On May 13th, 2008, the Democratic controlled Senate defeated a bill that would finally open up ANWR to exploration thereby assuring an increase in domestic production of oil. Instead the Senate voted to suspend deposits in the Strategic Reserve. That was their idea of solving the energy crisis. That kind of logic is tantamount to putting a “no ouch” band aid over an arterial gusher. The fact that American’s didn’t revolt and drag the Senators from their chambers while lighting the fires under the vats of oil and slicing open every feather pillow in DC tells me that, at that time, gas prices simply weren’t high enough yet.
One of the most ironic parts of this ANWR insanity is that 27 years ago when the Democrats and their environmentalist friends put a halt to additional exploration offshore and in many parts of the US as well as on the continental shelf, we were told that even if they started all this new drilling, there would be no relief and since the crisis then, as now, was an immediate situation. Hence, there was no point drilling since it would have no effect on the present. We heard that same story when we discovered the huge reserves in ANWR. They said again, it would take 10 years to see the oil and twisted numbers to try to make it unpalatable and succeeded. Today, we are hearing the exact same argument from the opponents of drilling. Without considering the obvious, that if America had ignored them then, we wouldn’t have a problem today. Still they are once again making the exact same argument, that changing policy today and resuming exploration offshore and initiating exploration in ANWR, it won’t solve the energy crisis we face today. If we listen, then 10 years from now it will be worse, not better.
Of course, they are wrong. The day America launches an aggressive and all out exploration program is the day that energy futures begin to soften. The day American’s choose oil over a caribou and the John Kerry’s and Ted Kennedy’s of the world realize saving the American economy from being held hostage by OPEC is more important than preventing windmills from being erected off the North Eastern shore thereby preserving their precious view of the horizon from their beach front homes is the day we turn the corner on this insanity.
The question is this. How high does the price of gas have to go before Americans start speaking loud enough for even the Democrats to hear us? When that day comes, that will signal the end of our oil dependence. Yesterday oil crossed the $4 a gallon mark. We’re still listening but all we hear is the bitchin’ and moaning and the whining and the blaming. The actual sound of change hasn’t started yet. It’s being drowned out by a cacophony that is the hollow promise of change.
I’m beginning to think the Democrats want to keep oil and gas prices high just long enough to get elected. Why else would they be blocking every attempt by the Republicans to take action to actually address the issue? The next time you’re filling up, consider this… is it worth $5 a gallon for gas to make sure Obama gets elected?
It’s time we joined the caribou in ANWR and China and the others who are drilling off our shores. It’s one thing to share our oil with them, it’s quite another to give it to them and not take any for ourselves. So, when are you going to start making noise?
