To get a perspective: Alaska has a population about the size of the nation's capital. But you could squeeze California into Alaska almost four times. Those who fear that Alaska is neglected in the matter of federal wildlife preservation are reminded that 60 percent of the official wilderness areas of the United States are in Alaska. ANWR is way over on the northeastern side of the state, about the size of South Carolina. What the oil industry is asking for is access to 2,000 acres, an area no bigger than Dulles Airport. "This footprint would be 50 times smaller than the Montana ranch owned by Ted Turner, who helps bankroll efforts to keep ANWR off-limits."
This place also experiences 5 months of daylight and 5 months of darkness. There's also a trillion mosquitoes in the summer, and it's -125 degrees in the winter.
Sounds like paradise.
Turner's a douche.
8 comments:
Why is the GOP's answer to the oil problem to just "go get it"? Doesn't that take as much, if not more, energy and money, as supporting alternative measures such as more fuel efficient products (and usage) as well as the research and development of such?
Have you ever been to Alaska? It will take billions of dollars to get at that oil, and all the steps necessary to access, drill, and ship it will have a huge effect on the environment. And here's the thing- after all that time, energy, and money, it's not going to help the price or the make much of a difference in the American need, especially with the prevailing "just go get more" attitude.
Oil consumption is not an American right. Why doesn't the GOP put all this time, energy, and money into promoting fuel efficiency, alternatives, and personal conservation instead? I've yet to hear one GOP leader or card-carrying member mention the importance of such values. Somehow the GOP definition of patriotism got mixed up with consumerism- and oil consumption is right at the top of the "I deserve it" list.
This is another part of the issue that gets me . . .
We ARE taking steps. How it is anyone can believe that we're simply ignoring alternate energy or conservation is beyond me. You don't think Ford would like to be the one that comes out with the saviour of automobiles? Think there isn't money in the next big thing? Think there isn't money in being "green"?
What's more, what do you think it's costing us NOW for R&D, development, and implementation of the inefficient "alternate" energy sources we have now? It ain't free. We seem to be all too willing to clear acres of land for solar panels or wind turbines. That doesn't impact the environment?
Fact is, we rely . . . are dependent . . . on oil. You may not like it. But that's the reality of our world right now. I'll grant you people might over state it's effects on our supply, therefore prices. But it would be a HUGE boost to the economy in the amount of jobs and taxes it would generate.
Lastly, particularly in Anwar, "huge" impact is dubious, at best.
Actually, one more thing, and it's one strike against him for me . . . McCain believes in some of the global warming scam. He doesn't support the Kyoto treaty (good) but he might get behind more government regulation.
I very much doubt there will be a HUGE impact on the economy if we drill in Alaska. I doubt we'd see much impact at all, actually, and it is exactly because we are so energy dependent. I'm tired of the job creation argument too- everytime one of those stupid big box or strip mall complexes are built, it's the job creation argument that gets it built. You said yourself what a paradise you think this particular place in Alaska is- so? Who's going to work there?? It's going to cost a TON of money to build the infrastructure to attract the workers and then it's going to cost a TON of money to get them there and supply them there, and the wages are going to have to be darn attractive. Impact the economy??? Are you kidding?
By the time We'd see anything come out of Alaska, so much money would have been spent and so many more people would have come of age to compete for the oil, all we'd hear would be the need to find more places to drill.
If Ford wanted to be so green, they would have come up with something ten years ago, like Toyota did. Instead they - with our government's blessing (and that crosses the aisle, I'm not completely blaming the GOP altho they do seem the ones who just can't get the economy nor any kind of energy efficiency straight) concentrated on selling bigger and heavier cars with worse and worse gas mileage. Thirty years ago I drove a Toyota that got 40 mpg. Did Ford make anything comparable then or since???
Yes, we're dependent on oil. Who said it was a good thing? Why is it an excuse? Time to kick the habit, except we have too many people with their heads in the sand to lead the way.
Roughly 50% of every barrel of oil goes to transportation of some type. Think about the vast amount of goods, services, jobs . . . the economy . . . that hinges on the production of oil.
It's huge. And it's not going to change anytime soon. That's the reality of it. I'm not saying it's a good thing. It's just is what it is. But, if you're tired of the job creation argument (it's far from the number one reason I support expanded drilling, though) then I'm tired of people thinking we're not doing anything, that somehow we can change over night, that we should "kick the habit" . . . how? With what?
