Why are people so one sided when it comes to oil drilling and alternate energy sources?

Why cant you do both? Yes we need new energy sources and should invest in them but this is something that will take many years to do for the simple fact you have to change our entire infrastructure and make it cost effective to the consumer. In the mean time lets do more drilling whether in Alaska or the gulf coast. Why are people so bull headed on this issue?Why are people so one sided when it comes to oil drilling and alternate energy sources?
For the most part I agree. I see mostly on the left it's ';We cannot,should not drill anywhere'; It's ';Wind,Solar'; Anything that sounds good for the environment,but not really too much reality based thinking. Wind Power at it's current rate of growth will take 30 more years to produce perhaps 20% of our power needs,covering unbelievable acreage,and killing scores of migratory birds. And Nuclear Power,which much of the rest of the industrialized world uses is just off the table. Who needs what works,when you have dreams?





On the Right it's ';Oil Forever'; And while there's much,much,much more Oil out there than some would lead us to believe,it is fair to say we could use it more sparingly. I just don't want to see us decimate our economy forcing the issue with self imposed ';shortages';





If we want to do more on Wind Power,so be it. I think the advantages are outweighed by its shortcomings,but hey who am I,Right?





Seriously I think we need to look into vastly increased use of Nuclear energy.People out there want us to use Electric cars,and eventually battery technology will catch up to make that possible,but then the question becomes,where exactly are we planning on getting all that extra electricity? Because we sure can't do it the direction we're going now.





As usual,the solution lies somewhere in the middle. Unfortunately that's not the direction we're going. So everyone better get ready for a bumpy ride,because if you think it's bad now,I think you haven't seen anything yet.





ADWhy are people so one sided when it comes to oil drilling and alternate energy sources?
I agree with the need to do both. However, we aren't. There is no strong leadership in solar. We have demonstrated that we can use it effectively on another planet(Mars). So, solar is has capability on earth that is being ignored. Why would anyone want to be dependent on one type of product? Shouldn't we have the freedom to choose? Right now we are all stuck. Our society is totally dependent on one resource. Even if you drill in your back yard, we still would be using the same source of energy. Diversification would provide the country with energy independence. Why pay some company everyday for energy when you can generate yourself with solar?
Because it would be an absolute waste of time. The analogy I would use is to water your lawn with an eye dropper. Sure you're doing something, but in the end it's an utter waste of time. Let's pour billions of dollars and additonal ENERGY into finding oil which will do no good. Any oil we drill for would not be online for at least 5 years. Also the oil in ANWR or the gulf is a drop in the bucket in terms of the global market. Are you expecting Exxon, BP, Mobil to give us a ';hometown'; discount because the oil is in the US? In the long run it does absolutely nothing but further draw down our time and resources that could be focused entirely on something sustainable.
You do know that if we drilled in the Gulf it would take two years for the effect? Or Alaska it would take 10 years?





I could see the Gulf drilling. Infrastructure is there and it is a relatively short term investment, but why would you want to put 10 years and lots of money into ANWR when (hopefully) oil demand here will wane. Would you want to end up exporting all of our oil to china or some such?





How about we save ANWR oil. It would be nice to have that oil, since military runs on oil, many years into the future. It would be a wonderful safeguard for the future.





Americans have short memories. Unfortunately they need to feel the pain or they will not change.
Liberals and Conservatives....we wouldn't need to drill at all, if we just stopped exporting so much of ';our'; oil.. we are the worlds 3rd largest exporter. So let me explain what that means.. back in the 70's when the oil companies consolidated, the oil in the ground became the property of a small handful of energy companies... it is more profitable for this small group (less than 15 entities in all) to sell American oil abroad and then Buy Canadian, Venezuelan and OPEC supplies for the American people. We already supply ourselves with about 85% of what we use... but if we stopped that exporting we wouldn't need any oil from any other country for a very long time. .. we have more in reserves right now (sitting) in tanks waiting for the price to go up, than we have had in the last 15 years.. it is a total scam. You and I are paying for it...


so you see, it isn't the speculators, it isn't a shortage of supply or a rising demand... it is a fixed market plain and simple..


and the congress and the president both are well aware of this, and have enabled through legislation this to happen.





WAKE UP AMERICA... you've got a oily finger on your back.. and it's only going to get worse...Much worse.
I have to agree with the sitizenx. We are the third largest exporter of oil. We are also the largest importer which means we are talking out of both sides of our head when it comes to oil, buying and selling it for profit.





http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0922041.h鈥?/a>





With that, what we need to do, is develop non-oil energy solutions to really put it to the oil industry and speculators.
Both the left and the right have to make concessions, like yes, we do have to drill, but extra taxes on auto fuel (NOT heating fuel) are necessary also to wean us off of gasoline.


We have to look at the picture as American Energy Independence, not a left or right issue.


Let OPEC eat sand.
Simple, it hurts for them to think. Having a conversation with a diehard is painful. They get louder and the spit starts spraying on you. So hard to let go of a fantasy.
ASK YOUR CANDIDATE ALZHEIMER MCCAIN .HE SAID LAST NIGHT ON THAT FOX NOSES CHANNEL THAT HE WAS AGAINST DRILLING FOR MORE OIL IN ALASKA .
The whole liberal agenda will lose creditably if the give in on this point; they are willing to let all Americans suffer just to make a point. Human values mean nothing to them.
well said I agree
I think they are stupid or something