“America is in a hole,
And it’s getting deeper, every day;
But this is one emergency,
We can’t drill our way out of.”
T. Boone Pickens
Quite a few of us in this vast nation of ours today believe that it's now time for our political process, our government leadership, and our ever thinning wallets to ‘break free’ from Big Oil's gigantic stranglehold on our everyday lives, and for America's energy policy to finally head in a bold, new, much wiser direction – a direction that will help to ensure our nation’s future, for generations to come.
But we need your help.
Today’s very deeply entrenched lobbyists and special interest groups, especially Big Oil, spent over $100 million on our two recent national political party conventions, attempting to maintain and strengthen their ever increasing control over our lives; and once again, as they’ve very successfully done in the past, they’ve managed to convince many of our leaders today that we need to - ‘Drill, Baby, Drill.’
Many of us in this nation, however, firmly believe that more and more drilling is definitely not the answer. We believe that the only real, and the only lasting solution, to the severe economic, energy, and environmental crisis now facing America today is to finally head in a brand new energy direction – one that has been long overdue in this country - a direction that will finally offer American citizens clean, renewable, energy choices.
Even T. Boone Pickens – a billionaire Texas oilman – has finally seen the light, and has joined our ever growing ranks. He is now advocating the development of American wind and solar power – not more and more of our constant reliance on oil. He’s decided that he’s made more than enough money from drilling, and he now wants to pursue much better energy alternatives.
Mr. Pickens also knows what Big Oil and many of our politicians don’t want you to know – that we Americans will continue to consume over 25 percent or more of all the oil produced around the world today – and yet, we have only about 3 percent of the world’s rapidly diminishing oil reserves, beneath our own soil and shores.
We can ‘Drill, Baby, Drill,’ until we pump up every last drop of oil that we own, and we will still remain the never ending slaves to foreign oil, and to ever rising world oil market prices.
We can now begin devastating our Alaska, California, and Florida coastlines, and drill like hell, like we already have in our Gulf Coast, and we will still, never attain, energy independence and freedom.
We already have over 4,000 oil rigs in the Gulf Coast, and they haven’t even made a dent in our immense dependence on foreign oil. What they have done, however, is severely pollute our Gulf waters, and diminish our ever dwindling marine resources, even further. There are large areas in the Gulf where you can’t catch a single fish or shrimp, today. And if you do manage to catch one, you might not want to eat it – it probably tastes like oil.
I’ve also recently heard some of our pompous politicians proclaiming ‘how safe’ offshore drilling is today. After visiting the Gulf Coast shortly after Hurricane Katrina came roaring in, I would beg to differ. I saw many dead animals and birds – covered in oil.
I also went on a desperate journey all around the Gulf Coast to find ‘de-greaser’ solvents and ‘de-oiling’ mixtures at hardware and auto parts stores – in our frantic attempts to save so many left behind cats and dogs – that were literally suffocating in oil.
It’s not a very pretty picture; and many of us can already envision the same horrific things soon happening in Alaska, in California, and in Florida, once we start drilling in earnest in these states, since storm systems and weather patterns seem to be very horrifically worsening today.
In fact, before the recent horrific Hurricane Ike even made landfall, gasoline prices were already shooting skyward, since most of our existing oil rigs and refineries today are on the Gulf Coast, and the oil companies now expected storm damage.
Many of the people fleeing the Texas coast, attempting to get their families out of harm’s way, were even being charged double the prevailing price of gasoline, in their frantic efforts to escape. And in my area, the price of gasoline shot up 30 cents per gallon, the morning after the storm hit, before any storm damage assessments on the Gulf Coast, were even made.
Why we continue to allow Big Oil to price gouge our own fellow citizens, even in times of national disaster and tragedy, is beyond me. And why our leaders continue to give them billions of dollars in tax subsidies, when they make billions and billions of dollars in pure profit every year, is beyond me.
Do you really think it will be any different, when we start drilling in California, in Alaska, and in Florida? Do you really believe all the recent political hype that gasoline prices will drop substantially? I certainly don’t. But I do believe that oil industry profits will continue to soar.
According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), more offshore drilling won’t have any impact at all on our gasoline prices for several years; and when this impact finally kicks in, it will probably only be worth a few cents a gallon.
From a recent EIA report: “Because a large portion of the U.S. oil resource base already has been produced, newly discovered oil reservoirs are expected to be smaller, more remote (e.g., Alaska), and more costly to exploit.”
If you believe that Big Oil is your friend, you might want to think again. And if you believe that any of our politicians in Big Oil’s hip pocket today are your friends, you might want to think again. You might also want to think about all of this, before you vote in the coming election.
And over the last eight years of the Bush Administration, and now, under the new McCain/Palin ticket, the oil industry has also been extremely busy in diligently persuading our leaders to very callously ‘de-list’ or remove, many endangered American animals from the Endangered Species List.
It’s costly for the oil industry to pay fines for killing federally protected animals, or to become bogged down in lengthy lawsuits over desecration of endangered wildlife habit; and the oil industry doesn’t want to lose one single penny in profit. It also doesn’t want to make drilling ‘environmentally friendly,’ since that would cost them a chunk of their profits, too.
They, and far too many of our leaders today, no longer care to protect the American Wolf, the Grizzly, the Polar Bear, or even the Whale, from almost certain extinction, in the face of more and more drilling and ‘de-listing.’ Neither do millions of American citizens, who so readily still believe the truly worn out and tired political rhetoric that more and more oil drilling on our own shores, is going to save us.
