To the Editor:

Time to wake up, America! Things have to change. What we see happening in Ukraine is unconscionable.

Since becoming a player of some significance on the oil and petrochemical scene, Putin has decided to flex his muscles and he needs to be reminded he is not invincible. One way to do that is to hit him in the pocketbook! Every time we fill our tanks with gas, we contribute to his war chest.

Why are we still buying Russian oil? Oh, right, now I remember, someone higher up decided we Americans should quit being energy independent, quit producing so much oil at home and buy Russian! By doing so we have aided and abetted — and still are by the way — Ukraine’s desperate situation.

We should not be begging Russia or OPEC to sell us more oil, we should be petitioning our politicians to do their job and demand the restoration of drilling operations and the opening up of the Keystone Pipeline work here in America immediately, creating American jobs and American profit! America could be exporting oil and gas to the EU.

Please, folks, write to your representatives and senators. Time for us “little people” to make our voices heard! Stand up for American Made, America!

Darrell and Rose Howe

Monument