Energy department hasn't been useful

In his May 15 column, "Don't blame Big Oil for high cost of gasoline", Cal Thomas mentions briefly the U.S. Department of Energy.

As the gasoline costs in our area move to $4 and more per gallon it's past time to think about that agency.

The agency was created in October 1977 from a group of other agencies pushed together. From the DOE Web site you find that the proposed budget for DOE for fiscal 2009 is $25 billion. This year it was $24.5 billion and last year $23.5 billion.

Now go back and add up all that agency's budgets going to 1977. And guess what? We are still not close to being oil or energy independent.

I remember the line of waiting cars at gas stations in the mid '70s because of that "energy crisis."

And I remember the impetus for creating the DOE.

But when do we get the payoff?

Sure, the DOE provides funds for research, etc. But their budgets can't overcome the politics of failed leadership.

We can thank the failed leadership for current gasoline prices; and maybe our own apathy.

Jack Donohue

Lombard