LTE: All pieces in play
Pioneer Press,
Jun 27, 2008 -
The Pioneer Press (June 17) had two articles defining the position of the political parties regarding energy: Rep. Michele Bachmann's support for legislation allowing drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and off-shore, and Sen. John McCain's support for off-shore drilling.
President Bush also supports both of these oil plays. Remember, drilling at Prudhoe Bay didn't harm the reindeer herd, after all.
Bachmann's challenger, Elwyn Tinklenberg, rejects all drilling and supports only alternative energy sources. Barack Obama has taken the same position.
But why not do both? Biofuels use up valuable food-producing land, and wind and solar can help, but storing electricity is technically not economical now and perhaps never will be feasible on the scale required. So alternative sources may never be more than supplemental backups. Even so, they should not be ignored; all pieces should be in play. So the message is clear: If we want lower oil prices, vote Republican.
