bestideas

Seemingly, a main issue in this election cycle is going to be gas and oil prices. This is an issue that should have been dealt with many decades ago, but was not. The last measure attempted was back in the 90’s when the Republican controlled Congress put up a bill that would allow drilling for oil in ANWR (Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge). Then-President Clinton vetoed the bill. Now, there’s a shocker! The Democrats are historically against any kind of domestic oil drilling.

 Over the last few weeks, a new mantra has emerged from the Dems: “You can’t drill your way out of this problem”. You practically cannot turn on any of the media outlets without hearing at least one liberal mouthpiece utter those 9 little words. In my view, yes you can.

It’s a fact that it will take years to finally get oil from wells started today. Which is why it should have been done 10-12 years ago. The problem would have been fixed. So, how can drilling today fix the problem?? I’m glad you asked. The Arabs have no fear for lost revenue because their competitions (Mexico, Venezuela, et al) are all complicit. It’s all one big cartel. As long as the Arabs feel we are just blowing smoke about drilling for our own oil, they will continue to hold us hostage. And the rest of the cartel will gladly follow suit.

 We all saw earlier this week that the Arabs promised to increase production to try and bring down prices. That, my friends, is a smokescreen. A massage to try and get past the current crisis. Its happened many times before with the Arabs.

If we were serious about drilling, I believe the prices for oil will take a nosedive because it will make the Arabs very nervous that we are creating real and potentially damaging competition for them. Competition creates lower prices and better service.

Many liberals are also calling for the development of alternative and renewable sources of energy. That’s great! Let’s get that going right now! And say, for instance, that we discover the magic bullet. A non-polluting, car running, home firing solution that is easy, cheap and head and shoulders above oil and gas. How long do you think it would take to become mainstream? Probably 12-20 years.

The solution is multi-faceted. We must develop renewable sources of energy, but we must develop our own oil supply in the meantime. We must start the drilling immediately in ANWR, in the Gulf of Mexico, (China is drilling dangerously close to our waters for oil that should belong to us!) and other places like the Rocky Mountains. We also must build 3 or 4 refineries. It is of utmost priority to begin the recovery right now. The delay has already been disastrous.

Problems: McCain doesn’t believe in drilling in ANWR. Obama doesn’t believe in drilling at all. As the poet said, therein lies the rub. This isn’t about oil independence and it isn’t about the saber toothed moth or whatever species would be effected if we drilled in ANWR. It is about the soccer mom who has to pay $100 to fill up the mini van. It’s about the trickle down effect of transportation costs effecting the price of food, clothing, essentials. Just about everything is effected by the costs of oil and gasoline. It’s about the businesses that we depend on, like airlines and trucking companies who, coincidentally, depend on fuel,  are on the verge of going under. It’s about the skyrocketing costs to the consumer and the damage that’s been done to our economy.

In my estimation, it is no longer about policy or dogma, but survival. We can, indeed, drill our way out of this. But we must start right now.