I realize that von Hoffman has been brain washed, but high tariffs have nothing to do with isolationism. Without tariffs, we would not have become a major industrial power and we would still be dependent on Europe for manufactured goods. Von Hoffman has been around for a while and should know that this is right-wing propaganda justifying "free trade." Development for any country does not, I repeat, does not, occur without tariffs .

However, in Southern California, we are not completely without rapid transit. the closer you get into LA, the better it gets with rail lines. However, you can commute by rail from Riverside, San Bernardino and Palmdale into Los Angeles. People are also switching to smaller cars. Most are not hybrids, but they do get around thirty-eight miles per gallon, and they are cheaper.

There doesn't seem to any "perfect" substitutes for oil. Environmentalists think wind farms are a danger to animals. Anything that comes out of the ground poses some health hazard. So far, solar seems good.

Nuclear power worries me more than nuclear weapons, because it is becoming popular in developing countries. Even if we do not go in for it here, we should be prepared to help contain nuclear accidents like Chernobyl that will occur.

Pervis J. Casey

Riverside, CA

There's still plenty of oil under the ground, Peak Oil theory points out it is just a lot deeper and is slower and more expensive to get at. The only giant oil field discovered in many years is off the coast of Brazil. This is a huge oil field like the good old Texan ones or the aging Saudi ones. But there will be no quick gusher--most of Brazil's big field is under 3kilometres of water, 2km rock and 2km salt. To get drill bits down that far and pipes to withstand enormous heat, pressure and corrosion preasures... will not be cheap!

The world is likely to need the energy density of oil for air transport, shipping, agriculture and mining for many decades to come. It also will need it to make plastics and fertilizers.

Road transport can go electric now with plug-in hybrids that do 150mpg or better. But replacing the global automobile fleet will take time. The only sensible solution is to install electric trains and trams down the middle of highways and to do it while there is still a strong global economy.

Big gas-guzzling Hummers, SUVs and pick-up trucks, or Utes as they're called in Australia, have gone from being a part of people's way of life to a being a threat to everyone's way of life.

Don't buy them. If you do, you may only be able to sell them for scrap--for reincarnation as a bicycle, a next generation Prius or an electric tram.

Peter Parry

Adelaide, SA, Australia

According to an oil company TV advertisement, if you own a 401K or pension you own an oil company. So don't worry. High oil prices are good for you. A few shares of Shell will make you rich. This is a shell game Americans usually fall for.

Norman Ravitch

Savannah, GA