I've been hearing a lot of bullshit about how we should drill more oil to fuel our disastrous amounts of oil consumption.
I absolutely believe that fuel prices shouldn't be so high--because, like everything else, it hurts the poor worst.
The answer is not to drill our way out of this crisis.
If we were to start developing more drilling sites off our coasts and in ANWR this very instant, no oil would be extracted from those sites for 5-10 years. By that time, if there is any hope of mitigating the human and economic casualties of global warming, we need to be relying largely on renewable, carbon-neutral fuels.
Secondly, contrary to public opinion (because the media and the government is being purposely misleading), the oil that would be extracted from off-shore points and from ANWR would not go exclusively to the American market. It would not get directed towards the American market at all. It would enter the world market, sold by the same oil companies that are reaping morally repulsive profits today. Because that "American" oil would be going all over the world, we wouldn't even see a 10 cent decrease in the price of gas. And given that that will be 7 or so years from now, I don't think it'll make much of a difference if your gas is $7.10/gallon or $7.20/gallon.
However, if your algae-derived ethanol (and jet fuel, for that matter) is just $3.50
/gallon and falling as production increases and technology improves, well, that would make a big difference.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I don't know if the media is being purposely misleading, I feel like they're just stupid in general. I watched "Countdown" with my Dad today and almost choked on all the obvious bias and poor reporting.
The President, on the other hand, is being misleading, and shows his true stripes with this one. If anyone out there had doubts about his motivations as president (and I count myself included in that group), note that he has now lifted this ban, and is urging us to drill when, as Merry correctly said, any benefits wouldn't be felt for at least 7 years. In a time where EVERY OTHER MAJOR POLITICIAN IS PUSHING FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, President Bush is pushing for more oil. And who happens to be a major stakeholder in the oil business? ::head to wall::
I'd love to see you before you leave. Call me back!
Post a Comment