The Moral Imperative For Drilling

[gilliam]

THE other day in a poor part of Central California, I talked with a number of folks at a rural gas station. Most drove second- and third-hand pickups, large cast-off sedans or used SUVs.

They didn’t have the cash to buy a new fuel-efficient Honda or Toyota. And they were now spending a day or two of their wages just to fuel their cars.

But I also fill up three hours away on the San Francisco peninsula. High-priced hybrid cars and new more-efficient SUVs are everywhere. After listening to these quite different motorists, I can confirm: The wealthier and better-educated seem less concerned about gas prices.

nypost.com/seven/06122008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/the_moral_imperative_for_drilling_115065.htm

 

[puzzleannie]

we are hardly wealthy, recently replaced 20 yr old suburban with a hybrid, and would have bought a smaller car anyhow because reason for purchase and use of the truck no longer exists. cost of the 2007 car is about the same as buying a new compact car by same or other maker. Cost to run it, the way I drive (DH has taken over my pickup because he now does the ministries for which I purchased that vehicle) will be about 1/4 cost of driving comparable 4 cyl. gasoline powered compact car.

since the pickup will now have less than half the annual mileage than when I drove it, that cost will also go down.

planning ahead for purchases is not the exclusive habit of the wealthy. the elderly and frugal also work this way.

 

[brotherhrolf]

Drilling has caused environmental damage to the coastline of Louisiana. The canals dug to get the drilling rigs into the marsh have resulted in a loss of coastal wetlands. That having been said, the damage is not irreparable.

Offshore, the story is entirely different. The rigs are prime fishing spots for our offshore fishermen and shrimpers. The rigs are carefully shut down in preparation for approaching hurricanes and I am not aware of any spill resulting despite the ravages of the hurricane season. I can’t speak for California - maybe weather/tectonic conditions are of concern there. But how different is Florida from Louisiana or Texas? What conditions do they face that we don’t?

There is a great deal of truth in that article.

 

[puzzleannie]

I think author of the article makes another fallacious assumption, that the wealthy are liberal environmentalists, which may be true in California, but probably not here in Texas and other oil producing states. If you want to see some schizo environmentalists in action watch the new planet green channel on satellite (used to the Homes) same shows–house flipping, organizing, getting rid of clutter, decorating, diy etc–but now everything they do has to have some kind of “green” label. It is charming to hear them talk about harvesting “renewable resources from the rainforest” and “sustainable development” and energy efficient high end appliances that cost more than some folks’ entire house. my point-- a rich person will buy what they want, when the want it, in any market, and use any rationale upon which to do it. Wealth does not make conservatives or liberals, environmentalists or ecological disaster. Greed is greed and can be practices just as well by people of any political persuasion or income level.

 

[Al_Masetti]

Drilling has caused environmental damage to the coastline of Louisiana. The canals dug to get the drilling rigs into the marsh have resulted in a loss of coastal wetlands. That having been said, the damage is not irreparable.

Offshore, the story is entirely different. The rigs are prime fishing spots for our offshore fishermen and shrimpers. The rigs are carefully shut down in preparation for approaching hurricanes and I am not aware of any spill resulting despite the ravages of the hurricane season. I can’t speak for California - maybe weather/tectonic conditions are of concern there. But how different is Florida from Louisiana or Texas? What conditions do they face that we don’t?

There is a great deal of truth in that article.

Don’t forget all the negative publicity when they were planning the Alaska pipeline. Turns out the caribou birthrate went up, not down.

So there is no reason not to drill up in ANWR. The residents of Alaska want it. The governor of Alaska wants the drilling. But somehow environmentalists are worried that drilling might threaten the mosquito population up there.

Perhaps all environmentalists who oppose ANWR drilling should be required to spend a few months camping out up there.

The moral imperative is to not waste the oil by not drilling for it.

 

[MJE]

the blocking of the drilling 50 miles off shore brings up the question, how far can one see out when standing on shore and looking out? I heard some caller on the Hugh Hewitt radio show say if he were running for president he would announce drilling on the front lawn of the white house if that is what it takes. I’d vote for him!!

 

[Dee_Dee_King]

it’s the same old story, wealthy secular elites telling poor people what’s best for them. margaret sanger told the poor they shouldn’t reproduce, now they tell the poor to ride a bicycle while they go buy expensive hybrids which require greater energy to produce.

what do we expect when we live in a society that permitts abortion and praises materialism? we get what we deserve.

