Steps to solve oil problem
As of June 21, there are four things that need to be done about oil.
Give big oil the option of repairing and building refineries or we will stop giving them leases to drill off shore and discontinue the tax benefits to do this. Up to now they have done nothing.
Have them begin drilling in the Anwar area in Alaska.
Encourage them to begin drilling in the oil shale areas of Utah, Colorado, Idaho and Texas. These areas won't produce oil of any quantity for 7 to 10 years; but unless we can somehow reduce the cost of a gallon of gas substantially and push successfully for a replacement for oil, we will be in a worse jam than we are now in.
Our lifestyle will deteriorate like it or not, but we can limit it somewhat by aggressively encouraging the auto industry to develop electric, hydrogen and hybrid engines along with more small, high-mileage vehicles.
It is fine to have free enterprise in a capitalistic system, but big oil is approaching the kind of control they had in Teddy Roosevelt's time. We need another strong president who can and will make the oil industry the servant of the people, not the master.
Write your congressmen about this now.
Chuck Barr, Jr.
St. Charles