Copyright The Oregonian
Nowhere is Republican shortsightedness more apparent than energy policy, (“Environmentalists criticize Trump administration push for new oil and gas drilling in Alaska,” June 4). “Drill, baby, drill,” is not a policy; it’s a bumper sticker admitting we are racing into a brick wall. It does not mean more oil; it means we run out of it more quickly. Oil is finite. There are no more vast reserves waiting to be “recovered,” as Big Oil euphemistically puts it. At best, new discoveries add no more than a few years to the timeline of our impending crash. The U.S. currently produces more oil than at any time in history. It produces more than any other country, with nearly twice the production of Saudi Arabia. Yet, we are still vulnerable to the sometimes hostile manipulations of OPEC and other producers. Does anyone with any sense honestly believe that - with the exception of Canada, the United Kingdom and Norway - any of the other oil-producing countries are friends, much less dependable strategic allies? Of course not. Few will be above extorting us for oil when the time comes. Fossil fuels degrade and endanger our environment. They also weaken our world political position. Alternative energy sources are not a scam. They are a life preserver for the day the oil spigot runs dry. People who do not see that are willfully hiding their heads in the tar sands. If the U.S. doesn’t want to lose the energy independence race, Republicans had better wise up. Decisions we make now will affect our grandchildren and their grandchildren. Richard Tyler, Hillsboro
