Sayso

Achieving His Goals

Monday, January 31, 2005 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 7A 





It's time for all of us to register our deep opposition to the current
administration to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil development
by contacting our congressmen and senators. The Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge is our country's premiere wildlife refuge and the last unspoiled
birthing ground for many species. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Unfortunately, after years of attempting to open the refuge to drilling and
seeing that measure defeated in the United States Senate, the latest plan is
to use a legislative ploy by including revenues to be anticipated from the
drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in the budget discussions,
attempting to "back door" approval of drilling. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The fate of America's premiere wildlife refuge should be decided by an open
debate and an up and down vote, not by a legislative ploy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 To destroy this last great wilderness area in our country for the sake of a
negligible amount of oil (at most, 1 percent to 2 percent of our present level
of annual consumption of oil) that won't be available for 10 years, while our
government provides tax deductions for the purchase of gas-guzzling vehicles
that weigh in excess of 6,000 pounds (whether or not they are used for
"business purposes") is short-sighted. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If it was absolutely necessary to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge, many of us would only be in favor of doing so after we saw legitimate
efforts by our government to develop other alternative fuels, as well as to
encourage conservation of supplies by rewarding energy-efficient vehicles.
Additionally, as to average fuel efficiency, vehicles sold in the United
States are now below the level we previously achieved in 1980 and therefore we
are clearly becoming more dependent on Middle East oil, and despite paying lip
service to resolving that issue, the present Administration is content to make
us more and more dependent upon existing fossil fuels. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I urge all of you to contact your congressmen and senators and express your
opposition to the despoiling of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and also
visit the Web site of the National Resource Defense Council at www.nrdc.org,
where you can send a quick e-mail by merely inserting your address. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This fight is about "values" as opposed to "greed." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Garry S. Taroli Dallas

Administration Has Failed To Make Case For Arctic Drilling