The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Langley Long Gone

5.16.06 @ 12:01AM

(Page 5 of 5)

There is a compelling, non-monetary reason to be concerned about gas consumption: national security. I wish I had a quarter for every SUV-driving liberal who's complained to me about "Bush's war for oil." I don't believe we're fighting for oil, but oil, of course, shapes our international policies. I'm not thrilled about supporting corrupt, anti-Israel, anti-western regimes with my gas money. Conservation is a free-market tool of international politics, and every consumer has the opportunity to use it.
-- Carol L. Douglas

While Mr. Henry's comparison seems compelling on the outset I am inclined to disagree with his bottom line analysis. Mr. Henry seems to feel that most people who purchase a new car do it by paying cash (the only reason I can think of why we don't see any interest charges in the debit column for the Prius and why he chose to use the entire purchase cost of the Prius in such a short period of time) and would get rid of the car after only two years of ownership. I feel this is incorrect, for the most part people today choose to finance their purchase through some sort of lending institution to spread the payments out across a period of time greater than two years (usually five years, but I've been seeing a lot of ads for 72 month or longer auto loans lately, suggesting that people are using those loan products).

Mr. Henry also neglected to include in the Prius column the federal tax credit of $2000 available to owners of hybrid vehicles.

Let's refigure the Prius column using some more realistic figures, shall we? We'll assume full price plus dealer markup for the Prius and the same number of miles driven and cost per gallon of fuel, but this time we'll use the actual costs the owner incurs based on no down payment, interest charges and federal tax credit (some owners may get the added benefit of a state credit as well, but since that's not universal we'll ignore it).

Prius payments made over two years based on a 10 percent interest rate (extortionate in today's economy) assuming $27,225 total cost and a 60-month note come out to $578.45/mo = $13882.80. Add in the fuel for $1,333 and you're up to $15,215.80. Figure in the federal tax credit of $2,000 and you're down to $13,215.80. That equals 66.1 cents per mile.

Quite a long way from $1.42 per mile, eh? I note that 66.1 cents per mile is measurably lower than the 70 cents it cost to own the Cadillac (a car that I do find it reasonable that an average person can own outright within the 24 months noted). Call it 4 cents per mile better. The difference becomes greater if you imagine gas at $4/gallon (and I don't think that takes very much imagination at all) -- you're up to 78 cents for the Caddy and 68 for the Prius.

Most people also drive significantly more than 10,000 miles per year. The cost difference becomes greater and greater the more you drive the two cars noted above.
-- Tim Doyle

PRAISE, NOT CRITICISM
Re: Ben Stein's Missed Tributes:

I would love to simplify this whole issue regarding the attitudes of those Hollywood film industry members that were present at the Academy Awards ceremony. These people are most often American citizens who have worked hard to get where they are. Not many of them were born into being what their current positions or roles. Most have worked very hard to get to the top. As American citizens, they are entitled to their opinion and to support whatever cause that they choose to align themselves with. They have earned that right because our system condones dissent.

I make less money than the Army Sergeant that you described and I served my country for over 13 years of my life. I am not complaining and I do not completely support what we are doing in the Middle East, but I do support the fact that we must do something about terrorism besides call each other names and place blame on those that support our cause or those that disagree.

Please put your considerable energy into asking for support and for representation for your position instead of wasting valuable energy complaining about those that you disagree with. Imagine if everyone with an idea, either positive or negative, with regard to a cause, put their energy into working toward world unity instead of constantly complaining about those that hold a contrary opinion. We may even be able to save the lives of one or two people that will be killed over the differences of opinion that currently exist in so many places in this world.
-- Concerned Citizen
Colorado

LIBERAL CODE TALKER
Re: Jed Babbin's The Yale Colonial Office:

I congratulate you on your ability to break the liberal "code." A sense of humor is a saving grace, and a sharp wit cuts clean and to the marrow. You have both, a sense of humor and a sharp wit.
-- Fred Edwards
Tucson, Arizona

FROM THE FIELD
Re: Ben Stein's Greetings From Rancho Mirage:

I would like to thank you for your kind and encouraging words of last month (Dear Sailors, marines, airmen, soldiers, etc.), the kind of words that my friends and I love to forward to each other.

I would also like to say how much I have appreciated the other messages you have sent out as well. May God Himself bless and keep you sir.
-- CPT Mark Andrews, ABE
1/34 BCT
Camp Adder, Iraq

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Taxes, Trade, Health Care, Business, Catholicism, Books, Hollywood, Movies, Law, Military, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Africa, Immigration, Energy, Oil