 

[Yerusalyim]

the blocking of the drilling 50 miles off shore brings up the question, how far can one see out when standing on shore and looking out? I heard some caller on the Hugh Hewitt radio show say if he were running for president he would announce drilling on the front lawn of the white house if that is what it takes. I’d vote for him!!

And here in lies another problem. US companies can be forbidden from drilling up to 50 miles out…however, US territorial waters end at the 12 mile mark. There’s absolutely NOTHING preventing China from parking an oil rig at 13 miles, getting the oil, polluting because of less concern for the environment…and then selling it to the US on the open market…that makes good sense.

 

[Dale_M]

the article:

No one is talking of more domestic drilling to give our SUVs one last gasp at $2 a gallon gas

Actually, I think that is exactly what people are looking for. Gas prices soared in the 1970s and everyone was talking about conservation and more fuel efficient vehicles. But after 1980 gas prices fell relative to the other prices and to wage increases. And with cheaper gasoline, the American public fell back into its old ways of wanting and driving gas guzzlers.

 

[leftistdestroye]

Let’s not forget that oil and gas are not the only things to be concerned about. Not all oil is made into gas.

A barrel of oil yields these refined products (percent of barrel):

47% gasoline for use in automobiles
23% heating oil and diesel fuel
18% other products, which includes petrochemical feedstock—products derived from petroleum principally for the manufacturing of chemicals, synthetic rubber and plastics
10% jet fuel
4% propane
3% asphalt

18% goes into many other products. And those prices increased as well as gas. And we all buy those products.

Food prices have gone up because of Ethanol use. That hurts the poor too.

And expcet Soy Beans prices to go up to, because the need for Ethanol already has Soy Bean farmers wanting to grow Ethanol(corn) instead.

The short term answer, right now, is to drill and build more refineries in the US. To hell with the environazis. Step right over them and start drilling. The price of oil will drop instantly, the moment it is known that the US will begin drilling. INSTANTLY As soon as they know the market will produce a greater supply, the prices will drop.

 

[josephdavid]

Let’s not forget that oil and gas are not the only things to be concerned about. Not all oil is made into gas.

A barrel of oil yields these refined products (percent of barrel):

47% gasoline for use in automobiles
23% heating oil and diesel fuel
18% other products, which includes petrochemical feedstock—products derived from petroleum principally for the manufacturing of chemicals, synthetic rubber and plastics
10% jet fuel
4% propane
3% asphalt

18% goes into many other products. And those prices increased as well as gas. And we all buy those products.

Food prices have gone up because of Ethanol use. That hurts the poor too.

And expcet Soy Beans prices to go up to, because the need for Ethanol already has Soy Bean farmers wanting to grow Ethanol(corn) instead.

The short term answer, right now, is to drill and build more refineries in the US. To hell with the environazis. Step right over them and start drilling. The price of oil will drop instantly, the moment it is known that the US will begin drilling. INSTANTLY As soon as they know the market will produce a greater supply, the prices will drop.

With regards to the Biofuels raising food prices I agree. To me it is not THE solution and was a knee jerk reaction to oil prices going up and the problems we have in the Middle East.

Now what about fuel effeciency standards keep being raised and subsidize our dying car industry to develop this? We subsidize oil companies now who are making unbelievable profits from high oil prices. Why can we not do that for the auto industry?

Will it not take several years to get the oil to market? Also according to Energy Information Admistration the oil would only last 9 years (if we still use other suppliers)? There is approximately 20 billion barrels of oil consumed every day by the U.S. and according to surveys there is only 16 billion barrels available there in ANWAR (Anwyar survey anwr.org/features/kaktovik.htm) What do we do after that?

 

[josephdavid]

Other mention was that of oil to product Plastics.

I found some interesting information:

Plastics Facts

One ton of recycled plastic saves 5,774 Kwh of energy, 16.3 barrels (685 gallons) of oil, 98 million Btu’s of energy, and 30 cubic yards of landfill space.

Approximately 88% of the energy is saved by producing plastic from plastic as opposed to plastic from the raw materials of oil and gas.

The United States goes through 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour and only a small percentage is recycled.

Enough plastic bottles are thrown away each year in the United States to circle the earth four times.

Over 35% of the polyester carpet made and sold in the United States contains PET plastic. It takes 35 PET plastic bottles to make one square yard of polyester carpet.

