Take the recent gas price increases that began around the third week in April of this year. Dole, along with other Republicans were trying to blame the high prices on the current administration because of a 4.3 cent tas increase that occurred, I believe, in l993.

Doesn't Dole realize the price of gas, up to the very recent past, has stayed fairly constant for the past five years and, that includes after the last tax increase?

Surely everyone realizes that the recent increases in gas prices either came directly from the oil companies, by agreement between the distributors (Yes, price fixing, a violation of current laws), or, a combination of the two.

Locally, our gas prices increased by 17 cents a gallon (varies with the outlet). For the administration to have been responsible, there would have to have been roughly a 15.5 percent increase in taxes imposed by the government (Clinton). Did that happen and everyone missed it? Not hardly.

Let's agree on at least one problem. Fuel companies have us all over a barrel. We must have fuel for heat and gasoline for our transportation. Wouldn't it be more appropriate for Dole and the others to concentrate their efforts on investigating the potential of price fixing and the gouging of the public by the oil companies rather than trying to use the problem of high prices to their own political advantage?

And, you know what? Dole has been the leading spokesperson in blaming the administration for the increase. With Dole's annual income (declared income, that is) ranging $600,000 to $800,000 per year, does he really care? If he did, then wouldn't he be at least approaching the major gasoline producers and/or distributors about the recent increases in prices?

The problem with this is, of course, the oil industry supports Dole financially as it is one of his major contributors. For him to put the blame properly would result in the oil industry possibly withdrawing its financial support of the Republican Party. Same old stuff - special interest group control over political leaders.

It seems as if poor logic is running rampant within the Republican party. And, as far as this writer is concerned, poor logic is more apt to go against a person employing it rather than help him in any political endeavor. Afterall, if one can't see the cause of a problem, how can a solution possibly be arrived at?

Dole's logic, or lack of it, really stinks and is a cheap shot taken at a man that is trying to do a good job in spite of his constant battling with the opposition party.

In the case of his reasoning concerning the recent increases in gas prices and his target for blame, one might think Mr. Dole is becoming slightly mentally deranged. Could such a state of mind possibly be created by the pressures of his splitting party and his trailing drastically in the polls?

What do you think?