LETTERS: ADVICE FOR BUSH: LEAVE NATIONAL ENERGY PLAN ALONE

To the editor:

George Bush's choice of a "comprehensive national energy plan" seems like a throwback into the Clinton years. During the Clinton years we had Hillary Clinton's "comprehensive national health-care strategy," Robert Reich's "comprehensive national industry strategy" and Al Gore's "comprehensive national Internet strategy."

At today's prices, investors are currently pouring billions of dollars into new energy sources. This will drive down future costs of energy. With 90,000 megawatts of new electricity scheduled to be online in 2002 and 150,000 or more megawatts of electricity scheduled to come aboard by 2004, the future looks like there will be a glut of electricity to meet demand.

Futures in national-gas prices are about half the current price, and improved capacity for oil and gas is in the making.

So why have a national energy plan at all? Bush, like any other politician, wants credit for any improvements in our economy. Also it's possible Bush would take advantage of this shortage to pass out a few favors to old friends. The market will bring about an end to the energy shortage. Of course, politicians, because it's their nature, will scramble, aided by the news media, to claim the credit.

As a libertarian, I would just as soon Bush would stay out of the so-called energy crisis. I am disappointed that our friends, the conservatives, are not calling for him to do the same. He could easily do more harm than good.

JAMES NALL

Marble Hill, Mo.