The American Spectator

p> BEN’S OIL br> Re: Ben Stein’s Oil, Oil, Oil : /p>

The chief reason Barbara Boxer and others like her constantly nip at the ankles of the oil companies is, because they can. It is extremely odd that congressmen demonize the oil companies and they are the very ones who own stock in the very companies that are being paraded and berated in Senate hearings.

If America wants to look at higher fuel taxes, we look no further than North Carolina, Governor Mike Easley and his “Orcs” in the Legislature have created the highest fuel taxes in the Southeast. Mike Easley has saddled North Carolinians with a progressive fuel tax that is automatic and raised twice a year, the N.C. state legislature doesn’t even have to vote on it. Besides having the highest fuel taxes North Carolina suffers from some of the worst maintained roads in the Union, unless you discount the roads where influential lobbyists live.

What can America do? We can do nothing because both Republicans and Democrats are infected with corruption and unless we are lobbyists giving the N.C. Speaker of the House Jim Black a $500 steak dinner in Las Vegas, we’re not going to get a moment’s relief from repressive taxation.

p>This is exactly why Barbara Boxer can get away with it. br> — Melvin L. Leppla br> Jacksonville, North Carolina /p>

Oh, the poor, poor oil companies. My heart bleeds for them. Sheesh.