America needs to open up drilling
Published: August 30, 2008
I have become increasingly frustrated with our government’s inability to progress with the energy crisis. I am in complete support of the Republicans who are rallying behind legislation that would allow drilling off our coasts in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other locations that had previously been made unreachable by legislation. I am unhappy that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi denied floor discussion and voting on this important and critical issue.
I agree with Sen. John McCain’s stance that we should not limit our ability to produce energy. We should be using alternative forms of energy production along with oil. Drilling now in areas previously blocked by Congress is the best short-term plan to lowering the price of energy. I am excited and hopeful because Rep. Bob Goodlatte has set forth legislation to support Virginia’s access to its natural oil resources, and we should support him.
We need to have consensus as Americans and work toward securing our nation by breaking ties with foreign oil. The theme to drill here and drill now in the United States is of crucial importance this election year. I ask everyone to reflect and do what is in the best interest of our economy and country.
David A. Karaffa
Waynesboro
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Drill here, drill now, and we might see the fruits of our labors in about 10 years, if we’re lucky. It’s a pipe dream that drilling here and drilling now will have any impact on what we’re paying at the pump before then.
Ask your Republican friends, including Bob Goodlatte, to vote on legislation closing the Enron loophole that has allowed speculators to artificially jack up the price of oil (and thus gasoline) by 30-50 percent. Get this through, and in six months we’re all paying $1 to $1.25 a gallon less for gas. That’s right - six months. Not 10 years.
I’ll warn you, though - you can ask your Republican friends to call off any Senate filibusters on this, but they’re not going to do it. Their friends in Big Oil would crucify them if they did. Not to mention they would cut off the flow of money to their campaigns in a snap of the fingers if they did.
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