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Expanding gulf oil drilling offers more risks than benefits

Re: More oil drilling isn't the answer, July 23.

I fully agree with former Sen. Bob Graham's op-ed in last Sunday's Times. Here are my reasons for rejecting legislation like the House bill being pushed by Rep. Richard Pombo.

1. Is there any proof that historic evidence of oil spills on the beaches of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama were even a consideration with this bill? I know that Galveston's beaches receive continuous oil sludge deposits from leaking rigs. And there are many thousands of rigs in the western gulf.

2. Given the forecast showing more frequent and deadlier hurricanes over the next decade, do you see any proof that the House bill includes a disaster plan for Florida should the new rigs be destroyed by another Katrina?

3. If so, did that disaster plan consider the effects of the "loop current" that would, according to Reps. Jim Davis and Mark Foley, spread the oil slick to most of Florida's beaches?

4. Do you see any proof that the risk is worth the reward? Many have offered that the yield in crude oil from new rigs in the eastern gulf would not provide any real impact on the price at the pump.

5. Do you see any evidence in the Pombo bill that addresses our critical need for renewable alternative energy sources? There is growing concern for the environment given the increasing demand for oil from China and India.

This bill offered no realistic compromise, yet Pombo convinced 14 of the congressional representatives from Florida, a majority, to vote for it.

Florida's magnificent beaches have, for some time now, suffered the scourge of the Red Tide. Will we now have to deal with a black tide?

My family urges Sens. Nelson and Martinez to defeat this poor attempt to hoodwink Florida by offering a carrot and getting a stick!

Jack Bechtold, New Port Richey 

It's no way to protect Florida's coast

Re: Showdown on drilling, editorial, July 26.

The Martinez/Domenici drilling bill in no way secures "protection" for Florida's coast. Senate drilling proponents are trying to pass off their bill as a victory for Florida's environment. It seems ridiculous to suggest that "protection" for Florida's coast comes down to deciding what is an acceptable distance to drill off Florida's beautiful beaches. An oil spill anywhere off of our coast would be absolutely devastating, and Floridians will be the ones to foot the bill for cleanup.

Nothing about this bill is good for Florida. Drilling off our coast will not lower our gas prices or significantly decrease our dependence on foreign oil. When it comes to our precious beaches, there is no victory in compromise.

Sen. Mel Martinez is wrong for jeopardizing Florida's coast. When he took office he promised Floridians that he would protect our beaches from drilling. Now he is giving oil companies the chance to drill off our coast. If we give them an inch they will take a mile; and quite possibly 125 miles.

John Nohlgren, St. Petersrburg

Save the oil for other uses

Re: More oil drilling isn't the answer, by Bob Graham.

I submit that drilling for more oil is in the best interest of our country but not necessarily to enhance our fuel supplies and decrease our dependence on foreign sources.

I distinctly remember what Dr. Latimer Evans, my organic chemistry professor, stated in 1958 about using petroleum for fuel. He stated that this country should develop alternative fuels as soon as possible in order to preserve the use of petroleum as a wonderful source of raw materials for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and consumer goods. The complex chemicals present in petroleum are irreplaceable and it didn't - and doesn't - make sense to burn them up to produce energy when other fuels are available.

The primary reason for its use as a fuel is that it is cheaper than alternative fuels. That will not last, and we need to conserve petroleum for those things for which there are no substitutes.

Michael O. Stone, Ph.D., M.D., Clearwater

Consider Egypt's alternative

Re: Missing the big picture in Egypt, by Max Boot, July 23.

I have never understood what your paper sees in Max Boot, although it is true he is strongly pro-Israel. Now he is back again, complaining vociferously about Hosni Mubarak and his dictatorship in Egypt.

To Boot, the Muslim Brotherhood is simply an excuse used by Mubarak to further his own dictatorship instead of being, in reality, the largest political party and force in Egypt (aside from Mubarak). Once in power, its radical Islamic agenda would far exceed that of Mubarak, creating another Iran. Boot and Israel would certainly not enjoy that.

W.H. Riddell, Tampa

Where is help for hardworking people?

Re: Trapped in the safety net, July 23.

Your story of the Tomasich family moved me to tears. I am sickened by the failure of this administration to help good, hardworking people like them.

If we can spend billions in Iraq for people who hate us, then why can we not do more to rebuild the Gulf Coast and help families like the Tomasiches? Will someone from this administration explain to me the rationale for their lack of concern for people like the Tomasich family, who only want the best for their family, have paid taxes here and want to work, while we spend all this money for people who don't care?

I understand this family's frustrations, as I was a new widow with four children during another Republican administration and could get no help at that time, either.

If people don't see the huge failures of this administration and vote accordingly in November, then I don't know where common sense, compassion and caring is in this country. We should not have to read another story like this one ever again.

Sylvia Fies, St. Petersburg

Fix the pre-K program first

The St. Petersburg Times reported on the state's desire to evaluate the Florida prekindergarten program (State to test for success of pre-K, July 26). This is important, but let's remember that Florida still is without the quality pre-K program its children need.

I am one of a diverse group of 50-plus adults called Seniors4Kids (www.seniors4kids.org) who have organized on behalf of Florida's children to convince state legislators to transform Florida's existing pre-K efforts into a high-quality program aligned with national standards. High-quality pre-K means teachers with bachelor's degrees, appropriate assessment tools and improved reimbursement rates.

I'm all for the evaluation of programs that will affect Florida's youngest citizens, but let's first fix what we know is wrong with pre-K before identifying new problems to tackle.

Jacqueline A. Shields, St. Petersburg

An attack on the black community

Re: Enter the thought police, July 23.

I disagree with Dahlia Lithwick. The incident in Miami is not about thought policing. This is the U.S. government putting more fear into the general white population regarding black people.

For years the black population has been criminalized, and now the government wants us to think blacks are terrorists. This is just another attack in a long history of attacks against Africans originally brought to this country against their will. This "set up" goes after the black community to further demonize it in the eyes of the rest of us.

This is a dangerous development for blacks! White people of conscience must demand that these young men be freed and see this FBI scheme for what it is - totally fabricated!

Anne Hirsch, St. Petersburg

[Last modified July 30, 2006, 06:05:43]