Letter: Marketplace will provide least expensive fuel

Friday, Jan. 5, 2007 | 7:12 a.m.

I had a good chuckle when I read the Sun's Dec. 29 editorial, "Learning a new drill."

Apparently, the first rule that liberals do not understand is the law of unintended consequences. The bull's-eye the Democrats are aiming at is painted on the backs of the gasoline consuming public, not evil Big Oil.

After the bipartisan politicians right the wrongs (cancel the tax breaks and coerce higher royalties from Big Oil), prices at the pump will increase to make up the difference, and the taxes and royalties will not be refunded to consumers; consequently, we will have the privilege of paying twice. Thank you very much!

I am categorically opposed to subsidies for anything, including oil, milk, sugar, wheat, etc. These giveaways are nothing more than a way for politicos to hide the actual costs of goods and to sustain inefficiencies in the market.

The unimpeded market will provide consumers with the least expensive, most efficient energy available. All forms of energy must be required to shoulder any costs incurred during their production, use and disposal. If such is the case, the cleanest, least expensive form of energy for a particular application will ultimately win in the marketplace.

The bad news, for consumers, is any current alternative to oil will be more expensive. The good news, for the environment and world politics, is the faster and higher the bipartisan politicians drive up the price of gasoline and diesel fuel, the sooner alternatives will take over the market.

F. Jay Harrell, Las Vegas