Why do Lindsey Graham, Tim Scott back drilling?

Just in case some readers missed it, both of our U.S. senators support drilling off our coast. Obviously, they paid no attention to what happened to Gulf Coast states just a few short years ago —to their environment, to their tourist industry, to their fishing industry. I presume they don’t care if the same happens here.

No, it doesn’t happen often, but it causes far-reaching problems when it does. Ask those particularly affected in Mississippi and Louisiana. One should be asking why our senators are so keen in promoting this. They like to claim “jobs.” Building an oil rig is specialized construction and could mean a temporary increase in workers, but none locally that I’ve heard of.

If the long-term idea is for building a refinery, do the citizens of our state know what that can do to the environment? Do they know what a spill can do to property values, tourism, sporting fishing? Anyone who enjoys the beach, has a history along the coast or cares for our wildlife needs to give a resounding “no way” to the senators.

The State publishes a cross section of the letters we receive from South Carolinians in order to provide a forum for our community and also to allow our community to get a good look at itself, for good or bad. The letters represent the views of the letter writers, not necessarily of The State.