iSpeak on Gas Prices

Sharin Thomson, Organizer
1199SEIU
Long Island, NY

I do not agree. I feel the large companies and the government are making large sums of money and will continue to do so. They could be heroes: the first large company to order a decrease in prices would become the one company to make the most money because people never forget a kindness. Also we never forget a rip off.

Helena Prisco, Mental Health Worker
Maimonides Hospital
Brooklyn, NY

I do not agree. On Thursday, May 25th, gas prices in my area jumped about 10-15 cents in less than 2 hours. I am on Cape Cod. I believe the reason is greed. The tourists are coming for the weekend, the companies want to get as much as they can. In Boston people are paying about $2.96. We are paying about $3.09. It is just wrong.

Carole Spear, LPN
Falmouth Hospital
East Falmouth, MA

I do not agree. The government does nothing to stop the high prices. Bush has business  ties with oil companies.

Jose Quispe, CNA
Beach Terrace Care Center
Long Beach, NY

I do not agree. I think the President is to blame. He has the resources to make sure gas prices stays down.

Jedida Perrier, Secretary
Interfaith Medical Center
Brooklyn, NY

I do not agree. Just like in one's personal life, things are changed when we decide to take the appropriate action.

Unfortunately, we do not seem to have strong and savvy leaders who are willing to engage the status quo and either broker the right deal between big business, government and consumers, or legislate and enforce commercial laws that will that will stop the current pricing madness.

R. de Coteau, Diagnostic Imaging
Long Island Jewish Hospital
Queens, NY

I do not agree. We could find other ways to produce energy. We should stop relying on another country for oil. We should follow what other countries, like Brazil, are doing. [Creating agriculture-based alternative fuels —Editor]

We should also cut back on our driving. Buy small energy efficient cars. Go after the gas stations that are taking advantage of the customers.

Lucy Santos, RN
Beth Israel Medical Center
New York, NY

I do not agree. Because this government is on the side of big business.  They forget that working class people are the ones paying all the bills and doing the voting.  We need to conserve and to make businesses accountable. 

Isabel Lopez Wiener, Administrative Associate
Nyack Hospital
Upper Nyack, NY

I do not agree. We should have listened to Jimmy Carter, but instead continued on our path, dependent on and wasteful of oil, both foreign and domestic.  We need a national mass transit system (I notice you didn't even mention rail) and an alternative to individuals driving inefficient trucks for personal transportation.  Converting food (corn) into fuel to continue this irrational habit is immoral in a world with starving people.

John Metcalf, RN
St Vincent's Midtown Hospital
New York, NY

The giant oil companies should be regulated just as any other public service giant is regulated, such as Con Ed by the public service commission. All giant companies such as these should be government regulated. No, I'm not talking about the Home Depots, but larger companies, e.g. the gas and oil industries, that the public has to depend upon on a daily basis. The government should have stepped in a long time ago and capped the gasoline prices when it hit $2 a gallon. But our great President is an oilman himself, so there is no need to say more.

Frank Parisi, Cash Control Coordinator
Lenox Hill Hospital
Manhattan, NY

The price of gas and energy in general are a product of this government.  The prices are artificially inflated mostly due to the war and greed.  We the consumers are in a Catch-22. We need electricity and other energy as a way of life, but we do not need the gas guzzling automobiles that only make the rich richer!  The SUV's should stay parked until this crisis is over. The United States should concentrate on other forms of energy.

Kristine Simms
1199SEIU National Benefit and Pension Funds
New York City, NY

I strongly believe it is a total disgrace to have the Republicans as a majority.  They have always demonstrated poor financial leadership, and this term is the worst. We need to take back a leading role with strong representatives.

Debora L. Hunte, Professional & Technical Specialist
1199SEIU
New York, NY

I do not agree that there is nothing we can do. The price of gas depends on what we, the people, buy. If we do not buy at that rate the price will stay the same. We have to complain and do something drastic to stop the outrageous gas rates.

Claudia Thomas, Patient Representative
NY Presbyterian Medical Center
New York, NY

We people must get together and organize and educate others about this problem. The members of Congress, who are up for reelection, must know if they keep gas prices high, they won't be reelected.

Keith Johnson, Organizer
1199SEIU
The Bronx, NY

We the people are partly responsible with our overindulgence with energy usage.  If we conserved our use of fuel, the country might not be in such a desperate situation. It should mandatory to carpool. There should be a minimum of usage with air conditioning. These are just a few areas all people could contribute towards. If everyone were more conscientious and really concerned, a small difference would make a really big difference. Therefore, I disagree with the statement "things are just that way".  The reason anything is the way it is, is because we allow it to happen.  We must all take responsibility for our actions.

Ronette Warbington, Secretary
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
The Bronx, NY