Inflation is up, gas prices are up, and energy prices have increased all over the world. It is far worse in many nations than it is here in the U.S. Yet, somehow it is President Biden’s fault?
Are people being disingenuous or just ignorant?
Gerard Pahl
Edinburg
Oil releases
don’t matter
A March 31 article from the National Interest.org website states that President Joe Biden was considering a plan to release 1 million barrels of oil a day from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for the next six months. This would be the largest tapping of the reserve in history. Biden previously tapped the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in November and in early March. The president has the power to tap the reserve without the cooperation of Congress.
So, what impact does it have on the price of gas at the pump? The answer is: absolutely none. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration website, the United States consumed an average of about 19.78 million barrels of oil per day in 2021. The truth is the 1 million barrels of oil per day that Biden proposes to release as a way of easing our pain at the pump equals a measly 5% of U.S. daily oil consumption.
Only a political solution will solve our gasoline problem. Biden’s current Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland publicly stated in an E&E News article of December 2020 that “Sure, if I had my way, it’d be great to stop all oil and gas leasing on federal lands.” Currently, her agency is slow rolling permitting for more than 4,000 oil and gas drill permits on federal lands and waters. The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, controlled by Democrats who are committed to a disastrous green policy, are the worst impediment to regaining oil and gas independence lost the day Biden was sworn in as president.
Gas prices at the pump will drop if Democratic Party control of Congress is removed in the 2022 midterm elections and we resume oil and gas drilling in our nation.
Robert Bonds
McAllen
Commentary
spurs response
This is in reply to the commentary “State order harmful to children” by Josephine Tittsworth and Mary C. Gonzalez on March 25. I agree that gender-affirming treatment is an issue that is currently facing our country. I also believe that an appropriate solution must be found soon before it becomes a harmful problem for all.
However, to accuse the state of Texas of basing their attempt to work toward a solution, on “stereotypical belief systems and not on best practices,” and demeaning the efforts of concerned, qualified state employees by questioning their ability to handle the situation might not be the best attitude. This can only serve to hinder efforts to find a viable solution.
I believe Gov. Greg Abbot has set a working foundation that can be used to build on as more innovative ideas become available.
Sometimes frustration can even prompt us to accuse and challenge the superior power, which is not only out of reach but of which we have limited knowledge and understanding. This is clearly demonstrated when it is suggested that those of us who choose to believe by faith in a creator are persecuting families who face the above situation.
If a solution to this issue is to be found, we must combine our efforts and not create a division among us.
Martin Villarreal
McAllen
