The demand by lame-duck President George W. Bush to open drilling in previously protected areas of the coastline should be seen for what it is: It's another effort to reward his friends and contributors in the oil industry ("Bush: Drill Offshore for Oil," June 19). Facts show how unnecessary this action is.

With credit to The New York Times, "separate studies by the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Wilderness Society, a conservation group, show that roughly three-quarters of the 90 million-plus acres of federal land being leased by the oil companies onshore and off are not being used to produce energy. That is 68 million acres altogether, among them potentially highly productive leases in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska." Eighty percent of the recoverable oil off our coasts is already open to recovery by these oil companies.

If the oil industry isn't using 68 million acres it already controls, why the urgency to provide even more to it? How much more can this administration give to the oil industry before this administration is gone? Is it too much to expect honesty from this administration, just once?

JOHN PAVLOSKY
Forest Hills

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I feel obliged to provide some information for letter writers Anthony J. Biondi and Bill York ("Oil Restrictions" and "Revise Energy Policy," June 17 respectively). To start, Mr. Biondi blames our current energy policies on the Democratic Congress. Please be advised, Mr. Biondi, that from 1994 to 2006, Congress was controlled by Republicans, and since 2001, George W. Bush has been president.

As to our dependence on foreign oil, perhaps we should have invaded Canada, since it is our largest supplier at 17.2 percent. Mexico has been second at 12.2 percent. Saudi Arabia supplies only 10.7 percent. The entire Persian Gulf supplies only 16 percent of oil imports. These are facts from the Energy Information Administration, statistics of the U.S. government.

Now Mr. York seems to believe that oil companies don't make much profit. Perhaps he missed the reports of the record high profits made by oil companies, including Exxon, which reported the largest quarterly profit of any company in history. Both gentlemen may be surprised to know that there are no laws or restrictions preventing the building of new refineries. Oil executives recently told Congress that there was no need for new refineries. Of course not! That would increase supply and reduce prices.

According to the EIA, U.S. imports of oil will not increase dramatically in the near future, but our consumption will, thus raising prices. This is the real problem. We do not need to drill for more oil so we can consume more. We need to use our money and technology to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. For the sake of our environment and future generations, the time is now!

JEFF WIGTON
Edgeworth

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I have read several pieces recently regarding Barack Obama's position on dealing with tyrants. Negotiating with anyone is far better than getting our country involved in a senseless war that up until now has produced no positive results.

Our current leader, George W. Bush, has successfully turned most of the countries of the world against the United States. Why do so many countries hate us now? Just maybe it's because we have the most powerful tyrant in the world leading our country. Think about it! A good defense is always better than a good offense. Prevent, don't antagonize. Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate, and after all else fails, consider war.

Can this country really afford four more years of a George W. Bush?

JOHN C. MILLER
Hampton

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I am very disappointed with UPMC. The news that the health system is closing South Side Hospital is very depressing ("Restructuring Will Close UPMC South Side, Expand Mercy," June 13). We have depended on that facility for many years. It is a good hospital for care, and the location is ideal for a lot of people.

We have lost so much through the years -- among other things, our beautiful churches and schools. Now some selfish, rich people decide to take our hospital too.

When someone you love is in the hospital, it is nice to be able to visit him or her without taking a long bus ride to an unfamiliar area.

South Side has some of the best doctors and nurses who live in or have an office in the area.

With the price of gas and traveling time in traffic, UPMC is not thinking about the doctors or the patients.

The people in charge of this change are not helping us, they are hurting us. Why?

AUDREY MANNING
Mount Oliver

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Shame on Mayor Luke Ravenstahl for his veto on the much-needed campaign finance reform ("Mayor Vetoes Cap on Campaign Donations," June 10). Shame on council members Darlene Harris, Dan Deasy, Tonya Payne and Jim Motznik for voting against this much-needed bill ("Council Fails to Override Veto of Campaign Reform Bill," June 10).

And shame on them for thinking the public is stupid enough to fall for their reason for denying this legislation, which is that some day there might be a wealthy person who will self-finance his or her own campaign. It is like saying, "I'm not going to fix the flat tire on my car because the windshield wipers don't work, so I'll throw the whole thing in the dump."

The real problem is that there are no caps on local political donations. "Regressives" can throw out the red herring that reform should start at the state level, but that is like saying, "I'm not going to fix the flat tire on my car until everyone else fixes their flat tires."

Or they have said, "If someone is going to give money, caps won't stop them." That is like saying, "I'm not going to fix my flat tire because I might run over another nail and get another flat tire."

Where does this get us? Nowhere.

If this is the game the mayor and his Gang of Four on council want to play, I say all of us who believe in actual reform should pull out our checkbooks and write fat checks to the candidates who are willing to challenge the mayor and his cohorts to get self-interests and special interests out of local politics.

JOHN RIEGERT
Lawrenceville

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Amy Lewis of Scott wrote that she is "tired of hearing these stories about Mayor Luke Ravenstahl at the Penguin games" ("Give Mayor a Break," June 11).

Well, I am really tired of suburbanites incessantly commenting on issues concerning the city of Pittsburgh. Ms. Lewis, you don't live in the city of Pittsburgh, so keep your comments and infallible advice to yourself.

You may want to pass this letter around out there in the utopian suburbs. I have seen far too many letters offering comments and advice concerning the city of Pittsburgh from suburbanites. We in the city of Pittsburgh are so sorry that we aren't up to your standards of government and citizenship.

PHILIP E. RETENAUER
Greenfield

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To be sure, the death of NBC's Tim Russert was unexpected and tragic. He was justly renowned as a hard-hitting interviewer and will be missed. However, we were hearing about him for many a day by every talking "news reader" in television.

On the same day that saw the death of Mr. Russert, a half-dozen young but anonymous service persons reportedly died in this useless war. I cannot imagine what the families of these "noncelebrities" must think, after watching all the attention that has been heaped on Mr. Russert. Tragedy, after all, affects both the celebrated and the obscure.

Are we truly experiencing so profuse a cult of celebrity worship that this abundance of attention is justified?

ANDREW GERENYI
Franklin Park

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Enough public clamor about saving Schenley High School. No more suggestions for a referendum on the ballot so voters can vote on this minor issue ("Board to Tackle Schenley Referendum," June 20). Do our Pittsburgh school board members, City Council members and other public officials remember that we have children being shot on our city's streets? Do they remember that the Shuman Center is filled to capacity?

We have limited resources as a city, and we need to direct them toward programs that will help us save our children first and then our historic buildings.

PENNY CRARY
Squirrel Hill

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It seems to me that Schenley High School is a structure truly worth saving as a functioning public school for the city. Creative solutions to the financial problems, such as city Councilman Bill Peduto's, could help save this noble and historic school ("Schenley Proposal Called 'Irresponsible,' " June 13).

It's true: A mind is a terrible thing to waste, so please don't waste the building that has housed so many of those beautiful minds.

SHARYN REED KELSON
Forest Hills

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