U.S. must avert impending oil crisis, or pay the price

0 Comments | Insight on the News, May 1, 1995 | by Donald Paul Hodel, | Milton Copulos

In the final analysis, however, the most important action Congress and the administration can take is to acknowledge that a danger exists. Like Voltaire's Candide, official Washington seems convinced this is "the best of all possible worlds" - at least where oil is concerned. A terrible price may soon be exacted for their head-in-the-sand attitude. Unfortunately, it is the American public that will pay it.

Donald P. Hodel served as energy secretary from 1982 to 1985, and as interior secretary from 1985 to 1989. He is managing director of Summit Group International Ltd.. Milton R. Copulos is president of the National Defense Council Foundation and the author of more than 500 publications on energy, the environment and natural resource's.