Posted by
Dave on Sunday, June 22, 2008 3:05:10 PM
I really could not believe what I heard the other day. Congressman Etheridge (Second District and North Carolina) said he did not want us to drill for oil. He said on Talk Radio 680 that he was against drilling for oil off shore because he did not want the North Carolina coast to become a Exxon/Mobil sea shore. That it would take 10 years anyway to develop the oil. Well let’s take the first point: Norway drills off their coast and it has not become an Oil Company coastline. They still have a beautiful coast line that attracts visitors every year. They are also one of the most environmental friendly countries in the world. Yet they drill off shore and do it safely. Talking about doing it safely when hurricane Katrina came though the Gulf Coast we did not loose a drop of oil from any of the 1,000 oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. Norway from what I have read is energy independent. That is just one example of many you can find if you just looked. The internet is a wonderful thing. Next I hear it would take 10 years to develop. Well back when then President Clinton vetoed the energy bill that would have allowed us to drill in Anwar he said it would take 10 years and by then we would not need it. Well guess what it’s been 10 years and we do need it. So what Mr. Etheridge what do we do? Let the price of gas keep on going up to what $5.00 or more before we do something. Yes, I would also like to see alternative forms of energy developed but I do not want to pay $4.00 or more for gas while we develop the technology for it.
Another thing Mr. Etheridge, why is it that the Chinese can drill of the coast of Florida and our Oil Companies can’t. Just in case you all did not know, Cuba has signed an agreement with China allowing them to drill of the coast of Cuba and that puts them about 60 miles off the coast of Florida. Is not the Chinese one of the worst pollutes and has almost no lest interest in protecting the environment? So just think with their tract record of what could happen to the coast of Florida when not if an accident happens. So the way I understand it Mr. Etheridge that it is OK for foreign governments to drill off our coast and destroy our coast line. But our own companies who have an excellent track record in protecting the environment can’t. Something is wrong with this picture. I hear that we need a change in Washington and I agree we do and I think that every voter in the Second District should take a long hard look at your record on this issue before they send you back again, because if you go back you sure are not going to do anything to help with gas prices. You see I think you forgot why you originally went to Washington and that was to help the people in the Second District and North Carolina.
David G. Speckhardt Sr.
Selma, N.C.