The oil and gas Industry is at it again. Recent industry predictions state we will out-produce the Saudis by 2015. Increased fracking of shale formations has accelerated production of oil and gas, with more fracked wells on the way. This could drive gas prices below $3/gallon.

Sounds great! Give yourself a raise, buy a new TV—or, better yet, sink some money into the latest air conditioning equipment for your home. You’re going to need it. The question is: Why destroy the environment when we know burning fossil fuel causes climate change?

The oil and gas industry has no intention of leaving one drop of oil in the ground; it would be like asking a kid not to eat all his Halloween candy—impossible! Oil in the ground is cash in the bank for Big Oil. They spend millions convincing us fracking bedrock or strip mining tar sands is necessary, while knowing the clock is ticking on the atmosphere as CO2 builds up.

Blinded by greed, Big Oil has done nothing to find alternative sources of energy, only wanting us to believe they have. They created the “Global Warming is a Hoax” ruse by hiring the same PR firm employed by tobacco companies. How gullible are we?

I know it would hurt to keep gas prices at $4.00/gallon or more, but we need and alternative energy source and cheap gas only keeps us hooked. A little pain at the pump now will save us from agony in the future.

-- David Deick - Atascadero