Industry Reaction

My hat goes off to Larry Goldstein of the Petroleum Industry Research Foundation, who was quoted in an article (Times, Jan. 8) regarding the oil industry’s response to President Reagan’s recent executive order banning trade with Libya. Most government and industry “spokespersons” seem to relish flooding the media with evasions, half-truths, and bald-faced lies.

How refreshing, in that context, are Goldstein’s comments. He says: “Companies should not make judgments about what’s moral and what’s immoral. That’s the government’s job.” It would be difficult to imagine a more truthful and succinct summary of the prevailing attitude of business in the 1980s.

PETER T. WOOLERY

Santa Barbara