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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 17, 2008

Drill And Reduce Demand

Regarding Paul Krugman's article "Know-Nothing Politics And A Party Of Stupid" (Other Views, Aug. 13):

I think it is remarkable that the only person I have heard make any sense at all regarding the current energy/oil situation is Paris Hilton. John McCain or Barack Obama should hire her and her advisors. Or perhaps she should run as a third-party option.

Many members of Congress and the environmental Nazis are now saying reduce demand and the price of oil goes down. But with a fixed supply, as soon you increase demand the price will rise again. Increase supply and the price also will go down, and it will decrease with a very positive correlation to the increase in supply. More importantly, however, is that we'll be buying our own fuel, keeping the dollars in the Unites States and not sending $700 billion to foreign nations committed to our destruction.

That in itself is justification for recovering our own oil resources while we wait for Al Gore to develop alternatives.

DARRELL W. KATZ

Valrico

Uninformed Opinion

What a crime the Tribune would print the N.Y. Times' uninformed piece on oil and the party of stupid.

Here's some quick facts from your average Joe: The price at the pump went down because of the moratorium lifted on drilling which in turn made the speculators nervous! Drilling off the coast will lower the price for the same reason.

What the Democrats won't tell you is their solution or that Nancy Pelosi told the party to agree with the so-called stupids to win their districts, and then they could retain the do-nothing-but-tax the majority! The fact that the N.Y. Times would rather have Cuba drill 90 miles off the coast of Florida and sell the oil to China is mind-boggling, to say the least.

LAWRENCE L. LLOYD SR.

Plant City

Written By An Ideologue
Paul Krugman calls the Republican Party the party of "stupid" because the Iraq War was "stupid." I think this makes Krugman the spokesperson for the party of illogical.

Just because the Iraq War is bad does not make everything George Bush did bad. Krugman just makes a chain argument linking everything to Iraq.

Krugman writes simplistic screeds based on the "stupid" notion that "Republicans are bad, Democrats are good." Krugman is an ideologue. He is opposed to drilling for oil just because the Republicans are for it.

There is a saying that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today. Ten years ago we heard the same argument about drilling. Guess what? It is now 10 years later, and we still need that oil.

LEONARD MARTINO

Tampa

We Have To Start Now

As N.Y. Times columnist Paul Krugman pointed out, the Republicans are putting a lot of effort into pushing for more drilling for oil. But, they have to try so hard in order to get through the shortsighted thick-headedness of Democratic leaders like Nancy Pelosi.

The current situation between Russia and Georgia clearly shows that until we have widespread, efficient alternatives, the more oil we can produce under our control the better. The fact that it will take a few years just means we can't waste any more time starting.

Krugman insults this attitude, going so far as calling it "the politics of stupidity." Sure, you can fault the Republicans on focusing only on drilling. But, at least they are focusing on something that is tried and true. Krugman and the Democrats are only focusing on what they don't want, not on anything that would improve the situation. Unless, of course, they are stupid enough to actually think that Barack Obama's idea of inflating tires is really going to solve the whole problem.

ERIC GREENBAUM

Tampa

Waiting Will Be Costly

Regarding the editorial of the Philadelphia Inquirer "No Need To Rush Drilling Decision" (Other Views, Aug. 10):

This commentary is wrong. The country is in an economic crisis. We need our leaders to make the decision as soon as possible. They must make their arguments to us the people as to why we will drill or not drill. When confronted with serious problems real leaders meet head on the problems facing them.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, when elected president, met the problems of his day head on; he didn't delay. He made many mistakes, but kept trying until we were lifted out of the Great Depression.

It is the same today - people are losing their homes, careers and self-respect. Costs are escalating faster than incomes. Because of one stupid decision of using corn for ethanol, we had a reduction of grain to eat. This has caused food riots in other parts of the world.

So I respectfully disagree with the Editorial Board of the Philadelphia Enquirer. Great leaders meet the problems head on, so please Mr. President and all members of the U. S. Congress, make those important decisions now. Waiting can be a lot costlier to all of us.

VINCENT D. MURPHY

Valrico

Problem Is 'Big Media'

The election beauty contest continues, and now I am hearing about the Republicans being in the pocket of Big Oil. My goodness, how original!

Is this a letup of usual stories that Republicans will spoil our air and water? It is just a matter of time when we have to hear that if we vote for Republicans our Social Security will be taken away.

DENNIS LUSK

Tampa

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