Three years, that's all, three years

[MadHound]

That is the current estimate that all that oil that Obama cleared for drilling today will last, three years.

Not to mention that it's going to take ten years to get into the pipeline, then after three years, it's gone.

However the environmental degradation that this drilling unleashes will last for much, much longer.

Oh, and for those of you who were complaining about the specter of far distant wind turbines on the offshore horizon, how do you feel about offshore oil platforms on the horizon.

Three years. We can do better than this, we should do better than this. Sadly, it doesn't look like we're going to do better than this.

[MattBaggins]

1. Even the oil in Alaska will only last for three years?

[MadHound]

4. The oil fields that Obama opened up today will, by best estimates, only provide us 3 years

That includes the oil fields that he opened up in northern Alaska and those off the east coast.

[datasuspect]

2. i predict a flurry of pickup truck purchases in gulf coast towns.

[Motown_Johnny]

3. it sounds like you are arguing for him to open up more oil fields

[polichick]

5. Then you need to read more carefully. nt

[MadHound]

6. No, I think that this is an exercise in futility on his part,

And that all the money and effort that is going to be expended on opening these oil fields could be put to better use developing things like wind and solar.

I mention the three years to highlight this futility and stupidity.

[onethatcares]

7. gauddammmint, an all out renewable energy search could

last a lifetime. But there are too many strings attached to the oil companies for way too long.

Sometimes I have a hope that the end is in 2012, just because I'm tired of dealing with these dickheads that can't see beyond their checkbooks and what they can rape the planet for.

[MindandSoul]

8. Always looking for criticism. . .aren't you?

Did you look at the map of the proposed "authorized drilling sites???"

Did you notice something interesting???

The "proposed authorized areas for drilling are ALL ALONG RED STATES!"
The blue states (California, North Eastern States, West of Alaska) have NO authorized drilling sites!

This is another amazingly intelligent and fair move from our President!

The mostly "Red States" have a majority of voters who support the "drill, baby, drill" propaganda of Palin and Co (all Republicans).

The "Blue States" have a majority of voters who are fiercely against drilling. . .and they won't have to!

So, although Obama, as usual, will suffer an assault of criticism on both sides. . .he actually RESPECTED the majority of people in both sides of this arguments!

California and the West Coast will NOT see oil drilling (not even Western Alaska!)
The North East will NOT see oil drilling!

But. . .the LOWER EAST COAST and the GULF COAST, and the SOUTH. . .whose State government has been ASKING for oil drilling will get it!!!. . .I'm sure they'll still complain. . .but really, what do they have to complain about???

And even Alaska. . .the "touristic part" (Western Alaska coast) where all the crew ships travel. . .will not have oil drilling. . .but the North East part. . .where "real Alaskan" who supported Palin and who vote Republicans live and work. . .they'll get their wish of oil drilling fulfilled!

Now. . .I don't like oil drilling. . .BUT. . .I don't think King Salomon could have done it any better!!!

[MadHound]

9. That's sick, and I sincerely hope that it is sarcasm on your part

Approving environmental destruction and degradation because it is being done off the coasts of red states, really now, that's sick. You do realize that such environmental degradation effects all of us, not just red states and blue states, but the entire world.

Environmental destruction for political revenge, sad, truly sad. I suggest that you back away from politics for a while, a long while, because you've become that which you hate.

[Catshrink]

10. About destruction...

how much destruction will Arne wreak on public education in the next three years?

[MadHound]

11. Another piece of happy, happy, joy, joy to look forward to

I'm seriously wondering who Obama thinks is going to vote for him, the way he is pissing off virtually everybody in the standard Democratic base.

Personally I'm also wondering where I'm going to get a job in education, and do I really want one. Don't get me wrong, I love working with kids, it is what I want to do. But the ever increasing destruction of our education system makes me wonder or not whether it is really worth it.

[Bluebear]

13. I assure you it wasn't sarcasm.

[4lbs]

12. You are assuming that there will be a flurry of new offshore oil rigs.

How many oil rigs went up in the previous admin? You know, during a time when the Repukes controlled pretty much everything, and the oil companies enjoyed the best political climate (read: friendly) they could ever want. Republicans were all over the main power positions. From governors, to state legislatures, to Congress, to the White House, to the Judicial branch, to the various FDA, EPA, FCC, DOE, and FTC department heads.

In addition, the American public was busy looking at Iraq and "terrorism" as the price of oil spiked to $150 and offshore drilling looked damn good to alleviate that.

Were there hundreds of new wells that went up during those 6 years where Republicans controlled everything? Nope.

Just one well was put online.

So, what makes you think that suddenly, even with this new stance, that a bunch of new wells will be installed in the next 4 years?

[MadHound]

14. Well, first of all, I never said anything about a "flurry".

In fact if you go back and read my OP, I state that it will take at least ten years for that oil to get into the pipeline.

But the timing really isn't the issue here. The issue is that this administration, for whatever reason, be it political or otherwise, is willing to cause environmental destruction for a mere three years of oil. Worse yet, given the lead in time such drilling will require, is that if the focus was put on clean, renewable energy resources during that same time, we could have much more impact.

Oh, another thing, you don't have to set up an actual pipeline to cause serious environmental damage. Just doing test drills causes a very amount of environmental destruction itself. But hey, what do I know, I just had a family member who was in the oil business for decades:shrug: