Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Drilling At Home Wouldn't Solve Gas Problem

Republicans support drilling here, there, and anywhere, including precious places such as the Alaskan wildlife refuge, but there just aren't enough oil reserves in the U.S. to lower prices, according to a report on NPR this morning. I suspect those who support domestic drilling are just trying to look good to people who don't know any better or help their oil buddies and themselves.

In the short run, we can't reduce gas prices. There really is no short term solution. The solution has to be a long term one. The solution is more fuel efficient, alternative energy cars and other means of transportation.

Wouldn't it be nice not to have war over oil anymore? Just think if our energy policy had long ago required car makers to make gas-free autos by 2010. But our government didn't have the political guts.

Obama is proposing long term solutions, as opposed to McCain, who's still pitching the gas tax holiday, proven to be a gimmick during the primaries. McCain wants to let states decide on offshore drilling.
Obama on Tuesday blasted McCain for changing his stance on offshore drilling.

"John McCain's support of the moratorium on offshore drilling during his first presidential campaign was certainly laudable, but his decision to completely change his position and tell a group of Houston oil executives exactly what they wanted to hear today was the same Washington politics that has prevented us from achieving energy independence for decades," he said in a statement.

"It's another example of short-term political posturing from Washington, not the long-term leadership we need to solve our dependence on oil," he said.

Obama says a windfall profits tax would ease the burden of energy costs on working families. He also wants to invest in affordable, renewable energy sources.