Writes: Bruce Barnbaum – Granite Falls, Wash.

‘Panic thinking’ about gas prices stalls progress

When panic sets in, thinking ends. After Sept. 11, 2001, the American public fell for the lies about Iraq being a major threat to the U.S. and supported the invasion. Panic ruled the day. It has taken years for a majority of the public to turn against the unjustified war.

Today, with gasoline prices hovering around $4 per gallon, the public is again in the throes of panic-thinking. This phrase, of course, is an oxymoron, for there is no thinking when panic takes hold.

After years of sensibly opposing offshore drilling and drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge because of its potential effect on the environment, panic is pushing the public toward support of such drilling.

Studies show that opening those areas to drilling would have no significant effect on gasoline prices for at least 10 years. At that time, the effect of drilling in Alaska would save roughly 2 cents per gallon at the pump, along with possible devastating oil spills. Of course, by then gasoline could be $10 per gallon or more.

Obviously, drilling would do nothing to lower prices. But when panic takes over, people cannot see facts or common sense. It matters little what the issue is. Panic trumps thinking every time.