No offshore drilling

[beachmouse]

Democratic legislators push to keep drilling away from Florida coast:

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/drilling_11114___article.html/florida_area.html

"We must increase domestic drilling to help combat high gas prices," Boyd said, "but drilling in a critical military training area - in fact, our nation's only open air-to-air missile testing range - is not the place to do it."

The Gulf of Mexico training area provides an area for live-fire exercises. Tyndall and Eglin Air Force Bases, as well as Naval Support Activity-Panama City, make use of the area that spans most of the Florida gulf coast.

"It's a pretty huge area," said Tom Neubauer, president of the Bay Defense Alliance, an organization championing local military concerns. "It's about a third of the Gulf of Mexico."

 

[TableFiveChef]

We could argue until we are all blue in the face about if we should drill or not, but I think it comes down to stop using so much oil. Look at what you consume oil wise on a daily basis and try to think about what you can do to make a difference in curbing your consumption. This would seem to be clear common sense that the less you use means the less the demand equals lower prices for oil. We have to sacrifice as a nation and stop driving vehicles that gorge on gas. Buy local foods. If you have to travel less than a mile ride a freaking bike.
I was born and raised in Destin and would hate to see oil rigs off of our beautiful coast. I hate the current gas prices just as much as the next person but it's time for this country to take a long look in the mirror and make some sacrifices. Until we can give up our Escalades and Suburbans with leather and plasma tv's then you can bet the oil companies will be dancing on your paycheck. Power to the people! Ask not what your country can do for you.....................

 

[full time]

We could argue until we are all blue in the face about if we should drill or not, but I think it comes down to stop using so much oil. Look at what you consume oil wise on a daily basis and try to think about what you can do to make a difference in curbing your consumption. This would seem to be clear common sense that the less you use means the less the demand equals lower prices for oil. We have to sacrifice as a nation and stop driving vehicles that gorge on gas. Buy local foods. If you have to travel less than a mile ride a freaking bike.
I was born and raised in Destin and would hate to see oil rigs off of our beautiful coast. I hate the current gas prices just as much as the next person but it's time for this country to take a long look in the mirror and make some sacrifices. Until we can give up our Escalades and Suburbans with leather and plasma tv's then you can bet the oil companies will be dancing on your paycheck. Power to the people! Ask not what your country can do for you.....................

I agree with all of this - we carpool, ride bikes to the store and don't drive large SUV's. However, I would point out that the logical extension to your sacrifice argument is for Florida residents to stop putting all of the burden to meet the country's energy needs on citizens in neighboring states. If your not willing to accept drilling off of the Florida coast, you pleas for sacrifice ring hallow. BTW, it could be done in such a way that you would never see a rig.

 

[Bob]

i love hearing from the 500 billion dollar a year deficit party members chant about getting more of the resource responsible for the last 2 wars.

 

[TableFiveChef]

Hey full time. My sacrifice pleas are not just for people of Florida but this nation as a whole so your intuition of my logic is way off. I also never directed that you drive Big suv's or that you do not ride a bike. Do you not think that this country consumes way too much oil? Do you not on a daily basis see autos that are just way too big? My message is simple: Stop consuming so much oil . If this NATION would just stop and evaluate OUR own consumption they might find ways to cut back instead of chanting the gluttonous cry drill baby drill! I strongly oppose drilling off the coast of Florida! Just because we do not see the rigs does not mean that they are not there! ..............but what you can do for your COUNTRY.

 

[full time]

Hey full time. My sacrifice pleas are not just for people of Florida but this nation as a whole so your intuition of my logic is way off. I also never directed that you drive Big suv's or that you do not ride a bike. Do you not think that this country consumes way too much oil? Do you not on a daily basis see autos that are just way too big? My message is simple: Stop consuming so much oil . If this NATION would just stop and evaluate OUR own consumption they might find ways to cut back instead of chanting the gluttonous cry drill baby drill! I strongly oppose drilling off the coast of Florida! Just because we do not see the rigs does not mean that they are not there! ..............but what you can do for your COUNTRY.

Let me know when you are willing to swear off the items on this list in the name of sacrifice. Send over a pigeon because you won't have a computer.

http://gasprices-usa.com/petroleum_based_products.htm

 

[TableFiveChef]

A lot of people could live without 60% of the items on that list. I think you are missing the point. It's the little things that matter and that this nation as a whole can do without. It takes a nation! I am not talking about taking extremes either. I don't think one should scarifice everything that is made from petroleum. It starts with fuel consumption and driving smaller cars I think you're digging! If i could catch a pigeon that would be a cool thing to do though!

 

[full time]

A lot of people could live without 60% of the items on that list. I think you are missing the point. It's the little things that matter and that this nation as a whole can do without. It takes a nation! I am not talking about taking extremes either. I don't think one should scarifice everything that is made from petroleum. It starts with fuel consumption and driving smaller cars I think you're digging! If i could catch a pigeon that would be a cool thing to do though!

I can live without a bra - in fact, I wish everyone lived without a bra. Look, you and I agree on some issues which is a good start, but I simply don't agree that Florida should somehow be sacred ground off limits in the debate on drilling. I would agree that tremendous efforts should be undertaken to protect the environment and that Florida should receive a hefty sum in return for the drilling. But the rationale of the no way, no how crowd is illogical in my opinion and evidences a lack of understanding of how difficult and time consuming it will be to transition to alternative energy, the national security interests at stake and the current drilling technologies available.

 

[Bobby J]

Fulltime,

Did you make the meeting on Weds? I think many people do understand how difficult and time consuming the transition to alternate energy will be. I think these people are ready to attempt the transition if it involves drilling in an area that is already in jeopardy. Why the Gulf? Do you really think it will lower gas prices or make us less dependent? Help me out here because much of what I read smells of lobbyist propaganda.

 

[full time]

Fulltime,

Did you make the meeting on Weds? I think many people do understand how difficult and time consuming the transition to alternate energy will be. I think these people are ready to attempt the transition if it involves drilling in an area that is already in jeopardy. Why the Gulf? Do you really think it will lower gas prices or make us less dependent? Help me out here because much of what I read smells of lobbyist propaganda.

I can't do much better than these guys in explaining the economics of the issue (and I picked a paper conservatives love to hate just to be fair). And do I think it will decrease our dependency and make us less susceptible to blackmail and worse from unfriendly countries - absolutely.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/opinion/15hahn.html?em