We continue to hear the debate of drilling in the Arctic. The United States has a 27-year old ban on drilling in the coastal waters off Alaska.
Environmental groups continue to argue that drilling would be too detrimental to the environment. I have set with awe and wonder as this debate continues to fold out before my eyes. Gas prices continue to rise and fluctuate with records being set weekly. Americans are struggling just to make the house payments and some are seeing the gas bills climb to more than they are paying for their car each month. We recently had a hurricane warning near where I live. Residents were encouraged to fill up their gas tanks in case it did hit farther north in Texas. Every resident laughed on the news of how they couldn’t afford to fill their tank hurricane or no hurricane.
A new study, released by the US Geological Survey (USGS), estimates that the Arctic holds around 90 billion barrels of untapped oil. Let me repeat: 90 billion barrels. The USGS says the area has three times the natural gas as oil.
According to the survey, the Arctic holds about 13% of the world's undiscovered oil, 30% of the undiscovered natural gas, and 20% of the undiscovered natural gas liquids.
"Before we can make decisions about our future use of oil and gas and related decisions about protecting endangered species, native communities and the health of our planet, we need to know what's out there," said USGS director Mark Myers with the BBC reporting.
President Bush has already asked Congress to lift the ban on drilling in the Arctic. For all the criticisms of Bush, I think this is the right call at the right time.
Lets look at the advantages for Americans to drill in the Arctic.
According to a study from The American University, opening oil fields in Alaska would decrease U.S. dependency on petroleum imports from the Middle East and Latin America, boost the revenue of American oil companies, would create many American jobs, would lower the price of oil for American oil consumers, would increase federal, state, and local tax revenues, and lower our trade deficit.
Who does not want more jobs and lower gas prices? I apologize in advance for offending people with the next statement, but it has to be said. When did the value of animal life become more valuable than human life?
The honest truth is that the drilling could have no effect on the environment. I think environmentalist play up the victim mentality to fear people into thinking it is the end of the world.
In fact, since the ice has melted so much in the area, oil companies think it would be easier to drill without disturbing the area. The government environmental impact study stated that animals being effected by a spill is also unlikely because of the area. Environmentalist also voice that it would take over a decade before consumers would feel the effects of their offshore drilling.
I have seen analysts say it could take only a year or two to get the oil refined and the American economy to know the difference.
To me, I think it is a question of can America survive if something isn’t done and we continue our dependency on overseas oil?
I think the American family can not survive and I honestly do not see our country surviving much longer.
It is fine to say for us to look to other alternatives to replace oil. However, that puts a lot of individuals who work in the oil industry out of jobs. Those who do have jobs can’t afford the new technology.
Instead of taking the necessary steps to have a better life for Americans now by drilling offshore, we would rather destroy families and futures on the off chance that an animal gets hurt? I don’t understand how any of that makes sense.
