By the way, I think Schiff and Sen. John McCain are both moderate or centrist politicians, so I will proudly cast my vote for them in November.
TIM LEWIS
Glendale
Government must look to our future
Don Mazen supports the Republican efforts to allow more offshore oil drilling (“Don’t give Schiff too much credit,” Mailbag, Aug. 27), and criticizes Reps. Adam Schiff and Nancy Pelosi for taking a congressional recess.
It is better to do some research, rather than believe everything one hears.
There are currently available for drilling 68 million acres, yet only 20 percent of those leases are producing oil.
Why do the oil companies need more?
According to President Bush’s own Department of Energy, the projections in the outer continental shelf access case indicate that access to the Pacific, Atlantic and eastern Gulf regions would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030. And that it would lower the price of a barrel of oil by 75 cents, which is about 2 to 3 cents per gallon.
Since OPEC controls more than 50% of the daily crude oil trades, what we may add to the total oil supply can be negated by OPEC simply reducing their supply.
Americans have never paid these high prices for a necessary commodity; they seek a remedy from government. Adding more areas for oil companies to drill will not lower the price of oil.
As Sen. John McCain stated before he changed his view on this subject, “We can’t drill our way out of this.”
Mazen concludes by asking, is this any way to run our nation?
Yes, false promises that more drilling will reduce the price of gas are not the way.
Our government must resist the power of influential corporate nearsightedness and look to our future.
The American energy needs are satisfied by fossil fuels for only the short term.
Conservation and clean renewable fuel sources are our future; oil is our past.
Prolonging our oil addiction only makes the transition more difficult and more costly.
MARGARET PRICE
Burbank
