A Letter to Our Leaders
© April 23, 2008
Richard O. Harris
I know I stated earlier this year I was going to try to avoid any kind of politics. However, in an election year, and with an increasing frustration I have written a letter to some of our leaders. I thought I would share that letter with all of you so you would also know what I am saying even though I am not seeking any office.
I would also like to inform you of a website that you may or may not want to be aware of: http://www3.capwiz.com/mygov/home/. Here you can view a lot of the political issues on the individual ways your representatives are voting. It has been an eye-opening experience for me on the votes one of the representatives I voted for is behaving.
It may not make much difference but it does help me relieve some frustration to communicate my opinion(s) whether they are ever read or acted upon. My most recent email which I sent to the President, Florida Representatives, the Speaker of the House, and the number one Republican Leader reads as follows:
Dear (Leader),
I know you probably receive too many communications to read much less respond to all of them but I felt compelled to include you in my most recent communication to the President and my State Representatives. Following is my message to them and I hope at least some portion of it does not fall on deaf ears.
It is with mixed expectations that I write wondering if my input will be read or just ignored. Nonetheless, I do believe a "gas tax holiday" is long overdue as well as a reduction in the ''tax breaks'' given to oil companies.
It would, perhaps, be more sensible to provide those "tax breaks" only to oil companies that do not import oil from other countries. This, I believe, would allow a more even playing field and provide some much needed competition among the oil companies importing oil to explore within this country thereby providing jobs to U. S. citizens and reducing the nation's dependence on foreign oil simultaneously.
I would also propose we expand on the use of Geo-thermal energy within this country. My first thought every time I hear of the "long overdue" eruption at Yellowstone National Park is, Why are we not taking advantage of such a huge ''possible'' source of energy which may avoid such a catastrophe?
We have been too reactionary in this country for too long, i.e. Hurricane Katrina. Let us begin to become pro-actionary and take advantage of the natural resources at our disposal instead of waiting for another catastrophe to occur.
My apologies for the lengthiness of this note. I am just so tired of seeing the United States viewed as a 'weakening' and 'dependent' force on the World stage.
Sincerely,
Mr. Richard O. Harris
You may or may not agree but rest assured all feedback is welcome either way. Thanks for taking the time to read this and PLEASE vote if you do nothing else this year.
That was really neat. I hope they pay attention to what you said. I love you
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Harris:
ReplyDeleteThank you for contacting me about our national energy policy. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts with me on this matter.
Over the last decade, America's population and standard of living have expanded at record levels. The prosperity we have achieved has been sustained by our increased use of energy supplies. Unfortunately, America has not had a comprehensive energy policy leaving the nation with an energy crunch and increased prices at the gas pump and in home and business utility bills. During this time, our energy consumption has increased by more than twelve percent; however, our domestic production has increased by less than one-half of one percent. That means that our nation is more and more reliant on foreign sources of energy. When our nation depends on just a few countries for the majority of our energy, this adversely impacts American security.
On August 8, 2005, President George W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R. 6). The legislation sets forth a comprehensive national energy policy. The bill contains a balanced portfolio of measures that will help conserve energy and increase production to reduce dependence on foreign oil, promote a cleaner environment with renewable energy and alternative fueled vehicles and improve efficiency standards on electric products --- producing huge savings on monthly energy costs.
With an eye toward a more energy efficient future and a cleaner environment, the bill launches a state-of-the-art program to enable hydrogen fuel cell cars to compete in the market by 2020. Additionally, this legislation reduces foreign energy dependence by requiring conservation and domestic exploration. By using less energy and opening up new areas for environmentally-responsible exploration, we will become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Unfortunately, the legislation included language that directs the Minerals Management Service to conduct a seismic inventory of how much oil and natural gas rests beneath all waters along United States, including Florida.
While I supported many of the initiatives included in the Energy Policy Act, I voted against the conference report because I am strongly opposed to the inventorying language which I believe is the first step in the process of opening Florida's pristine waters to drilling. While existing federal moratoriums bar any new offshore leasing in most areas of the country-including waters off of Florida- this bill establishes policies that set in motion the expenditure of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to perform inventories off the coast of Florida which I believe establishes the wrong precedent for extending the current moratorium.
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America needs a long-term comprehensive energy plan that will reduce our dependency on foreign oil, further new energy technologies, and modernize our energy infrastructure. But it's wrong to enact a national energy plan that achieves those goals at the expense of Florida's pristine environment, and that is exactly what will happen under this plan.
Again, I want to thank you for taking the time to contact me. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of any further assistance on this matter or if you would like additional information on this topic or other issues facing Congress, please visit my website at crenshaw.house.gov.
Sincerely,
f
ANDER CRENSHAW
Member of Congress