Thursday, March 28, 2024
Miles from the Mainstream
D. R. ZUKERMAN, proprietor
Here We Go Again

APRIL 9, 2006 --

LPR was back in Torrington, CT, April 3 and noticed that the price of regular gas was up some ten cents, since our last visit, ten days earlier.

It gets worse.

LPR was also in Torrington April 6 and
now regular was $2.77.9 at the Mobil station on East Main Street at the entrance to Route 8.

Are we heading to empty roads, and a depressed economy?

LPR hears no comment from Republicans on the return of the gas price spike (nor, alas, on the issue of oppressive credit card interest rates ignored by the media, as well as the politicians).

If, repeat if, GOP does not now stand for "generally obtuse politicians," Republicans would do well to read what Richard Pipes wrote on page 50 of the Fall 1984 issue of "Foreign Affairs."

Professor Pipes pointed out that a party
that "has evolved into a self-serving privileged class" and is "estranged from the population, and weakened by lack of decisive leadership, is in grave danger of
losing control."

The title of this article is "Can the Soviet Union Reform?" Professor Pipes was commenting on the Communist Party. With Rush Limbaugh openly speaking about the "disconnect" of Republicans
from the people, Republicans should think about regrouping to keep from "Going Obsolete Politically" -- as did the Communists in the former Soviet Union.

LPR continues to advise Republican leaders to follow the counsel in Federalist
57 to commit themselves to the common good and to be close to the people -- to represent them, not to rule them.

LPR expects if Republicans regain minority status in Congress, Democrats overjoyed at assuming power will begin immediately to rule, not represent -- and, of course, see if the president can be
induced to resign.

Still, LPR believes that the GOP could again become the Grand Old Party if it
reaffirmed our Grand Old Principles -- with the voters ignoring a possible campaign cry of Democrats, aimed at Republicans, to "Get Out, Please."

LPR is impressed with an AOL poll that, however unscientific, points to loss of confidence in Republicans -- but also indicates that Democrats have not benefited much from disappointment with the GOP.

If voters regard both major parties as, "self-serving" and distant, perhaps America will get a new political party, committed to fair free enterprise, based on the legacy of liberty given us by our Founders. After all, the Republicans began as a third party, didn't they?


An empty stretch of Route 4 between Torrington and Farmington: is this what gas prices will do?


Toce Brothers Tire Company in Torrington: so far as LPR knows, this is not the result of higher gas prices --yet.


This photo of the Mobil Station was taken April 3.


The same Mobil Station in Torrington on April 6.


LPR snapped this photo of a Sunoco Station April 7 in Ft.. Lee, N.J.


This Sunoco photo was taken a few miles from the main UConn campus
in Storrs on April 6.