Myrtle Beach Sun News Logo

Letter | Don’t be misled by pro-drilling propaganda | Myrtle Beach Sun News

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Subscribe
    • Activate Your Account
    • Account Support
    • Mobile Apps
    • Newsletters
    • The Sun News Store
    • FAQ
    • Cancel SunValues Delivery
    • Plan
    • All Tourist Info
    • Vacation Planner
    • Calendar
    • Where to Stay
    • Ask a Local
    • Festivals Guide
    • Best of the Area
    • Play
    • Nightlife
    • Golf
    • Shopping
    • Shows
    • Myrtle Beach Blog
    • Restaurants

  • Obituaries
    • All News
    • Local News
    • Crime/Courts
    • Business
    • State News
    • Nation/World
    • Weird News
    • More News
    • Politics
    • Myrtle Beach Bike Rallies
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Tourism News
    • Real Estate News
    • All Sports
    • High Schools
    • Coastal Carolina
    • Recreation
    • Golf
    • MB Pelicans
    • Auto Racing
    • More Sports
    • College Sports
    • NFL
    • MLB
    • MB Marathon
    • Toast Of The Coast
    • Green Reading Blog
    • The Roost Blog
    • All Opinion
    • Letters To The Editor
    • Submit A Letter
    • Editorial
    • Cartoons
    • Columns & Blogs
    • Bob Bestler
    • All Living
    • Coasting
    • Neighbors
    • Food
    • Best Of The Beach
    • Announcements
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Home & Garden
    • All Entertainment
    • Kicks!
    • Best Of The Beach
    • Movies
    • Calendar
    • Contests
    • More Entertainment
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Horoscopes
    • Celebrities
    • Music
    • TV

  • Legals
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
  • Classified Ads

  • About Us
  • Mobile & Apps

Letters to the Editor

Letter | Don’t be misled by pro-drilling propaganda

    ORDER REPRINT →

May 15, 2014 03:01 PM

In a face-off between billions in corporate profits and the rights of citizens in a community, big money tends to bet on the corporation.

But corporations can’t control our destiny unless we let them. If we obtain 100,000 signatures demanding that South Carolina’s coastal areas remain free of the danger of pointless drilling, even politicians coveting contributions from oil company lobbyists will be forced to listen to the voice of the people.

We are the only constituents they’ve got, and we have a powerful weapon to work with – our vote. This is not a conservative or liberal issue. It concerns the lifestyle that is a birthright of native South Carolinians and a magnet to newer residents.

Remember this: A lie is still a lie no matter how often it is repeated and how many people choose to believe it. Despite fictitious numbers you will hear rehashed incessantly, the following are the facts with which we must confront drill-baby-drill politicians and big oil:

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Sun News

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

• In the event of a moderate or large oil spill that washes onto South Carolina beaches, your home’s value will instantly plummet and it may become unmarketable (please read that again);



Offshore drilling guarantees no jobs for South Carolina workers; if any result, they are likely to be low wage and temporary. Any projected job numbers you see are so highly speculative as to be implausible; While oil production has become marginally safer as technology advances, a quick scan of any newspaper reveals that spills and their horrific consequences continue to occur on a regular basis; The only significant revenue that this dangerous venture generates will go to oil companies; some, like BP and Royal Dutch Shell, may not be American;
A moderate oil spill will cost 75,000 tourist industry jobs along the Grand Strand and countless more in Charleston, Beaufort, Hilton Head, Kiawah and other beach destinations; A moderate oil spill will reduce the value of all restaurants, hotels, and other tourist attractions along the coast to near zero; While we all support the goal of American energy independence, success is assured in the near future without any oil produced in the ocean off South Carolina; No amount of oil produced in South Carolina will lower our personal energy or fuel costs. All oil is sold to a world market. What CEO could keep his job if he sold his product at less than the going price? Even a minor oil spill will generate publicity that adversely affects tourism – our largest industry;
Creating the illusion of a recovery from a moderate oil spill – not a real possibility for the environment – will take decades to achieve. Tourists may be slower to forget.

The secret to citizen success on this issue is to write, call and pledge to politicians that you will vote against them if they support drilling. Industry strategy will be to dangle economic carrots, donate impressive sums of money to political campaigns, lie about the dangers, and wear us down. Our zeal is important. Our perseverance more so. Since lobbyists are handsomely paid and indefatigable, this struggle will require years of focus to achieve something resembling victory.

Beyond your letters and phone calls and votes, it is important that you – all of you – contact at least two other families and persuade them of the urgency of opposing this initiative that is so wrong for all of South Carolina. Sign the petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stop-the-maddness-no-driling-no-spilling.

The writer lives in Pawleys Island.

  Comments  

Videos

Nate McMillan and LeVelle Moton share Enloe basketball memories

UNC’s Coby White reveals favorite Duke-Carolina game, and it’s not what you’d expect

View More Video

Trending Stories

Her dog attacked another dog, Horry cops say, and now she faces a criminal charge

February 18, 2019 03:07 PM

Dozens of Myrtle Beach, Horry firefighters responded to blaze near Fantasy Harbour

February 18, 2019 12:04 AM

Mugshots, Feb. 18

February 18, 2019 08:56 AM

Here’s why Conway City Council members are irked at S.C. DOT following Monday’s meeting

February 18, 2019 07:22 PM

He’s accused of murder and setting a car on fire in Socastee. This is why he’s now free.

February 18, 2019 12:24 PM

things to do

Read Next

Should we send students to jail for sassing the teacher?

Letters to the Editor

Should we send students to jail for sassing the teacher?

By Cindi Ross Scoppe Associate Editor

    ORDER REPRINT →

May 01, 2018 11:32 AM

South Carolina’s disturbing schools law that lets police arrest students who talk back to teachers or otherwise ‘act in an obnoxious manner’ could be repealed. A House committee votes Tuesday on a bill to limit the law to adults.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Sun News

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the editor: I didn’t know I was an environmental zealot until I read Sen. Goldfinch’s op-ed

December 22, 2017 04:34 PM

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the editor: Use Lake Busbee for recreation

December 15, 2017 10:53 AM

Letters to the Editor

Seniors want to keep rubber bridge

December 08, 2017 03:36 PM

Letters to the Editor

Opioid crisis is killing us — we need solutions

December 08, 2017 03:12 PM

Letters to the Editor

Those trying to change Myrtle Beach for the better will be attacked

October 14, 2017 10:45 AM

Letters to the Editor

S.C. Autism Society ready to help Myrtle Beach mother

October 14, 2017 10:44 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Myrtle Beach Sun News App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
Advertising
  • Place a Classified
  • Advertise
  • Rates
  • Contests & Promotions
  • Local Deals
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story