Lower your cost per mile, not just your cost per gallon! In response to Scott See’s “Lower gas price” from June 14: Yes, we need to support the stations with the best value for gas, not just the price. Not all gasoline is created equal.

You need to look at the total cost per mile to operate your vehicle with the cheaper gas. I have found that paying as much as 25 cents more per gallon for a higher grade of fuel increases my miles per gallon and lowers my ppm (price per mile). So think past the lowest price per gallon and go for the best cost per mile. Plus it is nice to have that extra power when you need to run the AC and go up a hill.

Check http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ for some good information.

Wilderness now

“Conservation is the foresighted utilization, preservation and/or renewal of forests, waters, lands and minerals, for the greatest good of the greatest number for the longest time.” When Gifford Pinchot, first chief of the U.S. Forest Service, penned these words, he could not have imagined the condition of the world 100 years hence. PCBs and dioxins, circulating in the food chain all over the world. Human mother’s milk in the U.S. laden with toxic chemicals.

Regardless of what ignorant economic and political interests say, the world is plunging deeper into dangerous climate and weather chaos. The U.S. population in 1905, when the U.S. Forest Service was born, was about 76 million; we are now over 300 million. In 1900 the world population was about 1.6 billion; today it is over 6.5 billion.

These population numbers, coupled with our vastly increased appetite for consumption of “stuff” (all originating in Earth’s “resources”), have dangerously degraded all of our biological life-support systems.

Pinchot was very utilitarian-minded in 1905, with a sense of responsibility to future generations. From what I study of Pinchot’s life he became more preservation-minded in his later life — as a logical result of witnessing human’s degradation and poisoning of the earth. I think if he were alive today he would be at the forefront of the environmental movement and working for more wilderness areas. Environmentalism is, after all, ultimately about human well-being.

There are things more important than humans doing whatever they want, wherever they want in wild lands. Things like fresh, clean air and water, biodiversity for ecosystems stability, and climate and weather moderation.

Some critics argue against wilderness with an argument of catastrophic fires, to scare the public. They invariably fail to confess all the human-caused setups for catastrophic fires. Applying the long look at forests, the healthiest, most productive, inspiring forests have always been those where there was little or no human involvement.

If humans were consciously deeply connected to the web of life, and behaved accordingly, we could be beneficial species in the web of life. Wilderness now!

‘Naive?’ Fine

I wouldn’t want to live on Cliff Mansfield’s planet. On that planet, apparently, the eight years of peace and prosperity under President Clinton was a bad thing and the eight years under Bush of alienating the rest of the world, getting American soldiers killed in a war based on lies, and putting the economy in the toilet is a good thing. I’d rather be “naive” on this planet, thanks.

Steel recycling

In the summer issue of Columbia Gorge magazine, it states on page 37 that there is wonderful recycling of demolition materials at Northwest Aluminum in The Dalles. The 44 million pounds of steel is being shipped to Japan, Korea and China.

Can you imagine how much oil is being used to ship the stuff that far, and can you imagine how much oil is being used to ship the recycled/re-engineered steel back to us? Is this responsible recycling? Is there no longer any steel work still being done in the U.S.? None at all?

Seek harmony

Thank you, Isamar Sanchez: Your letter touched my heart! My great-grandfather Antone and his two brothers came to the Bay Area on a whaling ship from Portugal during the 1800s and “jumped ship” to live in America. They settled there and everyone lived in harmony together: the Spanish, Mexican, Portuguese and Italian — even Joe DiMaggio, who is from my home town of Martinez! It was full of rich, cultural and heritage experiences and we all lived happily together!

What happened? I see sadness in some of the faces and feel helpless to reach out except to say hello and smile when I can. There is a huge misunderstanding and because of that, they are suspected of “breaking the law,” but that is not true and people are being victimized and punished. Some don’t even make eye contact and look at the ground. We’re all human beings in this Grand Mandala, One! Can’t we “try a little kindness”?

Isamar writes: “One thing that we can do is to give help and not discriminate against them. You shouldn’t be called a criminal because you came to a country that could offer you jobs to feed your family in Mexico or wherever they are and a better lifestyle.” Illegal immigration is against the law and the persons involved need to register and live by “the rules” and I believe they will, in God’s time, but they don’t deserve the wrath! And as Isamar reminds us, “Everyone in the community can unite!”

Can’t wait to vote

Mr. Mansfield, I read your letter in Saturday’s paper. Like many who bash Democrats, you failed to discuss the implications and negative impacts your views have on the following topics: global economy, U.S. economy, corporate windfall profits, hatred for America, the war and all its costs, the utter failure of both major parties to implement safer means for us to travel and protect our planet; and, to bring some brevity to my opinion, the daily emotional struggle many voting Americans have trying to get to work, feed themselves and have health care.

With all due respect, I want to formally thank God, Allah, Moses and Jesus, in no particular order, that you are not the only one voting in November.