Obama opposes drilling in Alaska because he thinks it's a political ploy. Obama says the benefits of drilling may not be realized for five years or more.
Well, I guess politicians aren't allowed to think that far ahead, are they? Incidentally Clinton made the same argument, and that was more than 10 years ago. If we had started drilling then, we would currently be enjoying the benefits of home-produced oil, prices would be lower, and we would be that much less dependent on Middle Eastern oil.
Oil is now the fuel that drives the engine of Islamic radicalism. Remove the revenues of oil and the Muslim world would join sub-Saharan Africa as the least important part of the planet. Of course if America stops buying from them the Muslims would still sell to other countries. But who can deny that new sources of supply would reduce the global price of oil? And this would naturally reduce the surplus that is available to fund Islamic terrorism.
Currently about 40 percent of America's oil comes from domestic production, and the rest is imported. Approximately 20 percent of our oil imports are from Canada, and another 20 percent come from Mexico and South America. Africa--mainly Nigeria--accounts for another 20 percent. Remarkably, only about 15 percent of America's oil imports are from the Middle East.
What this means is that eliminating American reliance on the Muslim countries is an entirely reasonable objective. The problem is that America's oil needs are increasing, and domestic production is not keeping up. So we are becoming more dependent on imports.
McCain intends to reverse this. He's not insensitive to environmental concerns, and so rather than drill in the Alaskan wildlife reserve he intends only to drill offshore. Even so, he is being opposed by the Obama Democrats and some fanatical environmentalists. These naysayers are trying to convincing America that more oil from Alaska means no more glaciers and caribou.
This is a wild exaggeration and a false choice. And if Americans are forced to choose between lower gas prices and a few more caribou, is there any doubt how the vote would go? I think I am in the majority in saying that I don't mind caribou, but I really like my car. Caribou are nice to see but we need gas to drive out and see them.
Let's by all means drill off the coast of Alaska. At the same time, let's drill some sense into the liberal Democrats.
Postscript: More than one regular responder to this blog has commented that my percentage numbers add up to more than 100 percent, demonstrating my poor math skills. Re-read the post. It says that two-fifths of our oil comes from domestic production and the remaining three-fifths from imports. Then considering only the imports, I give the breakdown of what percentage comes from each foreign region. So there is no math error--or rather, the error is on the part of the posters, who would do well to read more carefully or enroll in basic math.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 38)
1. "Oil is now the fuel that drives the engine of Islamic radicalism"
Um... no. That would be belief in God is the fuel that drives the engine of Islamic radicalism.
Also, Caribou don't exist for you to see them.
Ryan Anderson at 11:11AM on Jul 28th 2008
2. Drill Now, start building refineries and storage tanks, build nuke power plants, Go America GO!!
The Democrats don't want any of this to happen, they have wanted gas to be higher for a long time now. The Democrats wishes have come true. Obama said recently "I just wish the price of gas had not risen so fast" He doesn't care that gas and heating oil is high. Obviously the Democrats don't care they are doing everything and have done everything to stop any move to be independent with our own resources.
gwin cyfrif at 11:28AM on Jul 28th 2008
3. Wow - the Big Oil Propaganda machine is even using D'Stupid to lie for it.
A) Oil drilled in America is not garunteed to stay in America. The Multi-Mational oil companies will sell it to the highest bidder, and that is not necessarily US.
B) Oil is STILL finite. Why is D'Stupid not making a case for, as T Boone Pickens has, expanding Air, Solar, or even water power?
C) As much as everyone, including McSame wants to ballyhoo (lie), wants to say, hurricanes in the Gulf damaged and disrupted platforms and pinched the supply. Off Shore drilling is still a huge environmental damger.
D) It's not the drilling...it's the refining. There have not been any new refineries built in the US for almost 20 years or better. The ones that do exist are old, working way under capabilities due to their age, and dangerous. (Google refinery explosions for an eyeopener). Why no drive for new refineries? They don't MAKE money, they just alter the oil to make it salable.
As usual, more idiocy from the Big Oil Punks.
T.Brough at 11:31AM on Jul 28th 2008
4.
The Democrats don't want any of this to happen, they have wanted gas to be higher for a long time now.
BOY ARE YOU STUPID.
Remember how "W" said he was an Oil President, who could wrangle those Saudis becuase he spoke their langauge? That worked out pretty good, huh.
The price of oil increased 3-fold under a Rebublican President and a Rebuplican majority. The insessant whine that it's Clinton's Fault just doesn't jibe with the facts, lady.
T.Brough at 11:45AM on Jul 28th 2008
5. Robert Murphy of the Mises institute suggests that we would see lower prices WELL before we actually got oil from Anwar - oil producers would start selling off earlier to maximize their profits before the Anwar oil dropped the floor out from under them.
See http://www.mises.org/story/3047
Daniel Macintyre at 11:46AM on Jul 28th 2008
6. And once more Dinesh reveals the utter lack of imagination and pragmatism that is rife in the republican party. Not enough oil? Drill more. Invade countries that have it. Court regimes we can't invade right now. Do anything and everything to drill more oil out of the ground. Because as long as we can do that, we don't have to solve the problem of our oil addiction.
