alien’s point of view: Say there’s this guy in Honduras who has always thought it would be wonderful to live in the USA. One day, in January 2021, he hears that the border is open. Wow!

He packs up his family for the long walk. There’s hassle at the Rio Grande and getting through some barbed wire, but then an official takes their names, gives them a court date and tells them to be on their way. They end up somewhere in the country and set up some sort of viable existence. (I haven’t heard of any mass starvation of these people).

They get some healthcare and so forth. Then, all of a sudden, perhaps four years later, ICE people show up and tell them they have to leave. Does that meet any sense of fairness, whatever you think “fairness” means? I think, to the guy from Honduras, it would mean that the U.S. is run by a bunch of stupid bullies.

I feel, for a justice system to work, the consequences of illegal action must be timely. How would you like it if you got a letter from the police saying, “Guess what? Our speed tracker cameras have caught you speeding 38 times in the last five years and now you owe us $618 in fines.” Would you buy that?

Leaving the current situation aside, what should our immigration policy be? Those nincompoops in Congress can’t come up with one, because it might make the other party look good. But it’s not difficult: how about this?

Say there are 26 million people who want to immigrate. First, you set a number that you would allow each year then you simply have a lottery. Anybody in good health with no criminal record can apply. The lottery winners, when they arrive, are given provisional citizenship, which means that if they don’t do anything criminal for two years, they become full citizens. What’s wrong with that?

The bigger question is: who should be able to vote? One of the bases of successful democracy is that the electorate be educated as to political questions. We know today, from what we see in man-in-street interviews in the media (and perhaps our own experiences) that that is not the case all the time, principally among young voters.

What to do? Well, when they reach voting age, test them. A typical test, most likely given in multiple choice form, could look like this:

1. Name the president and the vice-president.

2. Who is the person who would take over in case the president and vice-president were incapacitated?

3. What are the differences between capitalism and socialism?

4. Who are the two U.S. senators from your state?

5. Who is your U.S. Representative in Congress?

6. Describe the two different sides of the climate change debate. (Do not choose one.)

7. What is NATO and what is it for?

8. Name five of the rights guaranteed in the Constitution under the Bill of Rights.

9. What are the elected terms of office of senators and representatives?

10. How does a Supreme Court justice get appointed?

Passing grade on this test would be 7 correct answers. If you fail, you would not be able to vote in this year’s presidential election, but you could try again in four years. Once you pass, you are eligible to vote until you reach age 80, when everybody would be tested again. Any questions?

John Brittain

Lewistown