More drilling would solve many problems

Steven Dimick, Las Vegas

Friday, Aug. 15, 2008 | 2:04 a.m.

John Scott wrote in his Monday letter to the editor that “the most surefire way to lower gasoline prices would be to strengthen the dollar.” He went on to blame the disastrous economic policies of the Bush administration for the weak dollar.

How do we strengthen the dollar? Reducing the trade deficit and budget deficit would be a good start. Domestic oil production, also known as drilling, would help accomplish both.

Drilling would give Americans jobs that are currently outsourced to many countries that don’t like us. This would reduce the unemployment rate in the United States. American jobs would increase tax revenue, thus helping to reduce the budget deficit. Increased domestic oil production would reduce the trade deficit.

All of this would increase the value of the dollar and the cost of oil would drop because of increased domestic oil production and increased value of the dollar.

Those opposed to domestic drilling argue that it will take years for any oil to reach the market. I ask them: What viable alternative do you have that will reach the market sooner?

The political conditions in the Middle East and elsewhere could cause the interruption of oil to the world market at any time. This could cause a dramatic increase in the price of oil and bring our economy and way of life to a halt. Increased domestic oil production would lessen the severity of a lack of oil imports and may even save your life.