To the editor:

The article in the Journal-World about electric and natural gas rates going up brought to mind several thoughts.

First, the article said, I believe, that gas suppliers wanted $6.5 million and only got $2.7 million toward the increase. This is a trick used a lot: Ask for more than you really want. The rate increase is to go into effect in June, when is it the least painful. Your gas bill is lower in summer than in winter.

If we use less gas or electricity, they will say they are not selling enough and have to raise rates. If we use a lot, they will say they cannot produce enough and have to buy new equipment to meet demands and will raise rates.

We are all like a frog. If you put a frog in a pan of water it will adjust and sit there. If you turn the heat up a little at a time it will adjust and still sit there. You can actually turn the heat up to boiling and the frog will adjust and sit there and die.

We are all adjusting to the heat being turned up, be it gas for cars, taxes, home heating oil or whatever. Somewhere we all have to say, no, I have had enough.

Now there is an article hinting that real estate taxes could go up. Hmmm. Remember the frog story we just went over.

Scott Henderson,

Lawrence