Hey Alex, Better late than never in responding to my posts of June 19 to Louise, ET AL.
You may have misinterpreted what I was trying to get across. I am aware that the US (and many others) will be dependant on OPEC and others for the foreseeable future. But, do we still want to be in that position ten years from now? I am not personally knowledgeable about the oil industry but do read and hear much information and believe that I can discern what is true, based on the source (not from politicians of either party). I disagree with your assumption that we cannot "tip the balance" within the next two decades or more. The United States probably has as much petroleum available to it as any other country if we choose to produce it. If our citizens demand it (and they are), congress could lift the bans on drilling for oil and gas in many areas with proven (?) reserves. My uneducated guess is that oil production companies could bring in producing wells within a couple of years from the date that congress passes the required legislation. It would not surprise me if the major oil companies were able to have additional oil refineries on line within five years if they were warranted (meaning an adequate return on their investment). I am more concerned about the environment than most but it makes no sense not to drill in areas available to us when it is a virtual certainty that no damage will occur to the environment or its inhabitants. Probably the largest oil related damage ever, occurred at sea and not as a result of a drilling operation. Exxon has paid billions for this and it isn't over yet. Had it been a foreign government ship they would have told us TS, it is our problem and that they had already lost enough in the value of the oil. You are correct in that if our government does not act on allowing drilling in the proposed areas it will be twenty years or more before we get relief from higher fuel prices than we have ever known. In reality, I do not believe that the various alternative sources of energy will replace oil within the next twenty years. It has already started but if gasoline prices continue to rise to $7. or more, only those with annual incomes upwards of $500,000. will continue to drive vehicles that attain less than thirty MPG. I may even get rid of the Ford Exploder that Travis says that I drive. Yep, I am a Republican because that is the party that most represents my conservative views although they are not conservative enough to suit me. I hope to see everyone at TCR October 10 and urge everyone who bothers to read this epistle to join or send in your dues to TSA, if you haven't already done so. Fritz -----Original Message----- From: Alex Sproul [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 11:04 AM To: [email protected] Cc: Fritz Holt Subject: RE: [ot_caving] FW: Oil Drilling Petition to sign >Even for those who can afford the high cost of gasoline, they (we) should >not be putting billions of our dollars in the pockets of OPEC... Then WTF *should* we be doing, Fritz? Walking? There'll be no tipping the balance of where the oil comes from in the next couple of decades at a minimum. And by then demand will have quadrupled; ergo $20/gallon gas, still accruing to the Middle East. I thought you Republicans all believed that the capitalist free market was king... Or is that only when it benefits *you*? Alex --------------------------------------------------------------------- Give this to a friend: [email protected] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
