Dear Editor, This should make Americans ask the fundamental question: what is the
difference between what a public non-profit utility company provides and
what a private for-profit oil company provides? After all they both sell
energy to all United States citizens. The difference is that natural gas
and electricity are sold in the form of a public good whereas oil is sold in
the form of a private good.
Accordingly, on the grounds of promoting
national security, the United States Congress should convert all oil
companies to utility companies. This would eliminate the windfall profits
and force the oil industry to earn just enough income to cover operating
expenses just as natural gas and electric utility companies are required to
do.
The resulting drop in gasoline prices would further stimulate the
economy and lighten the energy stranglehold upon the United States by the
Middle East. It would also eliminate the influence of the oil lobby. In
this case, desperate times call for deliberate measures.
But as pathetic as
the energy policy is in the United States the effort to develop alternative
sources of energy won't really be accelerated until the oil dries up and the
Saudi's place solar cells all across their desert and then sell us the
electricity.
Respectfully, Joe Bialek From Cleveland, OH.
