It was a pleasure to read the Sunday guest commentary, “Together, we can make a difference,” a half-page spread on the opinion page written by a man that you describe only as an Everett resident.

Jackie Minchew hit the nail on the head.

Those almost exact words constantly echo through my head. We, the people, must accept responsibility for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and not blame the oil companies. They are doing an impossible job to get you and me oil daily to burn unnecessarily.

Try planting a garden under one foot of water to grow your potatoes, corn, peas, etc. Then imagine having to go 5,000 feet under water to start drilling 3,000 feet through rock to get to the oil. Taxes should make the price what it is in Europe, $5 or $6 per gallon, to get us to walk, bicycle or ride public transportation, except for the most urgent of trips.

Question: When so much of the oil is removed, will the Earth cave in? Or will the limited amount of water on Earth drain down there to fill that space?

Yes, we the people must accept responsibility. I am proud that we have such a thoughtful gentleman as an Everett resident. Thank you, Herald and Mr. Minchew.

Elwin F. Anderson

Everett