Posted on 08/11/2008 5:23:57 AM PDT by kellynla
When a majority of Californians signal to pollsters their support for offshore oil drilling, something dramatic is occurring. In this case, it is the price of gasoline lurching toward $5 a gallon. Suddenly, Americans have awakened with a hangover to their perilous reliance on foreign oil, which has escalated alarmingly since the oil shocks of three decades ago.
Since the first Arab embargo in 1973, dependence on imported petroleum has jumped from 25 percent of U.S. consumption to 70 percent. Apart from the far-reaching national security implications of this strategic vulnerability, American consumers now find themselves at the mercy of oligarchic foreign producers who effectively control pump prices in Santee.
No wonder Californians are willing to take another look at coastal oil development, which has been politically verboten since the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill jolted the state's environmental consciousness.
Over time, the entire world must wean itself from fossil fuels in order to curb greenhouse gas emissions. This means a variety of alternative energies must be developed – from massive wind farms and solar installations to hydrogen-based processes and biofuels made from algae or other plants that do not consume large amounts of arable land and drive up food costs. And when it comes to greenhouse gases, an urgent shift to nuclear power for electricity generation would eliminate a key contributor to global warming.
But for the next half century or longer, as the transition to noncarbon fuels plays out, the United States will continue to consume petroleum as the lifeblood of its economy and standard of living. No amount of conservation – an important tool in its own right – will eliminate the need for increased production in the near term.
(Excerpt) Read more at signonsandiego.com ...
ping
If you like $4/gal, Thank Congress. If you want $10, Vote No Oilbama.
Pray for W and Our Troops
The only thing that’s dramatic is that people are once again recognizing common sense.
If Iran and Russia combined with Venezuala and The OPEC pirates do not give the mental midget liberals a clue about what is going to happen...what will?? 20 dollar gas might do it.
“If you want $10, Vote No Oilbama.”
Don’t forget to vote against Boxer and Feinstein and 54 congressman while you’re at it.
What we need to guard against is a bipartisan bill which pretends to address the issue, while infact leaving all the barriers in place and erecting more.
We need reduce barriers to drilling, refineries, pipelines, terminals, nuclear power and Yucca Mountain. Nothing short of a complete victory is going to work.
We import not just oil and natural gas, but gasolene, diesel and heating oil. Those supplies are vunerable.
I guess the war in Georgia will end talk of taking oil from the strategic reserve. We should be talking about the poor judgement of those who suggested it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.