We must overcome our addiction to oil

Recently, a reader suggested it's illogical to retain a ban on offshore drilling.

I maintain it is illogical thinking to suggest that we can solve our addiction to oil by drilling for more, even when we won't see the results for another 10 years.

Ten years! That's a long time. Imagine the advances that can be made in 10 years if we invest wisely in new solutions rather than default back to the old ones.

Consider: While the U.S. consumes one-quarter of the world's oil supply, we only possess 3 percent of it. Therefore we will never be able to drill our way out of the problem.

Furthermore, investing in fossil fuels at a time when global warming threatens the country with more Katrina-size hurricanes, records droughts, flooding, and unpredictable weather from coast to coast is the height of irresponsibility.

The only long-term solution to our energy crisis is investing in energy sources like wind and solar, which will never run out and create no pollution.

In this election season, I'm paying close attention to both of my candidates for Congress, Mark Kirk and Dan Seals. I want to elect a leader who says "no" to our dirty energy past and welcomes a clean energy future.

Linda Vukovich

Palatine