Traverse City Record-Eagle

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March 12, 2012

Letters to the editor: 03/12/2012

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Rant not analysis

Steve Sutherland's recent "Gasman" article blamed current high gasoline prices on President Obama's energy policy, stating that bans on drilling in environmentally sensitive areas is the reason for high prices.

Mr. Sutherland is completely incorrect. It is clear that Mr. Sutherland is providing us with a biased political view rather than a factual assessment of energy prices. His claim that high prices are due to politically-imposed production constraints is laughable at a time when domestic oil production is at its highest level in eight years and U.S. barrel-per-day production has increased over 12 percent since Mr. Obama took office. Not only is domestic production up, but we now rely less on foreign oil than at any time in more than a decade.

The current administration has made controversial decisions on energy policy but these actions have not caused the current rise in gas prices. In reality, this is due to a combination of factors, including an improved U.S. economic outlook, changes in OPEC production and diplomatic tensions with Iran.

It would be helpful if Mr. Sutherland would stick to the facts surrounding energy prices rather than to produce biased, non-factual political rants masquerading as economic analysis.

Warren M. Call

Traverse City

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