It won’t; and besides not boding well for the future of our nation, many of us believe that this is not the legacy that we wish to be leaving to future generations of Americans to come.
And we believe that there is a much better solution.
We believe that we should finally be weaning ourselves off our failed, never ending, Oil Based Economy, not digging ourselves in deeper and deeper; and we need to be doing it – right now.
We Need a Completely New ‘National Energy Policy:’
A policy that repeals the $14 billion in current tax subsidies for these Big Oil companies; and instead, invests these same funds in clean, renewable energy, and energy efficiency
That rejects the false promise of dirty fuels like oil, liquid coal, and oil shale - fuels that will be significant steps, in the wrong direction, in our increasing fight against climate change
That extends clean energy tax credits, which would protect jobs in the wind and solar industries, create many new jobs, and also create billions of dollars in clean energy investments
That ensures that an increasing portion of our nation's electricity comes from clean, homegrown, renewable sources
That protects our coastal areas, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and other natural habitat in the Rocky Mountains; and saves what remains of our American wildlife – from almost certain extinction
And that heavily invests in clean energy technologies, creating millions of new high-wage jobs, and expanding our nation’s economy by billions, instead of constantly giving those same billions to the oil companies.
The true cause of our horrendous energy crisis today, and of our rising fuel costs – is our never ending, ever expanding, over-dependence, on fossil fuels. But there is a solution available, if only we want to pursue it – and that solution is jumpstarting a brand new, oil free, American energy economy, instead of the same old, same old, oil based economy, that has miserably failed us.
Clean alternative energy solutions would finally give American families real energy choices, not choices constantly being dictated by Big Oil. They would finally free us to make choices that decrease our wretched and ever deepening dependence on foreign oil; create millions of new jobs; reduce our ever increasing global warming pollution; and also protect our precious remaining natural beauty, and our remaining endangered wildlife, for future generations of Americans to come.
But we need your help.
If you agree with us that there is a much better way for America, please voice your opinion to Congress to help ensure that the energy policy that soon gets passed by our leaders is the one that finally frees us from the miserable, failed, much too costly, energy policies of our past.
Please tell your legislators how you feel – right now – while they are in the process of deciding America’s energy future – and before they adjourn for their next pending recess.
Join us in helping to free America once more, at the linked site below – before it’s much too late. Future generations of Americans, and America’s rapidly diminishing wildlife, are hoping that you make the right choice.
Thanks for your comments, but I would disagree with you, in several areas. I blame both political parties for the mess we are in today. We should have been pursuing alternative energy at least 25-30 years ago, not just 10 years ago, as you suggest.
And if you check Senator McCain's record, he has been opposed to both offshore drilling and alternative energy, for most of his 25 years in the Senate.
He just recently changed his mind last year, when he decided to run for President.
And one party blaming the other, still leaves us in the dire energy situation that we are in today.
1. you didn't mention one of the most important immediate steps needed to "staunch the bleeding" created by these "blood-thirsty" oil investors! We already have the technology for High mpg cars and trucks RIGHT NOW! They should be forced to flood the market with them by 2012: doable! Already the Auto industry is attemting it ONLY because they are hurting in sales. BUT Americans MUST demand them by NOT buying the guzzlers. Americans have to change.
Otherwise I'm right on with this article.
2. Sadly, you don't but I do: I live in a real "redneck" area of Florida. (I'm not a redneck) Here they are either "white trash" or poor to only slightly prosperous (yet they can afford new, expensive, poor milage pickups!). The policies of BIG OIL and McCain/Bush haven't served them nor will they ever, but they're all gonna run out and vote for McCain (signs up all around) I'm not, but they are, in my opinion, because they are stupid! (and set in their ways). And sadly, because Obama is black (yes it could be racial!)and left of center.
Hopefully, they will be outnumbered by the more sensible of us.
If ever there's an election to vote for the POLICY and not the man, this is it. We need sane economic and energy policies, not "images" in the White House.
I will go to the website NOW and do the contact.
good luck with this, Mike
2 pts.
The largest source of oil that we have in n america is the family car. park it and save
Point 2 hasn't any one, beside tbp, figured out that there's is money to be made in alternative energy?
good write, john+
Best to you all.
Keith
I've been rattling my elected crooks in Washington for some time now. Some are even kind enough to respond.
Elizabeth
Much peace, love, and light,
Amber "V"
But yes we are with you all the way.
Georg
I'm in contact with my legislators, by phone and follow-up emails; copies of the latter go to all my State Legislators, too!
Blessings, Love, and Appreciation - Micke
This is the best article I have ever read regarding energy policy. I hope this article will spread far beyond the pages of AD to shake Americans out of the trance we are currently in. The Republicans, on the other hand, would rather see the country continue to follow down the current path of destruction. Sheeple following Big Oil into the abyss. And what will all their money be worth once they accomplish their mission? Might as well use it for wallpaper or toilet paper.
We DO need a New Direction!
Love & Light always and in all ways,
Joseph
ED - this is probably one of your finest, informative, and most ensible writes - I SALUTE YOU!
THIS ARTICLE SHOULD BE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES - THE WASHINGTON POST - AND EVERY OTHER MOVVA-LOVIN' NEWSPAPER IN AMERICA!
I sent the emails to my congress-imbeciles, and the other secy of whatever - and signed up for emails from NWF - and sent some notices to Family & Friends - and sent you an ecard!
"IF GOD IS FOR US - WHO CAN STAND AGAINST US?"
PEACE - TOM.
An excellent, informative wake up call for change. Well done, Ed.
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.