Letters to the Editor
Editor:
The Great American Rip-Off of high gasoline, diesel and natural gas prices is happening right under our noses. While some presidential candidates propose drilling in ANWR, using U.S. strategic petroleum reserves, or eliminating a summer gas tax, no one is telling the truth.
Following the Iranian oil embargo and gas shortage in the U.S., we built the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Shortly thereafter, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act of 1973 required that Alaskan oil be consumed domestically, not exported. From 1973 to 1995, the West Coast of America was literally flooded with oil from Alaska, California, Hawaii and Texas, driving world oil prices downward. In 1995, the Republican Majority of Congress lifted the domestic Act of 1973 allowing Alaskan and other U.S. domestic oil to be exported. Then President Clinton sided (along with Congress) with the big oil companies and signed P.L. 104-58 in November 1995. It has been alleged that President Clinton needed the California vote to get re-elected.
In 1999, 50 percent of Alaskan oil was sent to Korea, 36 percent to Japan, and 12 percent to Communist China, totaling 98 percent and drove worldwide oil prices high. It is claimed that currently no Alaskan oil is being sent abroad, but this has not been confirmed. In fact, information regarding oil exports was withheld from Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, who demanded that the Commerce Department release detailed reports on which companies are exporting U.S. oil, how much and where it went. The Commerce Department refused to provide the detail Wyden requested, saying it could only be released to a Congressional Committee, not an individual Senator. The agency also claimed federal law forbids disclosure unless a finding is made that withholding the information contradicts national interest.
Our government continues to accuse OPEC of forcing high oil prices, but those statements are mostly false. The fault lies with the greed of U.S. Senators and Representatives from our major oil producing states. These states have made windfall tax revenues on oil by utilizing the higher world prices. For example, residents of Alaska pay no state income or sales taxes. What Congress fails to mention is that the U.S. ranks No. 3 in oil production in the world with 510,000 producing oil wells which is half of all oil wells in the entire world. Also, Congress leads us to believe that U.S. imports most of its oil from Saudi Arabia. This again is false. The three top U.S. imports are Canada (18 percent), Mexico (15 percent), and Saudi Arabia (12 percent).
Over half of all oil and oil products produced in the U.S. are exported to other countries. Two-thirds of all gas and diesel fuel imported by Mexico comes from U.S. refineries. That is not alarming. What is alarming is that Mexico’s fuel is approximately $2 per gallon because they have price controls.
How do we stop high gas prices? 1) Reinstate the 1973 Act that bans oil exports. 2) Have our NAFTA friends, Canada and Mexico, lower their oil prices. This will drive down oil prices worldwide.
Gary D. Bonnell
East Liverpool
The Great American Rip-Off of high gasoline, diesel and natural gas prices is happening right under our noses. While some presidential candidates propose drilling in ANWR, using U.S. strategic petroleum reserves, or eliminating a summer gas tax, no one is telling the truth.
Following the Iranian oil embargo and gas shortage in the U.S., we built the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Shortly thereafter, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act of 1973 required that Alaskan oil be consumed domestically, not exported. From 1973 to 1995, the West Coast of America was literally flooded with oil from Alaska, California, Hawaii and Texas, driving world oil prices downward. In 1995, the Republican Majority of Congress lifted the domestic Act of 1973 allowing Alaskan and other U.S. domestic oil to be exported. Then President Clinton sided (along with Congress) with the big oil companies and signed P.L. 104-58 in November 1995. It has been alleged that President Clinton needed the California vote to get re-elected.
In 1999, 50 percent of Alaskan oil was sent to Korea, 36 percent to Japan, and 12 percent to Communist China, totaling 98 percent and drove worldwide oil prices high. It is claimed that currently no Alaskan oil is being sent abroad, but this has not been confirmed. In fact, information regarding oil exports was withheld from Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, who demanded that the Commerce Department release detailed reports on which companies are exporting U.S. oil, how much and where it went. The Commerce Department refused to provide the detail Wyden requested, saying it could only be released to a Congressional Committee, not an individual Senator. The agency also claimed federal law forbids disclosure unless a finding is made that withholding the information contradicts national interest.
Our government continues to accuse OPEC of forcing high oil prices, but those statements are mostly false. The fault lies with the greed of U.S. Senators and Representatives from our major oil producing states. These states have made windfall tax revenues on oil by utilizing the higher world prices. For example, residents of Alaska pay no state income or sales taxes. What Congress fails to mention is that the U.S. ranks No. 3 in oil production in the world with 510,000 producing oil wells which is half of all oil wells in the entire world. Also, Congress leads us to believe that U.S. imports most of its oil from Saudi Arabia. This again is false. The three top U.S. imports are Canada (18 percent), Mexico (15 percent), and Saudi Arabia (12 percent).
Over half of all oil and oil products produced in the U.S. are exported to other countries. Two-thirds of all gas and diesel fuel imported by Mexico comes from U.S. refineries. That is not alarming. What is alarming is that Mexico’s fuel is approximately $2 per gallon because they have price controls.
How do we stop high gas prices? 1) Reinstate the 1973 Act that bans oil exports. 2) Have our NAFTA friends, Canada and Mexico, lower their oil prices. This will drive down oil prices worldwide.
Gary D. Bonnell
East Liverpool