Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, July 17, 1993                   TAG: 9309040330
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FOREIGN OIL

America's dependence on oil imports has returned to the consumption patterns of the early 1980s, after increasing more than 9 percent in the past six months. That brings it to 48.2 percent of domestic deliveries - and rising.

In other words, the United States is putting itself at the mercy of oil-producing countries in a volatile part of the world where its allies are few and provisional, at best, and its enemies are many and steadfast. Leaving Americans vulnerable to events that are beyond our control, and which we likely will prefer to have no part in.

Granted, the United States cannot cocoon itself from global affairs. But neither should it unnecessarily put itself at the mercy of potential crises in unstable lands.

Nor should it sacrifice its environmental health in an effort to sate a thirst for a constant, unrestrained gush of cheap oil. It is a thirst that is never satisfied - nor will it ever be without a change in energy policies.

To cut our dependence on foreign oil will require that we cut our dependence on oil, period. And that means the nation needs a disincentive for burning so much of it - starting with gasoline.

President Clinton, in abandoning most elements of his proposed energy tax increase, ought to insist on a rise in the federal gasoline tax sufficient to start slowing the flow. A few pennies' increase won't do.

After an embargo, threats of embargoes, a war and threats of war, America has shown no sign of learning its lesson. It is as heavily reliant on foreign oil as it has ever been, and is growing more so. It is time now to pay more dearly for oil dependency, or we will find the cost dearer yet later on.