Fast Cars, Oil, and Offshore Drilling

Reader Comments

Back to blog

I think the way to go is instead of giving the lucrative oil leases to the oil companies the politicians should set up a division within he national parks to drill and mine on federally controlled land. They could go to Alaska or where ever they could get the oil on the market fastest and drill. They could build a pipeline to ship the oil across federal land and sell it at market price. $4-5.00 per barrel could be put into a fund devoted to clean up of federal land even to the point of returning the land to its natural state once the oil is gone. Half the profits could be used to finance other drilling or mining operations on federal land. The other half could be used to finance environmentally friendly projects. Instead of leading the world in pollution the US could lead the world in the fight against global warming.

Alan Campbell of NY 7:52AM September 14, 2008

To poster #3, Geez, I wonder how the human race survived the last 5000 years without petrochemicals.

I don't remember back that far, but probably like they did for trillions of years before---without.

But now that we know about them and how to use them and that they will not exist in the future if we continue to burn up their source, of what good is that knowledge if we ignore it?

Energy is not our problem. We have many sources of energy.

It is the burning of oil as in oil for fuel that will deplete the earth's reserves.

And if we do no switch to renewable fuels before that time, our decendents will not wonder how did we survive, but why did we consume what they needed (as in rob them of oil in it's various forms).

HillbillyBill of TN 10:33AM September 12, 2008

To poster #3, Geez, I wonder how the human race survived the last 5000 years without petrochemicals.

I don't remember back that far, but probably like they did for trillions of years before---without.

But now that we know about them and how to use them and that they will not exist in the future if we continue to burn up their source, of what good is that knowledge if we ignore it?

Energy is not our problem. We have many sources of energy.

It is the burning of oil as in oil for fuel that will deplete the earth's reserves.

And if we do no switch to renewable fuels before that time, our decendents will not wonder how did we survive, but why did we consume what they needed (as in rob them of oil in it's various forms).

HillbillyBill of TN 10:33AM September 12, 2008

Would you people please stop poisoning the Gulf of Mexico (which I live near) with the TOXIC runoff from your goddamned farms?

You hate us for finding your energy and then you make a dead zone the size of New Jersey with your toxic waste!

Quite frankly, GO to the Infernal Reaches, Ani!

Geophys55 of TX 11:42PM September 11, 2008

IF YOU HATE OIL THEN STOP USING IT!

That'l theach them GREEDY oil people!

Geophys55 of TX 10:38PM September 11, 2008

...then you should stop using my resources which I have worked to developed fo the last 30 years of my life. We are searching for energy for you, and you reward us by calling us "greedy".

Well, if you don't like the situation, you can go to the infernal reaches, in a hack.

Geophys55

Geophys55 of TX 10:10PM September 11, 2008

Uh, how much oil was spilled from those platforms in the Gulf as a result of the various 'Canes that blew through.

Uh, how important is a beautiful beach and tourism if nobody can get the gas to drive there.

Uh, I think the limit of sight is about 3 miles to the horizon if you are standing on the beach, of course it would be further out if you were in the high priced, high rise Condos.

If non carbon sources of energy are so improtant and wind is the savior why can't they put some windmills off Nantucket.

Randy Dailey of SC 4:47PM September 11, 2008

Farrell = Typical pessimistic NIMBY Liberal

"Drill right off the beaches"? Farrell, you are a Dolt!!

To poster #3, Geez, I wonder how the human race survived the last 5000 years without petrochemicals.

Pogue Mahon, Farrell. Pogue Mahon.

Michael Curr of NY 4:12PM September 11, 2008

It's not just the scenery, it's the future.

If we keep burning up the earth's remaining reserves of oil,

future generations will not have asphalt to pave their roads, roof their houses, make computers, automobiles and all of the thousands of products made from the petro chamicals derived from oil.

It's not just the environment, stupid.

It's preserving natural resources for a long into the future as possible for future generations who will either thank us for thinking about them---or damn us for not.

HillbillyBill of TN 9:10AM September 11, 2008

Umm.. you can't see oil rigs from the coast. I lived in south-east texas. Halfway between Houston and Galveston off of I-45. I've been to the ocean-side beaches of galveston and others that i can't remember the names of (i lived there my first 15 years, i dont remember the beaches names...). I never once saw an oil rig off the shore. Now my dad could see the big oil ships from his 30th floor office at america national, but that's about it. And you couldn't see those off the shore unless you really took time to look for one. And being at the beach, only pessimistic shoobies looked for the big oil ships.

TexasDan of UT 11:50PM September 10, 2008

Add Your Thoughts
Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

Back to blog

John A. Farrell

John A. Farrell

John Aloysius Farrell is a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report. An award-winning Washington reporter, he has written for The Boston Globe and The Denver Post and is the author of Tip O’Neill and the Democratic Century and an upcoming biography of the great American defense attorney, Clarence Darrow.

advertisement

Robert Schlesinger

Obama's Mixed-Bag Week

The Obama camp can celebrate Dick Lugar defeat, but should worry about the Scott Walker recall.

Latest Video

advertisement