The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Escape From Desiderata

7.24.08 @ 12:01AM

(Page 4 of 6)

Despite the fact that I am a free market conservative, I take issue with Peter Ferrara's assertion that there are essentially no limits to American "opulence," aka irresponsible behavior. For example, why shouldn't more fuel-efficient European "sardine cans" be available for sale in America?

Neither mindless consumerism nor radical environmentalism owns the franchise on virtue. It makes no sense to exploit domestic energy resources if the net outcome is zero, due to American profligacy.

Americans have never been self-defeatists. There's no reason to start down that road -- on either fork.
-- Arnold Ahlert
Boca Raton, Florida

Although I agree with Peter Ferrara's thesis that we should produce more oil, I do not agree that it doesn't matter if we sell it overseas. He argues that even if we do sell ours overseas, we can buy some of the resulting world surplus [from overseas].

He also assumes that the resulting world surplus will actually occur and that the OPEC countries will not cut back on their production. Naive!

His is exactly the fuzzy thinking that got us into this mess in the first place.

If we sell our "new" oil overseas, our oil-producing companies will make bigger profits, but the average person who needs fuel oil and gasoline at lower prices will not benefit from the increased flow.

If we buy more oil from overseas, we will send even more of our elusive capital overseas. That not only weakens our ability to produce saleable goods and weakens our dollar, it strengthens potential adversaries of many stripes overseas.

Venezuela has already spent $3 billion on Russian armaments, and is reportedly trying to buy $8 billion more. Where did they get all that cash? Selling oil. To whom? Us. Why is that so blinkin' hard to understand?

Drill more oil; refine more oil; sell more to us at lower prices. Why is that so blinkin' hard to understand?

Start putting America and Americans first! Why is that so double-blinkin' hard to understand?
-- A. C. Santore

Well, Mr. Ferrara, you've got my vote. Shame you're not running for office. Although, with your connections from the Reagan White House, what can you do to convenience the Republican Party to fuel the 'right-wing attack machine' with this kind of rhetoric and go to town on our liberal um... friends? See, this is exactly what is wrong with modern America. Not that the Liberals are in charge (that doesn't help) but just simply that we have allowed the Government so much power that they are now destroying the country our forefathers and philosophical ancestors worked so hard to build. Welcome to democracy, everyone. This is what always happens in democracy. Our Founding Fathers knew this, why did we allow ourselves to forget?

But, Mr. Ferrara, I'm going to tell you exactly what I friend of mine said to me not too long ago. I thought it perfectly encapsulated the modern liberal philosophy. "You're dealing with reality. Stop it!"
-- Charles Campbell
Austin, Texas

I do not want a Prius, or Social Security, or any other of the loathsome regulations imposed by the liberal Democrats, just leave the American people alone and things will work just fine.
-- John Orr
Tucson, Arizona

Could someone put this directly into the hands of a McCain lieutenant? Why is HE (McCain) not driving this information home via his campaign?

Letter to the Editor

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