I'm a pragmatist. I don't oppose more drilling. I know it's a waste of time as oil companies spend less than five percent of their profits seeking to expand domestic production with more than sixty million square miles open for drilling. Open up another sixty and I doubt they're going to spend much more. But if you want to pretend like it's going to make a difference, have fun.
You want to drill more? Fine. How about ponying up some higher fuel efficency requirements? How about requiring national power efficency standards on new residential and commercial buildings? How about putting more money to develop commuter rail systems? How about more stringent regulations of the oil companies that are making money hand over fist?
The republican solution to energy is simplistic. Drill more oil. They're incapable of accepting the reality that oil takes millions of years to form. They also are incapable of accepting that Americans do not have a manifest right to every drop in the world. China and India's energy requirements are exploding and if we press the issue then we will have a real war on our hands.
Drilling for more oil is just more of the same old tired thinking that has gotten us into the mess we're in now.
Somber at 11:50AM on Jul 28th 2008
7. Currently about 40 percent of America's oil comes from domestic production, and the rest is imported. Approximately 20 percent of our oil imports are from Canada, and another 20 percent come from Mexico and South America. Africa--mainly Nigeria--accounts for another 20 percent. Remarkably, only about 15 percent of America's oil imports are from the Middle East.
Add up the percents and you get 115%. Where did you do your math that all that oil equals more than 100% of the oil we import/export.
Where did you get your facts? I dont think you have a clue as to where our oil and such is from.
CaptainCack at 1:10PM on Jul 28th 2008
8. Drilling for more oil is just more of the same old tired thinking that has gotten us into the mess we're in now.>>
The tired old thinking is pushing renewable energy to the exclusion of everything else. We need it all. More renewables, more oil, more nuclear. Our politically correct brothers actually like these high energy prices, as they think it will force us to move away from oil. Maybe it will, but we will remain dependant on oil for the forseeable future no mater what. This is the way of the world, and our ideological Leftist brothers refuse to see it. Next
Vote for McCain or you're gonna pay, at the pump and everywhere else.
Can you imagine a Pelosi run energy plan? With a democrat president she really can bring change to america, and if you're not afraid of what that change might be ... you're not thinking.
Thomas J Gassett at 12:05PM on Jul 28th 2008
9. 1. "Oil is now the fuel that drives the engine of Islamic radicalism"
Um... no. That would be belief in God is the fuel that drives the engine of Islamic radicalism.
Also, Caribou don't exist for you to see them.
Ryan Anderson at 11:11AM on Jul 28th 2008
The cultures that promote and promulgate violence as a definitive means of social control are ultimately more complex than P is why they do N. They are cultures for goodness sake. Whether "good" or "bad" they have multiple constructs that dictate their behavior.
By the way Dinesh, this post was irresponsible. You may think it's some kind of fluff piece, but if you feel one iota of responsibility for your environment, by all means say so. Drilling in Alaska is a good idea for now. But that's it.
oneblood at 12:14PM on Jul 28th 2008
10. DD's caribou joke WAS kind of funny...
Mokele Mbembe at 12:15PM on Jul 28th 2008
11. gwin cyfrif.
The Oil companies currently have the right to drill for oil on 65 million US acres and they are not doing so. Why? Because they want to drill everywhere and if they are seen to be drilling for oil in these places while gas prices remain high, the American public will wise up to the fact that there is indeed chicanery taking place in the oil industry from price gouging to irresponsible speculation.
You might also want to ask yourself why monkey boy waited for his brother to leave office as the governor of Florida before he threw off shore drilling out there as a viable possibility. Could it be that they he did not want to pose a threat to Florida’s huge tourism industry with the possibility of oil spills and seepage. Why is Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger similarly against off shore drilling?
Given Dinesh’s recent professed kinship with Islamic radicals in regards to their mutual disgusts towards Liberals actually engaging in life affirming activities (having a good time) I am hard pressed to reason why he would want us to stop pouring money into Saudi Arab oil and by extension the very radicals who hate us.
As usual Dinesh and his neocon cheerleaders ignore inconvenient facts in their zeal to blame Democrats for everything.
Uncle Meat at 12:15PM on Jul 28th 2008
12. Excellent post as usual Somber.
randy at 12:16PM on Jul 28th 2008
13. DD...so now you're an expert on the economy and the oil industry and the environment??
Why are you even weighing in on the drilling issue?....you have no relevant background and therefore...NO CREDIBILITY ON THIS ISSUE!
Any bozo can offer an opinion but why would you think anyone cares what you have to say about this topis?? Stick to your real strength -- sophmoric, quasi-theology.
John Galt
John Galt at 12:18PM on Jul 28th 2008
14. Ping
John Galt at 12:20PM on Jul 28th 2008
15. Let's by all means drill off the coast of Alaska. At the same time, let's drill some sense into the liberal Democrats.
Here's another example of a good christian drilling sense into democrats -
http://news.aol.com/?feature=102408
.... And I thought for a minute, it might have been gasbag.
ex-christian at 12:22PM on Jul 28th 2008