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Oil dependency not an addiction
To the editor: In his most recent letter, Jose Orta shows genuine concern about the devastating impact higher oil and gas prices are having on our economy and personal lives, “admitting energy addiction first step to recovery” July 22, 2008. Although President George W. Bush used the same term, “addiction,” I disagree with the term. When we say “addiction” we generally mean using a substance or engaging in behavior that is harmful to us, and which we can live without. Using tobacco, alcohol or drugs is harmful but those who do so continue because of it’s addictive properties. Therefore, they are “addicted.” Eating too much, working too much (work-a-holics) and the converse, couch potatoes are other examples of addiction. These activities are something we can live without and we will also be healthier human beings without them. However, and this is the main point of my letter, we cannot live without gasoline, oil and oil products as I mentioned in my previous letter dated June 17, 2008, “Oil prices increases beyond belief.” Our dependancy on oil is not an “addiction,” it is a basic necessity. Frank L. Chovanec Taylor
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