Not the answer
The U.S. Senate has taken a step toward turning part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge into an oil field ("Senate Blesses Drilling in Refuge," March 17). At its peak in 2025, oil extracted from ANWR will supply only 1 percent of U.S. oil consumption.

Alternatively, including our sport utility vehicles in the corporate average fuel economy standards would save a comparable amount of oil while reducing pollution and global warming, advancing alternative fuel technology and saving consumers a little money.

Raising CAFE standards would go much further in reducing our dependence on Persian Gulf oil sources (the motivation behind two Gulf wars) without adversely affecting our environment. Only the oil companies and their stockholders will benefit from ANWR drilling.

Once again, this administration proves its concern is more for the health of its corporate sponsors than for the health of our citizens, our wildlife or our planet.

JACK DOMAN
Squirrel Hill

Selfish votes
I was very disappointed to read that both of our senators, Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum, voted to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling for oil. Actually, I was not surprised that Santorum voted to defile the last pristine area of the United States in an attempt to satiate the gluttonous appetite of the modern American for oil.

I was surprised that Sen. Specter voted for drilling. I am saddened that our society is so selfish that we have to use everything for ourselves and that we leave nothing for our children and the future.

TIM PERSINGER
North Side

Their true interests
Sens. Arlen Specter's and Rick Santorum's votes in favor of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are another indicator of their shortsighted devotion to special interests, the profitable and the short term. Pennsylvania is represented by two men who, like their party, appear indifferent to the true long-term interests of our country: certainly not a few months' worth of oil. Ultimately, it's not about the wilderness -- it's about the attitude.

RICK LANDESBERG
Squirrel Hill

Headline hyperbole
I object to the misleading headline "Senate Blesses Drilling in Refuge" (March 17). It's bad enough that 51 shortsighted individuals voted to approve drilling, but you make it look even worse by saying that the Senate "blessed" this decision. A more appropriate headline would have been "Drilling in Refuge Narrowly Approved by Senate." Thank God that PG editorial cartoonist Rob Rogers still has the spine to show the truth about our so-called energy policy.

DIANA BRYANT
McCandless