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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 14, 2008

Think Of The Economy

Regarding "Call to 'Drill, Baby, Drill' Misleads Nation, Threatens Florida" (Our Opinion, Sept. 7):

"Rushed decisions" is not actually accurate - this is something that has been debated for many years. The majority of Americans are tired of being put off; they have spoken, but our leaders are not listening. The frustration causes them to chant "drill, baby drill" and hoping they will be heard.

You say it won't work, but there are other experts that say it will. And if we do not try, we will not know. I like Florida beaches, too - most Floridians do. But if we wait too long, the Cubans will hire the Chinese to drill for them - and the Chinese do not have the know-how that we do, nor will they be concerned about our beaches. It is not just the Florida economy that is at stake in this matter - the nation's economy is hurting. And it is going to be a long time before we learn to fly those big planes without oil. If the economy gets worse, we will not have to be concerned about tourists coming to Florida.

ART OLSEN

Clearwater

A Case Of 'Scareism'

I think this is one of the poorest editorials I have read in your paper. It is based on "scareism" rather than facts. A few of the facts that you need to address are:

• Oil drilling is safe and has been so for many years. Oil spillage, per U.S. Minerals Management Services, in barrels per year is, U.S. offshore 6,555; natural ooze from ocean floors surrounding the U.S. is 620,500. Oil company leaks are a tad compared to nature.

• U.S. oil production has decreased since 1980 to 2006 from 300,000 million (300 billion) from 190,000 million (190 billion).

The oil we import costs about $25 billion per year. Most comes from the Persian Gulf countries, Venezuela, Iran and Russia. They are not necessarily our friends. This $25 billion can be reduced if we drill in the Gulf, ANWR and in the continental United States. Let's get all the domestic oil we can and save billions.

ARNOLD SCHUPPERT

Sun City Center

Research And Conserve

Drilling our way out of high oil prices is unsupported by fact. The additional volume available is not large enough to make a significant difference in our supply, and the time it would take to reach market is many years.

Worse yet, chanting the "drill now" mantra only distracts from the real avenue to energy independence - reduced consumption and the search for alternatives to oil.

Our addiction to oil for generations now has caused our foreign policy to protect our sources of oil with little regard for the methods or consequences. We have supported or created regimes solely on their ability to keep the oil flowing.

The amount of money leaving this country to buy oil is a significant factor in our trade imbalance, weakening the dollar on the world market.

Research now! Conserve now! Stop the lies and face reality.

BRUCE CLARKE

Tampa

Drilling A Small Part

Regarding "McCain Is Green No More" (Other Views, Sept. 5):

N.Y. Times columnist Thomas Friedman's criticism of John McCain on environmental/energy issues is flawed.

Friedman claims drilling for oil in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge would damage the environment. Apparently he would prefer to leave oil drilling and oil production to Russia, Nigeria and other countries which are notorious for polluting our earth.

If Friedman truly cared about the environment, he would leave oil drilling to U.S. companies, which are sensitive to the environment.

If Friedman had watched the Republican Convention, he would know drilling for oil is only one part of the Republican energy plan. Wind, solar, natural gas, development of alternative fuels and drilling oil are all part of the Republican plan.

Since oil is readily available, it makes sense to use it now while the other sources are being developed.

R. J. McDARBY

Valrico

No Day At The Beach

Regarding "Don't Gamble With Florida's Beaches (Other Views, Sept. 2):

Bev Griffiths has her head in the sand regarding offshore drilling along the Florida coast. Current technology for offshore drilling is safe and effective. Case in point, we just had a major hurricane - Gustav - roar through the Gulf of Mexico without a single oil spill resulting. Her mentioning of so-called "experts" who merely parrot Democrat talking points about only saving a few cents a gallon 10 years from now misses the boat entirely.

Yes our beaches are beautiful and worthy of protection; they're also virtually useless to our economy if people can't afford to get to them.

JOSEPH GARDNER

Wesley Chapel

An Odd Juxtaposition

"The places we love are rapidly disappearing. Global tourism today is not only a major industry - it's nothing short of a planet-threatening plague. It's polluting land and sea, destroying wildlife and natural habitat and depleting energy and natural resources."

This above paragraph in the article by Elizabeth Becker from the Washington Post and printed on the front page of the Sept. 7 Commentary section is a perfect description for the experiences of a native Floridian over 65 years of age. It also precisely describes the condition of the Tampa Bay area.

Did anyone read the article before printing it and juxtaposing the editorial on page 2, "Call to 'Drill, Baby, Drill' Misleads Nation, Threatens Florida"? Your editorial supports a threat to our demise. You want to grow our tourism, so detrimental to our planet, by saving our coast at the expense of good-paying jobs and the citizens of Florida while ensuring our reliance on foreign oil.

BROOKS PAULK

Tampa

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