Leadership in Energy Crisis

* Re “Widely Criticized in Crisis, Davis Defends His Caution,” Jan. 21: Gov. Gray Davis is preoccupied conveying the message he was not responsible and should not be held accountable for California’s power crisis.

Fair enough, but why didn’t he address the problem immediately, when it first presented itself? He seems woefully unable to make the difficult decision that we as consumers cannot be protected from paying higher energy costs. He lacks the political courage to let California consumers pay their fair share of rising electrical and gas bills for fear of hurting his future presidential aspirations.

Instead, Davis’ proposal of using state funds to buy and broker electricity for the state will surely lead to a longer crisis. Please, governor, we do not need another state agency to run and mismanage our local utilities.

PHILIP BRADFORD

Corona

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The most daunting part of the electricity crisis is the lack of leadership. Davis offers nothing of worth, lame-duck President Clinton never stepped up to the plate, and President Bush starts out his term by indicating that California is on its own. It seems to me, if these guys are not part of the solution, then they definitely are part of the problem.

RALPH A. De La PARRA

Whittier

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President Bush had better concentrate on solving the energy problem before he tackles anything else. It will not be solved by relaxing the environmental controls or by opening up the offshore or national lands for drilling.

It will be solved when the energy companies realize that getting rich overnight is not the way to go.

When energy is priced so high that businesses cannot afford to operate because of high energy bills--or no energy available--the answer is lower prices, not fewer rules or more drilling. And don’t give me that old “more supply, less cost.” We have a worldwide glut of oil, and the oil-producing countries are cutting back on pumping to maintain a price level. But have you seen a lower price at the pump or in heating your home? Without lower, affordable energy prices, Bush will preside over the worst depression in the short history of this great country; 1929 will look like a picnic.

DAVID L. CLAYTON

Newberry Springs

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It is interesting to note that as all the media weigh in on our energy debacle the words from our previous governor on this subject are never quoted. Let us not forget what Gov. Pete Wilson had to say in 1996 when he signed the bill to deregulate the electrical industry: “This landmark legislation is a major step in our efforts to guarantee lower rates, provide consumer choice and offer reliable service, so no one literally is left in the dark. We’ve pulled the plug on another outdated monopoly and replaced it with the promise of a new era of competition.”

I am sure that Wilson will come out of seclusion soon to provide us with his take on why his forecast has so miserably failed.

PATRICK BIRKETT

Laguna Niguel