Letter: Consumers shoulder blame for energy crisis

Saturday, Aug. 5, 2006 | 8:11 a.m.

This is in response to a recent Las Vegas Sun editorial headlined, "Saying no to more drilling."

You seem to consistently miss the real culprit - the consumer - for our dependence on foreign oil and the need to drill stateside.

Automakers, the government and the oil companies don't force people to buy gas-guzzling vehicles; the consumers made the final decision. It's simple Economics 101. If the demand is there from consumers, industry (oil and auto) will provide the products.

Given today's world political climate and hatred of the U.S., we had better get serious with energy conservation and begin looking harder at expanding our own resources. We need to make a choice - continue our wasteful ways depending on foreign oil, or get serious about conservation and other energy-saving processes.

We need alternatives to oil that are feasible, such as a huge excise tax on all vehicles that cannot meet a given fuel-economy standard. Business tax write-offs on gas-guzzling vehicles should not be allowed. A maximum speed limit in all states of 60 or 65 mph could be implemented and strongly enforced. This would probably save thousands of lives, too. Recreational vehicles are big fuel users, yet the tax code allows them to be written off as a second home. This is nonsense. People who can afford one of those road hogs can pay the taxes.

I am no fan of President Bush, but he has been trying to get this country less dependent on foreign oil. I say no more American troops dying to protect the resources of other countries so Americans can continue to drive their gas-guzzling vehicles in wasteful ways.

Stephen Kilp, Mesquite