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Saturday, Jul 4, 2009
while the U.S. is pumping to its heart continent on its outer continental shelf
Don't you mean "to its heart's content" there? You might want to fix that. And take a moment to proofread next time.
Much of the oil originating in Alaska goes to Japan, not the United States. Japan pays a higher price. The parties drilling for oil in Alaska and on the coasts do not include the U.S. government, but are private corporations. They will say thank you very much, SUCKERS, we will sell that oil to the highese bidder.
Someone reported on Garrison Keillor's site today that gasoline in Shanghai is selling for a little over $1.50/gallon. This is because China is subsidizing the price for its citizens. China will buy the oil because it has the wealth and because they can use oil as the ultimate weapon to finish us off without firing a shot.
I used to think that high oil prices would make Chinese goods more expensive but it isn't going to work that way. Exporters in the US get saddled with $5-$6 per gallon fuel while exporters in China pay $1.50. Game over and Bushco laughs all the way to the bank.
Everyone should stop exploring and drilling everywhere. After all, it won't have any measurable effect for decades, can't alter the price in any way, no matter what. Those new discoveries in Angola and Brazil? Forget it, it's a just a fake boondoggle.
Andrew Leonard: Good article. Thanks for framing it in understandable terms for me.
Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of American voters will never make it very far into the subtleties of this situation, so they'll probably fall for the GOP story that McCain wants to bring down the price at the pump, while Obama doesn't care that it costs us $50.00 to fill up our Honda Accords.
Right now I'm fantasizing Barack Obama liberally quoting this blog post in one of his next speeches.
...to say "bring on $5/gallon gasoline?" Or even $10/gallon?
By my way of thinking, yes, that will have a profound impact on the American way of life, and a substantial impact (in the short term) on the American economy.
But it will also serve as a major driver to move us from our deeply entrenched habits and inefficient and wasteful purchasing choices. The SUV's demise is already at hand (and not a moment too soon if you ask me!), many manufacturers are rushing to market with hybrids, plug-in hybrids, etc.
Then there are the consumer-oriented products like CFLs (and soon LEDs) for lighting, and there's increased research into wind, solar, and geothermal energy generation.
Given that the products of increased oil exploration will take as long (or longer) than simply bringing some of these new emerging technologies to market quickly, shouldn't the choice be obvious? Especially when you factor in the obvious consequences of drilling offshore and in ANWR?
...then why are they worried at all about higher gasoline prices? Why not be honest, and stay true to their principles, telling the American electorate, "Yeah, we know you don't like these prices, but in fact they are good for you and for the planet. High prices of a given commodity are the one thing guaranteed to lower consumption of that commodity."
Seriously, I am not going to be lectured to about economics, or environmental morals, or technology by Democrats. If you wnant the things you say you want, then don't complain about high gas-pump prices, and don't blame Republicans.
This is the stupidest thesis I have seen on Salon in many days, which is saying a lot.
I worked for three and a half years in the Safety, Health, Environment and Security department of an offshore oil drilling company. We had rigs all over the world. Well control and enviromental management is critical in offshore drilling. I don't think that there would be much environmental impact at all if the US offshore was opened to drilling.
I agree with everything you said in your article except the part about the fouled beaches caused by oil spills. That may happen, but it is by no means a foregone conclusion. I think you will find that oil spills are more closely associated with oil transportation than offshore drilling.
It is important to remember that oil is not the "bad" guy when it comes to global warming, that honor goes to coal. Oil is a henchman at best. I think there are compelling economic arguments for adjusting to oil scarcity now, but as a solution to climate change the priority should be increased energy efficiency no new coal plants.
It certainly isn't an either-or situation, and every little bit helps. However, the planet could stop using oil tomorrow, and would still face the same dire environmental consequences if the developing world continues to rely on coal to power its growth.
This is a very interesting piece, and I think it really does reveal much. It really does throw a light on how different the two worldviews are, and what's at stake. Well done.
am i crazy, or isn't the price of oil set globally?
would this relatively small bump in oil supply have a significant effect on oil prices?
Al Gore was right.
Offshore drilling, ANWAR, it's all the same thing.
I mean, why worry about fifty years from now when we could be making money today? If our grandchildren aren't tough enough or smart enough to figure it out, well - screw them!
I'm nearly finished with former CIA Agent Michael Scheuer's book Marching Toward Hell. In this book he proposes drilling to assist us in getting out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Are we preserving a few types of sea flora and fauna over the hundreds and thousands of US citizens we're losing to war in the Middle East?
Of course it's not that simplistic but neither is the supposition drilling is all bad. I was firmly opposed to it before, however it seems more prudent to me that we do drill to become stronger economically and less dependent on oil from the Middle East. If we reduce our dependence it takes the Middle East's proverbial gun away from our country's head that could bring our economy and our occupying military to a grinding halt.
In conjunction with drilling, establish taxes (I said, I meant it and I don't regret it) to fund research of viable alternative renewable sources of energy (probably not ethanol).
Our elected leaders need to take responsibility for the future now and stop floating assinine quick fixes like suspending the gas tax. Such pandering is only a temporary panacea and doesn't fix our problems as individuals or collectively as a country.
The Wasilla soap opera just gets weirder as Palin complains critics are "picking apart a good point guard"
The media outlet's use of Bush euphemisms sparks a much-needed debate on journalistic standards.
And so are his Fox News pals, who lambasted Sen. Al Franken's "stolen election"
An inflexible right wing is allowing the Golden State to drown in debt. But it's not alone
Thanks for sharing, Governor. Now please take a cue from Norm Coleman, and go away
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