Posted on 06/22/2010 2:48:38 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A majority of Americans still support offshore drilling on the U.S. coastline despite the devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday.
The poll also found 89 percent of the U.S. public blame British energy giant BP Plc for the spill, the worst in U.S. history, and 69 percent think the U.S. government is also at fault.
About three-quarters of the public believe neither BP nor the government responded quickly enough to the environmental disaster, which threatens wildlife, fertile fishing grounds and popular tourist beaches along the U.S. Gulf Coast.
"Americans generally are mad, and they blame everyone for this -- whether it's the government or Big Oil, specifically BP," Ipsos pollster Cliff Young said.
A U.S. federal court ruled on Tuesday against President Barack Obama's six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling imposed after an April 20 explosion at an offshore oil rig in the Gulf killed 11 people and triggered the huge spill. The White House promised to appeal.
With the oil still spewing two months later, 56 percent of Americans believe offshore drilling is necessary for the United States to produce its own energy and not rely on other countries for oil, while 38 percent believe it is a bad idea.
The poll found 69 percent have not changed their views on drilling despite the spill, with 24 percent now more opposed and 5 percent more in favor of drilling.
"While people see the problem, they still see the need to drill offshore, at least until there is some sort of longterm solution," Young said. "But the longer people stay mad and the longer this stays around, it might change the fundamental outlook on these things."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Drill, Baby, Drill
more people would blame the US Govt if they paid attention to the testsimony of the MMS screw-ups who were interviewed right after the accident
google FRANK PATTON MMS
This story touts a See B. S. poll that says the opposite of this one. It says 65% of Americans support the ban. Ha! Hilarious!
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.