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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 25, 2008

Ban Lifting Gets Results

According to an Opinion Research Corporation poll, 73 percent of people surveyed agree with John McCain, favoring more drilling for oil. On July 15, President Bush, who has long promoted offshore drilling, heard the people and lifted the executive branch ban on offshore drilling.

In the brief period since Bush lifted the ban, the price of a barrel of oil has fallen over $15 and the stock market, as measured by the Dow Jones Industrial average, has risen 4 percent. Is this merely a coincidence or do the speculators in energy futures and the oil producing nations realize that Bush's action means we are finally serious about pursuing energy independence?

President Bush has done all he can. His welcome action is necessary but not sufficient for drilling to begin. The Democratic-controlled Congress must also act and lift its ban. However, majority leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is opposed to lifting the ban on drilling and has blocked House action on the necessary legislation.

Apparently, the vast majority of Americans disagree with the Democrats.

ANDREW W. SCHULTZ

Tampa

The Spoils Of War
What happened to the spoils of war that we studied in school? Even Hagar the Horrible from the comics exists and thrives off the "spoils of war" to keep his armies supplied. If we want to stop this war we take over the oil fields now like we should have done at the beginning. The oil can pay for the war that has cost us billions of dollars.

If we want to bring our kids back home all we have to do is take over the oil.

Once we have regained our money, we could leave their oil fields to them, return our kids to their homes and try to return our injured troops to a normal life.

Look at the pressure our own oil companies have put on us. Three months ago we would not have let these companies drill off Florida's shore and right now everyone is hollering to drill here.

RODNEY JOHNS

Plant City

World Markets Will Rule

I like the idea of drilling in the United States to make us self-sufficient. But I am not stupid enough to know what will happen.

Just like all the lumber that was taken from our forests and shipped overseas, the same thing will happen with our oil. Instead of keeping it here to help Americans, it'll go overseas to the highest bidder.

Greed is number one in today's society. Look at the foreign companies that have a license to drill here. Our government isn't taking care of the United States; they are taking care of big business and also themselves, whether Democrat or Republican.

F. STAN CARD

Tampa

The Meat-Eating Factor

Al Gore's recent call for a 10-year plan to move the nation's entire energy supply to solar, wind and other renewable sources failed to address the massive role of meat production in the global climate crisis.

A 2006 U.N. report blamed animal agriculture for 18 percent of greenhouse gasses. That's more than automobiles! It is also a major cause of land and water degradation.

Carbon dioxide is emitted by burning forests to create animal pastures and by combustion of fossil fuels to operate animal feed, factory farm and slaughterhouse machinery. The much more damaging methane and nitrous oxide are discharged by cattle and animal waste cesspools.

The good news is that each of us can help reduce global warming today by checking out the rich variety of soy-based lunch "meats," hotdogs, veggie burgers, dairy products and ready-to-eat frozen dinners. More details are at www.tryveg.com.

SUSAN WEILAND

Alachua

Tampa Too Expensive

Many letters have been written regarding the take-home vehicles for police officers with more than a few complaining about the long distances the officers travel to reach their homes.

While police are paid better than in years past, I would venture to say most cannot afford to live in the decent parts of Tampa on their salaries. I'm sure they'd live there if the housing was affordable. And please don't tell me the officers should get another job - police work is a calling for the few and we all want those who believe in it to protect us. Give them a break.

ANDREW KELLEHER

New Port Richey

Writers Don't Get It

I am happy that you printed letters about the red-light running epidemic which occurs hundreds of times per month at one intersection in New Port Richey (Letters, July 22).

First, thanks to attorney William Mumbauer for claiming on legalistic grounds that this law is unenforceable. I hope he represents countless people who have been hurt by reckless drivers. My girlfriend borrowed my car, was nailed by a red-light runner, and I was still out of pocket.

But then Bill Drake's letter took the cake. How can he claim invasion of privacy? Your picture is taken if you blow through a toll booth. You're are on video if you enter stores or shopping malls. Your picture or license plate can be snapped from a satellite in outer space with enough clarity to identify you. Your employer most likely reserves the right to monitor your phone and email. And now the president claims the right to warrantless wiretaps.

And he's worried about invasion of privacy when he breaks the law and sails through a red light?

MICHAEL VanAUKER

Wesley Chapel

Driving Too Slowly

Regarding "You Can Drive 55 Now" (Letters, July 19):

So it was this letter writer I was behind the other morning on the interstate. The trouble is that while he is going 55 in a 70 mph zone, everyone else is going 70 to 80 and changing lanes to avoid him.

By the way, the speed limit can be lowered to 40 mph but people are still going to go 70 to 85 on the interstate.

DAVE WILLIAMS

St. Petersburg

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