http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/science/earth/01energy.html?ref=science
On March 31, 2010 at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, President Obama discussed his plan to potentially open up the shores of the United States to oil drilling. Many people, including Obama supporters were taken aback with this decision but overall, I support the plan. The idea behind the plan is not to take us off of foreign reliance on oil, simply because there would not be enough new oil to do that. But it is to help ease the burden, explore new energy (clean) technologies, drill safely while protecting our natural resources, improve security and to help the economy. The plan would open up parts of the Atlantic Ocean below the tip of Delaware for an exploration phase because many of the geological maps are upwards of 30 years old. If oil was found, it would be up to the government to determine if they want to open the land up for lease or not. If they choose to do so, the government would get some much needed income to further their environmental plans among other things. At the same time, the new areas for drilling would open up jobs in the oil industry to get people back to work. Under this plan, no drilling would be allowed on the Pacific Coast and Alaska's Bristol Bay, famous for its billion dollar fishing industry and wildlife, would be protected. This plan is a middle of the road approach which appeases some in favor of drilling and does not necessarily hurt those who are looking to protect the environment. This decision may also enable President Obama to gain some allies when he pushes to further his environmental initiatives.
2 comments:
Off-shore drilling is a horrible idea because of what it implies. First it implies that Obama is not exactly in control of his own beliefs because his campaign to become president would not have approved of off-shore drilling. However, now he has given the ok to begin the first phase of off-shore drilling. The reason for this is most likely do to the Oil Companies ability to lobby and manipulate our government. Off-Shore drilling may eventually in ten years bring some cash into our government but not nearly enough to off set the true cost of this betrayal. Oil is a dead end because it is not sustainable, so why begin researching for new possible oil fields. Obama is supposed to be green yet apparently his true colors are revealed. Colors that are in allign with corporations. The second thing this off-shore oil business implies is that our country still is trying to find ways to skirt the real issue of peak oil. The real fact is that Oil has reached its peak and our unsustainable consumer economy, which consumes more than most of the developed world combined. Off-shore drilling implies that we are either desperate for money or we are influenced by corporations. I mean honestly how much money will these leases really bring in? Instead of doing this whole off-shore drilling, which is a waste of time, we should just legalize marijuana and tax it like ciggarettes, which cause more harm and is way more addictive than marijuana.
President Obama never said he was against offshore drilling, so he is not abandoning his beliefs. He campaigned with the plan to reduce our reliance on foreign oil, search for domestic sources of fuel and to ALSO, not ONLY move TOWARDS cleaner fuel. Off shore drilling is a great idea because 1. it will help create jobs and keep current ones 2. add money to the struggling economy through those jobs and the lease agreements 3. Although only a little, will help us move from foreign oil 4. Help establish much needed Allis for later bills regarding energy (Allis are necessary in todays political world). In addition, the Congressman from Massachusetts is proposing to amend an earlier bill regarding royalties from oil fields that will help bring in 10s of billions in the next 20 or so years. This money would be in addition to what the leases and new royalties would be.
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