Consumers to blame for oil, gas prices

In June 29th's Fence Post, Nancy Thorner asserts in "High gas prices not oil companies' fault" that politicians are to blame for high oil prices, since they are not allowing oil to be drilled from federal and offshore land. She calls for voters to contact their representatives and demand for drilling in these restricted areas. But before you pick up the phone or start writing a letter, look at the issue more carefully.

According to the Department of Energy, it will take at least a decade after the drilling approval of Congress for production to begin in ANWR. Similarly, it would take more than a decade to substantially tap offshore oil.

And besides time, quantity is a problem. The amount of oil gained from drilling currently restricted areas would only amount to a small portion of total world production, and thus, the effect on price would be minimal. Congress, therefore, is not to blame for high oil prices, but then who is?

Consumers are at fault: for ignoring the wasteful use of nonrenewable resources, as long as it did not affect the pocketbook; for buying cars based on trivialities and not fuel efficiency; for not demanding Congress put pressure on automobile manufacturers to raise fuel efficiency years ago; and for whining about high gas prices and demanding more oil, instead of being an activist for alternative energy.

If Nancy wants America to be an "oil-independent" nation, then how will drilling for more oil make America oil-independent? It won't.

Instead of expending time on blaming others for high gas prices, admit that ultimately we, as oil consumers, are mostly at fault. If you want America to be independent of oil, then do not contact your representatives about drilling more; rather, encourage fossil fuel conservation for the present, and promote alternative energy for the future.

Michael Salte

Hawthorn Woods