I don't agree with Bill Simon and our state's enviro nazis. I think oil drilling with the necessary safeguards is good for the environment and good for our nation's security. If only someone had the guts to point out how it would lessen our dependence on the Saudis, maybe there's be more common sense and less hysteria over offshore oil drilling off the California coast. Given the wacky nature of this state, I wouldn't count on it.
The whole idea that offshore drilling is a blight on the environment is the Big Lie which far too many people have bought. It simply is objectively not true.
There was a terrible oil spill at Santa Barbara decades ago. It was cleaned up, and we haven't had any repeats. Imagine if California permanently closed down its airports because there had been one terrible accident. What's the difference?
Simon is just wrong on this, and I still am surprised by his statement. It would have been better to have said nothing than to join those who promote the Big Lie.