Your Opinion: Energy policy: What are we waiting for?

Dear Editor:

Two recent headlines, "Prices jump after OPEC decision," and "Bin Laden's No. 2: Muslims will destroy America," in the News Tribune again remind us of the stupidity of our energy policy.

Economics 101 and market experience teach us more supply can keep prices lower even with increased demand. Energy and a talented workforce are critical to our economy. We have both. So what are we waiting for and yes I agree with President Obama when he was in campaign mode that we need to be out of the Middle East and not be involved.

So what are we waiting for? Let's make it easier to drill off and on shore with an expedited permitting process in the United States, and work on our pipeline and electrical grid infrastructure to get the energy to our refineries and industry. This will reduce our energy dependence on the Middle East, reduce our balance of payments deficit and produce hundreds of thousands of jobs and thereby make us more competitive in the global economy. Side benefits will be our national security, lower gas prices and respect in the world. We cannot do this without our ability to make things and being competitive in the global economy.

I'm an optimist about America and our resources (people and natural.) Yes, I know most of the arguments but we cannot wait 10 or more years for alternative energy. Yes alternative energies are great and should be a goal but this is today and respect and responding to markets is key in the global economy which we no longer can control because of the developing economies. The longer we wait the more difficult it will be. Some economists and world leaders outside the United States are starting to compare us to Greece. Only we can fix our problems. Other countries we depend on as our bankers for our debt cannot fix our problems.

So again, what are we waiting for?

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