Develop U.S. reserves

I am dismayed by Congressman Sander Levin's position on energy security ("U.S. needs new approach to energy security," June 25). The Department of the Interior estimates that there are 118 billion barrels of recoverable oil beneath U.S. federal lands and coastal waters. In the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge alone, there are 12 billion barrels. Developing our own vast oil and gas resources that are currently off limits should be the centerpiece of any rational energy security policy.

Raise tax to conserve

Oil prices are controlled by supply and demand. Raising the tax on gasoline to $5 per gallon would cause people to change their driving habits and take money out of foreign pockets. That is the solution to the falling dollar. It is better to pay twice as much for fuel than three times as much for food. A higher tax on gas could subsidize tax breaks for truckers' diesel.

Drill to tap U.S. oil

Several years ago, President Bush said we needed to further develop our own oil resources by expanding off-shore drilling and tapping into the oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Democrats blocked this, saying it would do no good because it would take about seven years to realize the benefits of expanding oil production. Plus, they claimed it would ruin the refuge's pristine nature. It is uninhabitable. We need about 10 square miles in an area of more than 100 square miles to develop the oil resources in this area.

U.S. needs stable supply

The Iranians saw that the price of oil was dropping, so they stirred the Middle East pot of strife by firing nine missiles ("Brian O'Connor's "Oil up, down on thin margin," July 8). They are doing everything that they can to jack up the price of oil and, in the process, bring Western civilization to its knees. It is really time to replace them and their precious oil with something more equitable, dependable and stable.

Alternative solutions?

U.S. Rep. Sander Levin's commentary was the typical political hodgepodge of pointing the finger of blame for high energy prices everywhere but at himself and his colleagues in Congress. It's the Democrat-controlled Congress that has degraded the value of the U.S. dollar by incessant deficit spending (with the help of the Republicans).

How long will it be before biofuels and other experiments in fuel sources are available as a practical solution? Before offering alternatives as a solution, shouldn't we know when the alternatives will be available and at what cost?

Prices give early warning

In their zeal to find a scapegoat for our energy cost-crisis, our politicians have overlooked the fact that the commodities market has, in effect, been a very effective early warning system for a looming disaster for our economy. As painful as the high cost of oil is for all of us, the reality is that there are no gas lines and fuel shortage.While we need to conserve and develop technologies - all medium- to long-term goals we absolutely need to pursue - we need to take the steps necessary to increase oil supply now so we can head off this looming disaster.

Enforce speed limit

I agree with those who think having the government again mandate a 55 miles-per-hour speed limit is ridiculous. Start by enforcing the existing 70 mph limit before doing anything else. Most trucks and cars get good mileage if they are staying at or below the current 70mph limit.