State’s Energy Problems Raise Questions, Worries

Let me see if I understand the current mess in which the state of California finds itself. . . . There aren’t enough reservoirs to catch the rain we do get so there isn’t enough water. We have insufficient power transmission and power-producing facilities so we don’t have enough electricity. Our sewer systems are failing and/or are in desperate need of repair. Our freeways and roads are inadequate to handle the current level of traffic and are also in need of repair.

Our public schools are overcrowded, understaffed, and short of the basic supplies needed to provide instruction. The tuition at our state colleges and universities is constantly going up, which is pricing even state-run higher education out of many people’s reach. There isn’t enough gasoline to run our cars and what we have is more and more expensive. Trauma centers for the critically injured have closed and are now few and far between. We don’t have enough law enforcement on the streets. There is inadequate jail space to house those convicted of crimes. Our elected officials have a simple solution to all of this of course: We have to pay more.

I guess my only question is: Since the government has obviously failed so miserably in providing even the most basic infrastructure and minimum level of public services, where exactly are my ever-rising tax dollars going?

Douglas K. Blaul

Trabuco Canyon

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Going to college is supposed to be a time of anxiety for incoming freshmen. Students should worry about trivial things such as whether they’ll get along with their roommate, not whether they will be able to pay their gas bill.

I am a high school senior and the rising gas prices scare me more than anything. I live in Costa Mesa and attend school in Anaheim. This long commute gets more and more expensive every week. I’m starting to think that one of these days, my part-time job will only cover my gas expenses.

It has come to a point where I am unwilling to drive anywhere except for school and work. I never would have imagined that the rising gas prices would affect my social life, but unfortunately that is my sad reality. What’s next? In college will I have to choose between paying for books or paying for gas? Students have enough to worry about. They shouldn’t have to sacrifice their education to pay for gas.

Monique Imarah

Costa Mesa