For many years now, the US has not drilled off any coast, nor built a refinery. Yet the population grows and the demand soars. We are being held captive by a few environmental whackos. Pure and simple.
So how far off the coast is far enough? I saw one that said 225 miles. But how far does an oil slick spread? How many oil slicks did Wilma, Rita and Katrina cause? They sure ripped apart a couple of states, but those still wondering, zero.
So how far is far enough? Most countries have a 200 mile sovereignity limit. Guess who does not.
Yep! The US. 12 miles in most places. But even if we wanted a 200 mile one, we could not do it. WHy?
Cuba. They are 90 miles away. So the civil thing is we split the difference. And guess what? With the help of China (no surprise) and Canada! they are drilling 60 miles off the coast. And can go 15 miles further out. And you know what?
Have you heard a single peep from the environmentalist? I have not. What about Mexico? Due to straight lines, their drilling is a lot closer. Heard a peep? Not me. Have I missed that?
Have you heard a peep out of them about the "evil of BIG OIIL" and how they are "SCREWING US"?
I have. But the fact remains that Big Oil is subject to the whims of the market. They make a lot of money when the SUPPLY is small and the DEMAND is large. But they sure sucked air back in the 80s and 90s.
But while Mexico and Cuba suck our reserves dry, we continue to sit on our hands and do nothing. And not protect one minnow either. For the real scandal is that Cuban and Mexican Slicks (since they do not have our quality controls) kill as well as (the non-materializing) slicks from American exploration. And their slicks soil our beaches as badly as (the non-existant) American ones.
But that is ok. We will pay $5/gallon so that the snail darter can be killed by Cuban incompetance. Even when American COMPETANCE would have saved them. And they will feel good, and rail about BIG OIL and Bush.
And Drive their SUVs 2 blocks to pick up their sixpack.