What will fuel planes? What will fuel ships? It's a fantasy world some people live in.
I should add at this point, though I'm sure it's obvious, I think man made global warming is a scam. I also think we're FAR from destroying the earth like so many envirocrats believe.
The other 50% of oil goes toward other petroleum based products. And there are a lot. A lot. Plastics?
Fact is, no reasonable option for oil exists right now. You can say "shoulda" all you want and blame who ever you want all you want. I'm all for better mileage cars. That's probably more likely to happen sooner than an alternate fuel source auto. But cars ain't the all of it.
I'll grant you drilling in Alaska might not be the end all . . . by itself. It's expanded drilling in general I'd like to see. It's just that the excuses used for NOT drilling in Anwar are goofy to me. Alaska wants it. The Governor believes it would be a huge boost to their economy. McCain is against it . . . but could come around. Whatever. Be it there or some where else, we should be going after our OWN supplies of oil.
Good thing or not, we need it.
Plastic: buy it in something else. Bring your own bags everywhere or refuse to use a bag at all. Recycle, resuse, or just don't buy it.
Transportation: buy it local whenever you can, and deliberately seek it out - ask if your grocery store supplies local produce, check to see if it has to come from Iowa or from Argentina and buy whatever is closer. Carpool. Combine trips. get rid of one of the cars in the garage. (Most families have two, many have three vehicles.) Take the bus, walk, or ride your bike. Stay home.
Other gas vehicles- do you really need a speed boat? A leaf blower? A jet ski? An ATV? A dirt bike?
Petroleum products- ask yourself do you really need it? Vinegar, ammonia, or baking soda work extremely well for almost everything from cleaners to weed killers. A gallon of vinegar is a LOT cheaper than Round Up, it's better for your environment (won't affect your nervous system, won't pollute your ground water) and it comes in a jug that any recycling facility will take.
I could go on, but I think I'm just talking to a wall. You've heard it before and have a list of excuses a mile long.
It's arrogant, selfish, and stupid to think our addiction needs are just a matter of finding more oil and shouldn't be a reason to change behavior or explore alternatives. The fact is, America produces a fraction of the oil it demands, and raping American land and seas aren't going to change those figures.
I was right . . . fantasy world.
Like I said... wall.
You never bothered to answer any questions either... so typical.
Figured you were probably done. Sorry. I'm game.
"Do I need . . . ?"
No.
There. None of that has anything to do with the real issue, but I hope that helps.
If you mean I never addressed your "solutions", that's different.
Funny you would recommend using the bus, train, bike, and walk. I wonder how many plastic or rubber components there are to those things? I wonder what fuels their manufacture? I wonder how they get the various parts from place to place to assemble the items? I wonder how they transport the finished products? I wonder what fuels those buses?
Further, I work roughly 35 minutes from home. On my dying bed I doubt I will be remorseful over not have spent more time on trains and buses. I hope that I'm not remorseful about not spending more time with my family. But, weighing the importance of the two, spending more time with my family far out weighs my desire to seek out buses and trains.
I recycle.
Fact is, not everything can be provided locally. Do I need those items? Well . . . yes, I do. We're not just talking groceries here. Any number of items used in the house come from other states and require trucks to transport them them locally. Even if you'd like to live free of TV, stoves, washers, dryers, furnaces, water heaters, air conditioners . . . what about medical supplies? Medications?
What about import? Export? Think our, and other countries economies, don' rely on the many ships that transport goods?
Addiction is an interesting word. A alcoholic is addicted. A crack user is addicted. Someone with diabetes is not addicted. He's dependent. I suppose we could quibble about the fine line that exists, but I believe there's a difference. We're not addicted to oil, we're dependent on it. Someone who's an addict would benefit from becoming "clean". We just don't have that option with oil. We can reduce our dependence on it. But, for now, we need it to survive and fuel (get it?) our economy.
These aren't "excuses", they're actualities of todays world. I'm sure we'll find something else. It just won't be soon. If not the technology, certainly the turnover will take time. I believe we're decades out from any "real" solution and turn over.
So, in the mean time, we need to do both . . . find alternatives (we are) and continue to get oil to fill our present needs. It's just too bad we aren't willing to get it . . . when we have it.
Funny how you support local purchasing on everything else.
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