Plastic containers are recycled into plastic lumber for picnic tables and park benches, carpet fiber, clothing, automotive parts, paint brushes, and more plastic bottles.

 

[Catholic_Kenpo]

Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less

Normally, I don’t care much for petitions, but this one has some significant backing, not to mention over 650,000 signatures so far. They’re hoping to have 3 million signatures by the convention later this year. I hope that this doesn’t break any forum rules.

-CK

 

[Yerusalyim]

Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less

Normally, I don’t care much for petitions, but this one has some significant backing, not to mention over 650,000 signatures so far. They’re hoping to have 3 million signatures by the convention later this year. I hope that this doesn’t break any forum rules.

-CK

I’m not big on petitions of this nature, rather, CONTACT your congressman and senator.

 

[leftistdestroye]

josephdavid;3801009]

With regards to the Biofuels raising food prices I agree. To me it is not THE solution and was a knee jerk reaction to oil prices going up and the problems we have in the Middle East.

While true, remember, we only import like 10% of our oil from the Middle East, so that is not the issue.

Now what about fuel effeciency standards keep being raised and subsidize our dying car industry to develop this? We subsidize oil companies now who are making unbelievable profits from high oil prices. Why can we not do that for the auto industry?

I disagree with tax money going to the oil company, I do not think that we have to give money to the auto companies either. The market will dictate more efficiant cars all by itself. They are already discontinuing the Hummer because there is no more market for it.

Will it not take several years to get the oil to market?

They said that 10 years ago when they talked about drilling in Anwar. That oil could have been here right now, if Clinton didn’t veto that bill.

Also according to Energy Information Admistration the oil would only last 9 years (if we still use other suppliers)? There is approximately 20 billion barrels of oil consumed every day by the U.S. and according to surveys there is only 16 billion barrels available there in ANWAR (Anwyar survey anwr.org/features/kaktovik.htm) What do we do after that?

Well, it gives us 10 years to find out, instead of knee jerk reactions right now. They can let us drill more. Take the handcuffs off. Build more refineries for starters.

 

[leftistdestroye]

Other mention was that of oil to product Plastics.

I found some interesting information:

Plastics Facts

One ton of recycled plastic saves 5,774 Kwh of energy, 16.3 barrels (685 gallons) of oil, 98 million Btu’s of energy, and 30 cubic yards of landfill space.

Approximately 88% of the energy is saved by producing plastic from plastic as opposed to plastic from the raw materials of oil and gas.

The United States goes through 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour and only a small percentage is recycled.

Enough plastic bottles are thrown away each year in the United States to circle the earth four times.

Over 35% of the polyester carpet made and sold in the United States contains PET plastic. It takes 35 PET plastic bottles to make one square yard of polyester carpet.

Plastic containers are recycled into plastic lumber for picnic tables and park benches, carpet fiber, clothing, automotive parts, paint brushes, and more plastic bottles.

Sure, nothing wrong with recycling. It is big business today. Plus, it is not wasteful. I’m all for that. And it is happening, do not be fooled. It is big business, sure.

 

[Catholic_Kenpo]

I’m not big on petitions of this nature, rather, CONTACT your congressman and senator.

I don’t see the two as being mutually exclusive. Rather, do both. Just another chance for somebody out there in Washington to get the hint that they need to listen to the people they work for - namely us.

-CK

 

[leftistdestroye]

I’m not big on petitions of this nature, rather, CONTACT your congressman and senator.

LOL yeah. Like that will do any good lol The Dems have an agenda(global warming) and they will not listen to us, to matter what. They cater to the environazis, the socialists, and the GW frauds. Call them all you want, but they will simply tell you, that they know better than you and not to worry, they will take care of you, for you.

 

[MJE]

This is a great site and I contributed. My congressmen (women) are all very very liberal. Writing to them is same 'ol, same 'ol. I have even written to our 'catholic" but very liberal governor & receive nonsense replies.

 

[Yerusalyim]

LOL yeah. Like that will do any good lol The Dems have an agenda(global warming) and they will not listen to us, to matter what. They cater to the environazis, the socialists, and the GW frauds. Call them all you want, but they will simply tell you, that they know better than you and not to worry, they will take care of you, for you.

While this is, in part, true, calling WILL do good. The reason the Environazis are listened to is because they make the most noise…the squeky wheel get’s oiled. We who have common sense need to start making more noise.