In our politics and related economics, there are many questions whose answers largely reflect a point of view vs. a specific data-based conclusion. Are government-­paid school lunches a good investment, are they morally sound? Is an abortion justifiable at three hours, three days, three months? Little in the way of hard data, lots in judgment and core beliefs.

Thus, when we do have hard data to inform our discourse, we need to value it, respect it, share it. To wit: The Department of Energy data show the average daily crude oil output in the last three years of Donald Trump’s administration (the three highest) was 11.53 million barrels per day (BPD). In the first three years of the current administration the crude output has been 12.07 BPD, with 2023 a record 12.94 BPD.

So, can we please stop the “the Biden administration has shut down our oil industry” invectives? Facts do matter, whether one thinks this is good policy or not; and many on the far left happen to believe this is horrible policy.

And if one’s viewpoint is “well, the DOE just makes up those numbers to make Biden look good,” that can be brought up at your next Flat Earth Society meeting.

Terry Maher

Penn Township, Westmoreland County

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