Shocked! shocked! over U.S. oil addiction

So President Bush has just now discovered that “America is addicted to oil” (Feb. 1). Where has he been all this time? The people he condemns as liberals have been saying this for years.

I would stand up and cheer, grateful that he’s finally seen the light, except that I’m now wondering how he plans to cure the addict. With Iraq, Social Security reform, Hurricane Katrina and Medicare prescription drug coverage in mind, I just know there will be big bucks in it for someone, and that someone won’t be me. Ethanol from Halliburton, anyone?

HELEN MAURER

Mission Viejo

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Hey, President Bush, I think someone already called for cuts in oil reliance back in the 1970s. His name was Jimmy Carter, and your Big Oil friends laughed him out of office.

JACK REDMOND

North Hollywood

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If the U.S. is hooked on oil, then having Bush and his cronies in charge of energy policy is like having the Cali cartel in charge of the war on drugs.

TOM MURRAY

Arroyo Grande, Calif.