"Offshore oil" article off base

I appreciate The Chronicle's Sept. 22 front page article, "Offshore drilling emerges as issue in N.C. races," on the issue of "offshore" drilling, but the claim that my "plan does not address environmental concerns" is a bit inaccurate. Look, the reason we waste so much, and pollute so much, is that the price of oil is artificially low. It is subsidized by tax breaks to oil companies, and huge payments for unjustified foreign wars. If we had to pay the full cost of oil, two things would happen. One, we would use less, a "demand side" response to high prices. (Environmental concern no. 1: Reduces pollution!) Two, we would focus on alternative, and likely less-polluting, energy sources. (Environmental concern no. 2: Make green energy profitable, and it would flourish.) Both of my opponents want to use tax money to bring the price down. I say, charge the real price of gas, and let those prices produce the positive environmental effects. That's my plan. It is my opponents who refuse to address "environmental concerns."

Mike Munger

Chair, political science

Libertarian candidate for governor