A recent Herald Poll asked readers if a federal gas-tax was a good idea. Among the responses:

I think a gas tax holiday is a bad idea. It encourages the increased importing of oil, which drives up the price of all petroleum products including gasoline. Aren't gasoline prices high enough already? In addition it results in more carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere which contributes to undesirable climate changes on this planet.

• John C. Bryner,

Orem

In my estimation, Clinton and McCain's proposed "gas tax holiday" is merely a scheme to pander for votes. We need to utilize existing supplies of oil and natural gas here at home and open-up new areas for energy development, including drilling on a tiny portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Make the big oil companies put forth a extensive monetary deposit as a safeguard against any chance of spill. We also need to install more wind-turbines.

I think that the next president should release the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in a slow trickle uniformly among all 50 states with National Guard protection. True, this would cause a disruption and spawn rationing, but it would force every American to view the situation with a realistic eye. Then, instead of "jumping on a political bandwagon" our citizens might have an added incentive to approve tough long-term energy measures.

• James A. Marples,

Provo