Oil drilling still an important lifeline

The Gulf of Mexico oil spill has been and continues to be a catastrophic event. The regional economy has been devastated.

The oil and gas industry is as important to the Gulf economy as fishing and tourism, providing about 150,000 jobs, according to a recent New York Times article. But the administration's somewhat arbitrary six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling will decimate that sector as well.

A drilling hiatus will have other predictable effects. More oil will be imported from unreliable and autocratic countries. The price of oil will likely increase. State-of-the-art drilling rigs will move to Brazilian and African waters. Skilled drilling technicians will move to other areas or careers.

If the country cannot drill in ANWR, off the east and west coasts, and in the Gulf, what is left?

We need true presidential leadership that goes beyond pandering to the electorate, which generally sees through it anyway.

Norbert Hemesath

Cedar Rapids