To the Editor:
As gas prices continue to rise I wonder if the Obama administration is listening to rural American people. We need affordable fuel in order to make a living. Plain and simple.
Is Washington listening to the backbone of our country – the farmers, fishermen, miners, and foresters? In order to grow food, catch fish, and cut trees working people need affordable fuel. To build and manufacture things America needs gasoline, oil, and grease for the machines.
Unfortunately, instead of helping rural America the Washington bureaucrats appear to be standing in the way of necessary progress with unnecessary and burdensome regulations on drilling and mining. This makes it even harder for the miners and oil rig workers to do their jobs. If the oil rigs aren’t allowed to drill and the miners aren’t allowed to mine then this hurts everyone.
Working Americans aren’t asking for government handouts and empty platitudes. Traditionally Mainers are self-reliant, resilient and hardworking because they have to be in order to work outside in the winter. People need affordable fuel so they can feed their families and heat their homes.
Yet it appears the Obama administration is listening to special interest groups instead of the rural backbone of our country. The bureaucrats are blocking the pipeline. Why?
Are the Washington bureaucrats afraid of common sense and an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay? Perhaps that is the issue. If Washington bureaucrats had to work as farmers, fishermen, miners, or foresters to feed their families then they would have the common sense to stop blocking affordable fuel that keeps America moving.
I graciously encourage the Obama administration to lift burdensome regulations. Please let the miners and oil rig workers do their jobs so rural America can keep working too.
Lisa Hunt, Newcastle
