We need long-term energy solutions

Paul Arnot of Schaumburg (Fence Post, Aug. 22) has obviously bought into the Republican rhetoric about drill, drill, drill.

He cites oil experts without references, indicating they can bring in new oil in five years. This is speculation at best.

He addresses that the oil companies have leased millions of acres of unexplored land and oil may be difficult to find there, so it has not been drilled.

If there isn't anything there, why aren't the oil companies willing to give up those leases?

The Bush/Cheney/McCain consortium wants to help the oil companies, not the people.

Their policies provide subsidies for oil companies that use their profits to buy back stock instead of investing in research and development. They experience record profits. They are against the ending of the Enron loophole that allows speculators to drive up the price of oil.

However, this problem goes back much further and the Republicans stand point on this problem.

In the late '70s, President Carter initiated programs to help get this country away from its dependence on foreign oil.

These programs were ended by Reagan most symbolically by removing the solar panels from the White House. Reagan also lowered the CAFE standards on cars and raised speed limits on the interstates. Research programs ended and rebates for conservation efforts on homes were also ended.

During this time the U.S. has gone from importing 25 percent of our oil to 75 percent.

Such shortsighted policies have gotten us to this point. Drilling will barely make a blip on the radar and thanks to the regressive Republicans, we have lost 30 years in researching alternative energy.

It's hard to believe any intelligent individual would follow such a shortsighted agenda of the drilling mantra. Our opportunity was started 30 years ago and derailed 28 years ago.

After 28 years of going in the wrong direction with failed energy policies, we need to get back on track with a long-term solution.

Bruce Larson

Mount Prospect