Don Harmon

Hermitage

Robert McKay’s letter about economic woes and the energy crisis was in his usual attack mode but shed little light and a lot of heat regarding what we should do as a nation.

Instead of pointing fingers at energy “villains” and their “obscene” profits, and ignoring bankers, whose recent profits, based on sales dollars, exceed Big Oil’s, let’s pressure our legislators to repeal odious laws which restrict developing new proven domestic and U.S.-friendly oil and natural as reserves.

We are now caught by OPEC. They simply state that there is no shortage of our product. Thus they will not increase production. Also, keep in mind, we must now compete with Third World nations for oil and gas.

The explosive industrialization and resultant uncontrolled pollution from China and India in the past decade has been mind boggling. Let’s begin aggressively producing from our own reserves, and for God’s sake, put some common sense in our environmental policy.

For example, Spain is now building a new refinery. Construction time, three years. None have been built in the U.S. for 25 years and our lead time is 10 years due to EPA and other overregulation.

Why can’t we have a nationwide grade of acceptable gasoline, regular unleaded and one higher octane instead of 8 or 10 formulations based on state nitpicking?

Let’s really concentrate on conservation. Combine trips, go to one vehicle, walking, bicycling, car pooling, public transportation, get rid of that gas guzzler, use a push mower, and get over our passion for ATVS, water polluting speed boats, stock car racing, and the wickedly dangerous motorcycles.

Aren’t these suggestions better than accusing talented businessmen of hoarding billions in their money closets out of pure greed and ruining our blessed nation for our progeny, or do all industrialists, particularly the oil and gas barons, hate their grandkids?