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• Wednesday, June 18, 2008 07:43 PM

  How much and how long?

  I live in Florida and was aghast at our beloved Governors recent flip-flop. I've lost a lot of respect for him.

  I'm also an independent, for what its worth.

  Here's my question (and some input) about off-shore drilling: if we did decide to do it, how long would it take for these new drills to be built and rigged up to go? I've heard anywhere from 3 to 5 years.

  Now I am not paranoid about "spills", even though I live in Florida. But I wonder what the cost of all these new drills would be? Tens of billions? I assume the oil compnaies would be footing the bill, but why waste 5 years and billions of dollars on a temporary solution (oil) if we are genuinely committed to getting OFF oil? And what would consumers do price-wise during those 3-5 years. SOME say that the global market price would DROP but my instincts tell me exactly the opposite. That in anticipation of a glut in 3-5 years, prices woudl actually RISE. That makes more sense to me.

  Next, I have heard that the price of oil set in teh open market is to some degree a result of speculators. I'm not expert, but this seems to be an unregulated activity that may be part of the problem. Doesn't it make better sense then (if we want to see a drop in oil prices) to look into the futures market and create some sort of regulation? And if we FAIL to do this, what happens when speculators speculate about our *alternative energy* sources like the hydrogen we'd use or the batteries needed to run cars...I think these questions need to be addressed before we run off the coasts and start drilling. It seems awfully reactionary and to tell the truth the fact that the oil companies are involved... I don't know...it has the feel of a crack dealer giving you a free sample...or your auntie baking a chocolate cake when you're one diet...Sure, its great, but ultimately it derails you from the goal. WE NEED TO BE OFF OIL ALTOGETHER.

  —MaddieP Read MaddieP's other letters
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