To the Editor:

Although Bill Forry was right in his March 10 editorial to call for us to stop imports of Russian oil, I can’t agree with his proposal to also send more US arms to Ukraine. I’m with US Rep. Ayanna Pressley on this. In the House, Pressley voted to fund increased humanitarian aid but opposed a huge increase in Pentagon spending and $billions in new weapons funding for Ukraine, saying:

“Our budgets are a reflection of our values, and we have a mandate to center peace, justice, and human rights in all of our policymaking. As such, I could not in good conscience support the defense spending package that will continue our nation’s misguided commitment to the military-industrial complex at the expense of much-needed investments in our communities. This bill would also funnel millions to Ukraine for military purposes—resources I fear would only escalate the conflict, exacerbate the humanitarian crisis on the ground, and lead to an even larger catastrophe.

“There is no military solution to this conflict. I continue to center the Ukrainian people and their loved ones, who are facing devastating trauma daily, and encourage the Biden Administration to remain at the negotiating table in pursuit of diplomacy and peace.”

As for the Russian oil, the fact is that the US doesn’t have to import petroleum from Russia or anywhere else. Our country produces more than enough oil and gas to satisfy domestic consumption, but for the convenience and profits of the oil companies we are a net exporter of oil and petroleum products.

After 1975, US law forbade the export of crude oil. That was changed in 2015 at the request of the petroleum giants because it is more profitable to export oil from some areas of the US and to import oil to other regions. Part of the reason is that US law (the Jones Act) mandates that cargoes, including oil, transferred between US ports must be carried in US ships with US (and union!) crews rather than sketchy and cheap foreign flagged vessels.

The result is that US oil from Alaska and the West Coast is exported to Asia and US gasoline is typically shipped abroad from Gulf Coast refineries, while other regions – like New England – import foreign oil. Sanctions against Western Hemisphere oil producers like Venezuela also add to the complications and expense of supplying US oil refineries.

All of this contributes to the rise of oil and gas prices we are seeing today. While it is easy to call for “sacrifice” in supporting Ukraine, poor and working class Americans, already suffering from inflation for daily necessities, should not have to bear the burden.

For decades, many US politicians have argued for US energy self-sufficiency as an excuse for “more drilling.” But we are already self-sufficient in oil and gas and would be even more so if we ramped up green energy production, which would also help to save the planet. Meanwhile, can anyone explain why the US should continue to export oil?

US Sen. Markey and others have rightly called to reinstate the ban on US oil exports. We should support this measure, regardless of the current Ukraine crisis.

Jeff Klein
Jeff Klein is a retired local union president who lives in Dorchester and works with Dorchester People for Peace.