To Drill or not to Drill

Gas prices continue to rise. Consumers continue to complain. Daily, pressure from all sides mounts in Washington DC, forcing politicians to do something about it. Yet, as the political and economical stakes are steadily rising up, the congressional season is indefinitely winding down. Now with only weeks left before November's climactic elections, Congress has little time to remain productive, before new representatives will soon (once again) alter the political balance indefinitely. Washington has many decisions to make and little time in which to make them.

In the issue of offshore drilling, the lines have been clearly drawn. For Republicans, the majorital consensus is essentially "drill, baby, drill!" Many agree that our nation is faced with a very obvious problem that demands an equally obvious answer. After all, why would you even bother acquiring the black gold from your untrusted enemies, when you have it yourself?

Of course there still is, and ever shall be a staunch and very vocal group of Democrats who continue to hold against offshore drilling. They make many convincing and relevant arguments: harm to the environment, increased national addiction to oil and decreased interest in alternative energy sources. Yet, even with all of these relevent and valid arguments, the democrats appear to be continuing to lose ground with the public opinion. Why? Because one political force has been proven strong enough to conquer even the most enthused and logical of national movements. What force is stong enough to stop even the power of "Going Green" in its tracks. One clue: The answer is also green... money!

In my opinion, both sides of this debate truly hold equally important points. Yes, our environment is changing for the worse, and yes, it appears to be related to human consumption of oil. Yes, we are nationally addicted and dependant on oil that comes from our enemies. This is a problem. Yes, we ultimaltely will need to end this addiction, simply because our supplies are limited and will eventually run out.

No, we cannot continue to afford the ever rising price of oil. No, we should not depend on unstable, anti-American governments to supply it. No, we do not currently have a well enough developed alternative source of energy to replace fossil fuels, and no, we do not have many other options than to drill off shore.

America needs to take both sides of this argument into equal consideration. It is my opinion that we should, for the moment, do everything in our power to keep oil prices reasonable. If that means drilling offshore, than we truly have no other choice for the moment. Yet, faith needs to be maintained in our alternative energy sources, because they are our future, whether we like it or not. America will need to rely on its historically tried and true resource: compromise. This, I feel, is the best and most effective way to deal with this current national pickle.

Information gathered from: http://www.theweek.com/article/index/88721/3/3/The_congressional_oil_drill