The media tell us Gov. John Baldacci is joining with governors of several other states to call for a congressional investigation of alleged price gouging by oil companies, as an explanation of the high gasoline prices. Record profits by these oil companies are supposed to be viewed with outrage by consumers.

It is interesting that Baldacci, a Democrat, wants an investigation. He should go back and check to see how he himself voted when a congressman. He voted to prevent oil drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge.

By doing so, I believe he has favored dependence on foreign oil. This pandering to the environmental zealots played a large role in putting us at the mercy of Arab oil cartels. They, along with Venezuela and the Nigerian oil moguls, control the supply of most of the foreign petroleum. It is those entities that actually have, by far, the largest influence over what American pay at the pump. It is a simple problem of supply and demand.

Foreigners control the supply, or most of it.

If environmentalists here would back off, and let American oil companies do their job, the price of gasoline would come down.

Environmental regulations have made it enormously expensive to build refineries in this country, while the number of people, and cars has increased tremendously.

Since no new refineries have been built here, gas supplies are limited.

Harvey Lord, South Paris