“Just how stupid do they think we are?” The Friday letter asks a very good question. The answer is clear — we are very stupid as a nation. That $5.99 per pound rib eye steak has the same chance of resulting in colon cancer as cigarette smoking results in lung cancer — but most will go on happily ingesting a carcinogen, no matter the cost. Stupid? Absolutely.
A lot of Americans still believe that offshore drilling will result in lower gas prices. Even though the tanker ships that carry crude oil to refineries are booked solid for the next five years. And even if we could get the oil to the refineries, they are running at peak capacity so it could not be refined into gasoline. Phil Gramm, one of John McCain’s economic advisers, was responsible for introducing and passing the law that allowed speculators to drive up the price of gas. But many Americans believe McCain is a “straight shooter.” Stupid? Without a doubt.
A lot of Americans believe that just talking about offshore drilling resulted in a reduction of gas prices. When those same people have been telling us for years that oil prices increasing was all about supply and demand. So when the demand goes down, those people insist it wasn’t Americans driving less that resulted in lower prices. Stupid? You bet.
People believe that if we drill offshore, or drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, we get to keep the oil. Even if we could refine the oil, by law, the gas still goes on the world market — it doesn’t stay in the U.S. Stupid? Undeniably so.
People are ignorant to the fact that oil companies already have more than 200,000 drilling leases on U.S. soil that they’re not using. Yet, people are screaming for more leases. Stupid? Positively.
Kevin Wruck
Marysville
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