‘Big Oil’ Is Big Plus

Published October 1, 2006

Dear Editor:

Regarding “Should state haul big oil and auto giants to court?” (Oct. 1), whether something is truly a “nuisance” requires weighing the benefits as well as the alleged harms.

Would it really have been better these past 100 years to have disease-spreading horse manure filling our streets, like in the Good Old Days? Think of all the lives automobiles have saved by making transportation to hospitals and doctors’ offices quick and feasible. Think of all the wealth society has accrued as a result of having automotive transportation for people, goods, and merchandise to central meeting places. Think of all the taxes and fees the state has collected directly from automobiles and spent on unrelated programs.

It seems to me Attorney General Lockyer should be more concerned about defending a countersuit than prosecuting his silly political gambit.


James M. Taylor ([email protected]) is senior fellow for environment policy at The Heartland Institute and managing editor of Environment & Climate News.