Recently Republican Congresswoman Mary Fallin, representing the Fifth District of Oklahoma, expressed her support for drilling in the Arctic Reserve in Alaska and in our coastal waters.  She then held the Democrats responsible for $4 dollar gasoline. This is, at best, nowhere near the truth. 

            As a candidate for the Fifth District, I am obligated to propose viable solutions to America’s problems, and not just express opposition to her standard Republican proposals.

            First, in a market economy, the supply of gasoline is affected just as much by what flows out of the refinery as what flows out of the ground.  As Enron showed us, there are many ways to limit supply.  During the six years when Ms. Fallin’s party controlled the US House, the US Senate, and the White House,  our refining capacity actually went down, just as we were about to need it more than ever,

Second, automobile mileage requirements should be increased   Ones status in life can be stated just as well by driving a $50.000 car that gets thirty miles per gallon, instead of thirteen.           

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            Finally, nuclear power options should be re-explored.  Unlike coal mining, not one American has died in nuclear power production.  If the French can use it for 80% of their energy needs, we can probably figure out a way to make it work well for us.

            After being led by the most incompetent administration in the history of America, it will take more to fix our great nation than the tired old Republican policies of more tax cuts for the wealthy and drilling in ANWR.       

Bert Smith

Candidate

Fifth District, US Congress