To the editor:

I read the Great Bend Tribune article: “Pain at the pump: Gas prices see historic rise” (March 9 issue,  posted online March 8). I am as patriotic as anyone, and I feel sorry for the people of Ukraine who have a neighboring country waging war on them. 

Although the United States of America can be sympathetic, we should heed the advice given by our nations first President George Washington to avoid engaging in permanent entangling alliances with European foreign powers, but to rely on temporary alliances in the event of emergencies. That is wise advice and sadly seldom heeded.

 Few people stop to thing that N.A.T.O. stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization, established in 1949. For many years Ukraine was under the old Soviet bloc of nations. Geographically, it is about as far east as a person can get and still be considered part of Europe. 

Even if the Barents Sea allows Ukraine maritime access, the Sea is technically owned by Norway and Russia who control the passageway. While it is admirable for the Ukrainian people to seek democracy, our model in the USA is both that of a “Representative Democracy” and that of a “Constitutional Republic” simultaneously. It should be up to Ukraine to emulate us, not for America to try to make other nations little clones of America. It just cannot (and shouldn’t be done). The Biden Presidential Administration is essentially funneling war material and funding mercenary fighters from other lands to fund Ukraine’s battles. 

Again, I repeat, I feel sorry for Ukraine. 

However, high American gasoline prices are an indirect funding of a war that America shouldn’t be actively fueling. I believe in following George Washington’s advice and I would extend that to following the “Monroe Doctrine” which supports alliances only to protect the Western Hemisphere from European colonization. Anything further, is beyond America’s business. I think the Biden Administration should allow more domestic American oil drilling. 

When we had $1.86 a gallon gasoline, prosperity was on the horizon. 

However, with $4 a gallon gasoline, the American public is feeling so much pain. I heard of a report of two families car-pooling to a food pantry, since it fostered layoffs and the need to conserve gasoline. Impoverishing Americans is no way to live, nor is it a feasible plan to help anyone.  

James A. Marples

Esbon