Fifty years ago I was taught in school that the United States was one of the few lucky nations in the world that is an oil-producing nation. Over many years our nation was able to produce enough oil not only to supply our rapidly growing economy but was also exporting oil to other nations as well. In addition, we were taught that the untapped and enormous oil reserves of the U.S. would last over 200 years.

During the in between years, new oil reserves have been discovered practically all over the world, in the North Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, Libya, Venezuela, Russia and many other places on earth. Ten years ago it was noted that we import only 14 percent of our oil needs from the Middle Eastern nations, while our recently discovered oil reserves in Alaska were being shipped overseas to Asia.

During these last 10 years, cars and appliances became more fuel efficient; our naval fleet became mostly nuclear powered, while our numerous nuclear power plants are being used to generate electricity while our strategic oil reserves are overflowing.

Will someone in authority please explain to the common citizens of our great nation what has changed over the last 10 years that it became necessary for our reliance on imported foreign oil?

Could it be that the price of oil is being kept high in order to collect the tax in support of foreign and unnecessary wars and to dole out money to our so-called friends overseas?

It would be greatly appreciated if our elected officials address these questions and to do their sworn duty to protect and support the great majority of hardworking and decent American citizens. Thank you.

Nazzareno Zarb