Montana's oil and gas wealth should benefit state's residents

Letter to the Editor, 

An open letter to all politicians:

Awhile back I wrote a Letter to the Editor asking why Montana’s oil, natural gas and coal couldn’t be refined and marketed in state.

I assumed the politicians could read (Republicans anyway) but I received no answer, but then I remembered how busy they are fund-raising and getting re-elected and all.

Anyway, don’t these resources belong to the people of Montana? What about state’s rights? Why make board members of big companies rich?

Most of the profits could stay in Montana, think what this could do for the state!

Is there a written or unwritten law that says these natural resources have to go on a world market? Is there some god that says (money comes to mind) these resources have to be shipped out of state?

Politicians I would appreciate answers.

Seventy years ago Hitler ran 60-70 percent of his war machine on synthetic fuel (gas, diesel and lubricants) derived from coal. After the war a prototype, based on German plans, was built in the U.S. from coal we refined gasoline at 10.4 cents per gallon.

At that time it was more expensive than we could refine from crude oil.

My point being where is the technology today?

Oh, by the way, Montana has more coal than any other state in the union!

Come November there is going to be a huge change in our political climate.

Now is the time to act! I know we have lots of politicians but very few statesmen.

Politicians, we the people are waiting for answers.

—Terry Griner

Troy