Offshore Oil Drilling

What do you think about Bush's proposal to start drilling for oil offshores?

My opinion: Don't. When "Exxon-Valdez, Part II" breaks loose, then we'll all know who to blame...

 

So we should just sit and do nothing? Thats a great plan.

 

The price of oil is just a simple equation of supply and demand. If the supply for oil is at a diminished rate, eventually the demand for oil will follow suit. People are already decreasing their driving and gas dependency, which leads to cleaner air, less CO2 emissions, etc.

 

There are several reasons not to drill at this time.

1. The environmental risks. I certainly don't want them to drill off the coast of California, and I would not expect citizens of other states to feel differently. The reason there is a ban in place now was because of spills off the coast.

2. Allowing drilling to begin would have no appreciable effect on the current situation. Even once the oil comes it will only be a proverbial drop in the bucket.

3. The longer the US keeps its oil reserves there are several benefits. First, as the world's oil becomes more scarce the value will only go up. Second, it acts as a savings for the US - at a time when there is little else we are not depleting rapidly. Third, by depleting the US oil resources we put our national security at risk in the future.

I would like to see the US keep our reserves as reserves.

 

So we agree then. Increase the supply by drilling offshore while also requiring higher gas mileage. We should tap into our resources while researching alternatives. The answer is a simple two step method. By drilling offshore we can see relief in a soon as 5 years. If we put higher standards on the auto industries with new advances in technology we can see results in as soon as five years. We have to start doing something now not wait like the Dems are suggestion.

 

We need to look for alternative now and drill now. That is the answer. Why is China drilling off the coast of Florida and not us?

 

Drilling is the only solution. Once we start drilling in the gulf prices could immediately start to decline due to the world seeing that we are taking action...finally.

 

Try and keep up . . .

"Vice President Dick Cheney's office acknowledged on Thursday that he was mistaken when he asserted that China, at Cuba's behest, is drilling for oil in waters 60 miles from the Florida coast."

What we should do is look for alternatives now. And that only helps create the impetus for action on alternatives, efficiency and conservation.

 

Why not pull out of Iraq, and plow the surplus funds into alternative fuel research?

 

Alternative fuel research and drilling is the solution.

 

I worked offshore on an oil rig in the gulf of mexico for a bit. Good times!

 

I agree.

And it is true that China is not currently drilling actively, but they are still planning on doing so. They will be drilling for oil here in the U.S. before we will. Drilling for oil is like looking for a needle in a haystack, you can't just put your equipment down in any spot and drill. They are researching right now to find the "best" spot to start. So I think the arguement still stands that they are taking up our oil and we are not. Ridiculous.

I watched an interview with Trace Adkins yesterday on the news and he always impresses me. He was discussing the whole oil drilling debacle and is pressing for the U.S. to start drilling. What does a country star have to do with oil? Well, what do you think he did before he became famous? He was a blue collar worker drilling oil.

He has seen first hand what it take to drill oil and the precautions that are in place to prevent oil spills or damage to the environment. Yes, there will always be a chance that damage to the environment will occur, but there are many more regulations and precautions in place now.

To me, not drilling because of the environment is like not wanting to send your kid out to play because they could scrape their knee or break a bone. There's always a chance of something bad happening, but you have to let them go and explore or they are going to become a dependant brat for the rest of their lives. Do we want the U.S. to turn into a dependant brat? I don't.

And whose to say that if we don't drill and try to find the quickest alternative fuel possible that we won't end up screwing something up with the environment anyways. Look at all the drugs on the market these days that they wanted to get out so quickly, they didn't take the time to properly test the long term effects. I can see the same thing happening with alternative fuel. Oops, we didn't think of that situation. Sorry our fuel is unstable/caustic in certain situations and 20 people died. Whoops....

 

We should all just run around poking holes in the ground, we may get lucky.

 

All excellent points, BTW I find it funny that those who are pro drilling immediately think it's an actual solution, but can not even respond to us using what little oil we have such as you brought up 'national security risk'

There are many options that would benefit us far greater in the long term, finding ways to get to more of the shale we have and convert it into crude for example.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4133668.ece

This is another great idea.

The notion of drilling will bring prices down in any long term lasting effect is only gobbled up by the weak at mind. Especially when there isn't even that much to begin with!

 

Its simple law of supply and demand. The solution is simple... "Alternative fuel research and drilling is the solution." The Grim facts are if nothing is done the economy will dive into a deeper recession. Talk is cheap steps need to be taken today.

 

How its a risk to national security?

 

If we can not get oil from outside of the country in a time of war and we've used the little bit up that we can get to now how is that not a national security risk?

Our armies do not move w/o oil..

 

Having those reserves is a security asset. If we use it up that asset then it is gone and is not available if needed. I can't predict the future, but if oil continues to become more scarce and expensive I can see a time where we would need to tap US reserves to to fund or fuel the protecting of America.

I don't expect non-Americans to have the same perspective. Your interest and my interest might not be the same.

I am not comfortable with the notion that at some time in the future the US has no oil reserves and is reliant on the benevolence of countries like Iran or Saudi Arabia to sell us oil.

 

I grew up on the coast of Southern California. I am utterly against it. Another short-sighted, stupid idea from this administration.