Letter to the Editor The Sun-Sentinel

September 29, 2009

Letter to the Editor
The Sun-Sentinel
200 East Las Olas Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301

RE: To drill or not to drill. That’s the question. Some thoughts on your editorial on the subject of drilling in the Gulf of Mexico off the pristine coast of Florida.

Sirs,

Wait a minute. There is drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama permit, I dare say encourage, drilling off their coasts.

Tourism, particularly beach tourism, is a vital part of their economy. I can walk to a restaurant from my home that features sea food from the Gulf of Mexico. They advertise where in Louisiana their oysters come from.

How do these states manage to combine tourism, a thriving seafood industry, both commercial and sport, and off shore drilling?

Speaking of off shore drilling, what will Florida do Cuba starts to drill? They have contracted with a Chinese company to drill on their sovereign territory. Short of leasing some United States Navy warships – a carrier, an attack submarine, and a frigate would do nicely – how can we stop them? Further, should an accident occur do you think they will subject themselves to the jurisdiction of American courts?

Would not Logic and a loosely defined Moral Imperative demand that since Florida will not permit drilling it should eschew any of the benefits gained from those states that do?

How about a special tax on sea food products from any state that permits off shore drilling?

How about 2 or 3 days a week without air conditioning?

How about a speed limit of 30 miles per hour?

Think of the benefits.

We would reduce our carbon footprint.

We would save the drowning polar bears.
We would be able to extend the life of our crumbling infrastructure because we wouldn’t be using it as much.

We would be secure in the knowledge that we were in the forefront of the great crusade to return to the glory days before the Industrial Revolution, before trains and planes, and before plastic. Speaking of plastic try to imagine a hospital without plastic. You can’t.

Florida has been getting a free ride on oil and gas and the benefits from them.

Either we pay our way or we stop living off the work of others.


Kevin Smith

PS – Shouldn’t we stop using electricity made in coal burning plants? Shouldn’t we stop using electricity made in nuclear plants?