1998 Lemoine letter on politics reprinted

Editor’s Note: The following letter was submitted by Gail Descant Lemoine of Marksville. The letter was written by her late husband, Stanley L. Lemione during the 1998 outer continental shelf discussions:

Dear Editor,
I recently watched an interview on CNN with Wolf Blitzer interviewing Speaker of the House Nanci Pelosi about our energy crisis in America. Pelosi finally answered Mr. Blitzer’s question after numerous attempts not to do so; and said that she would not allow a vote to be held in the U.S. House with regards to the exploration and drilling for oil on our outer-continental shelf. She says that it would take 10 years for the oil to reach the market and with serious environmental problems possible.
However, experts in the oil industry greatly disagree with her and say it would be available much quicker. The areas in question are from 500 to 250 miles off of the U.S. coast. These wells could not be seen from shore and with today’s technology; would have very, very little environmental impact if any at all.
The U.S. is the only nation in the world with vast amounts of oil and gas reserves off of our shores and yet we leave them untapped. We continue to let our automobile, chemical and manufacturing jobs leave our country due to high raw material and enerrgy cost. Why can all those other countries drill on their outer continental shelves and we not do so. Billions of dollars leave our country yearly and go to countries that want to destroy the U.S.
We can overcome this energy crisis with a combination of oil, natural gas, sun and wind power, nuclear power, shale oil, energy conservation and renewable energy sources. Also look at the jobs these would create.
What is Rep. Nanci Pelosi afraid of by not allowing a vote on this issue in the U.S. House. Polls show that more than 75% of American support oil drilling on the outer continental shelf. Does the majority count anymore in this country? Who’se interest are they representing?
Where are our leaders now? They seem to be more worried about Clemons and Bons maybe using steroids and holding countless hearings about it and this is not a serious national crisiis like energy is.
When the Roman Empire fell, Emperor Nero was said to be playing his fiddle and drinking wine, while the greatest nation at that time crumbled around him. Is this going on behind the doors of the U.S. Congress now?
Will someone please turn off the music, close the bar and step up to the task of leading our nation in these difficult times.
Stanley L. Lemoine, Plaquemine