Columnist Fails to See the Need for American Independence When It Comes to Oil Supplies

The OPEC piece is very timely and thought provoking. James Flanigan said all the correct things but should have gone on to say the best defense for the U.S. consumers is a strong U.S. domestic petroleum industry with access to new oil and gas supplies, from both onshore and offshore sources.

We had such a strong domestic petroleum industry in the mid-1980s that we did break the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ control. The United States can respond with new petroleum supplies right here at home to offset those new barrels from OPEC before they become the proverbial straw that can breaks Uncle Sam’s back.

E. D .B. LAUDEMAN

Rancho Palos Verdes