High gasoline prices have finally awakened America

In response to Diego Cruz's June 26 letter ("It's time to drill oil in the U.S."), high oil prices will inevitably force us to conserve; yes, "even a caveman can do the math."

It's not only "radical environmentalists" who prevent drilling in the U.S.; it is reasonable, well-informed citizens who understand the environmental ramifications of such desperate, short-sighted actions. Furthermore, now that global warming is no longer just a "myth," we should all be more concerned about the state of our planet, human waste and pollution- namely in the form of our cars' exhaust- - being its primary cause.

The high prices of gas have affected all of us; however, as I fill up the tank of my small minivan, I have absolutely no sympathy for those oversized gas-guzzling SUVs beside me at the pump.

Thank goodness Hummers have met their fate; however, if Americans simply drove smaller, more fuel-efficient cars, carpooled more often and had the sense to see the value of mass public transit, there would be much less whining about this issue.

This clearly is a matter of "supply and demand," and, unfortunately for us, the Chinese are driving more, apparently wanting to get around like we Americans conveniently do, so we're now literally paying the price.

Instead of constantly needing more by "drilling more," why not learn to conserve?

If higher prices at the pump teach Americans to be more conservative and we ultimately start choosing smaller, more fuelefficient environmentally friendly vehicles, our children and grandchildren will undoubtedly thank us for it some day. Tina Aschenbrenner-Sandoval Thousand Oaks