Where are those Drill Baby Drill people now?

[tony]

Still want to expand offshore drilling? Most of you are far removed from the Exxon oil spill in Alaska due to age and where you grew up, I was there when it happened and that was a disaster that had effects that lasted for a decade. That was a spill, this is much worse. Liberals catch criticism about being so concerned for the "environment" but there are consequences for the way in which we explore for energy and we are now seeing this. Or in terms that Conservatives understand, business will be handicapped for years in the gulf because of the dumb shit that has occurred.

[tony]

btw I do have to state I'm not against offshore drilling but rather for an awareness of how we go about it and how we proceed. There are alternatives that are safer, and allows the U.S to be independent but we continue to focus on only drilling for oil.

[punkr6]

they'll be back when gas hits 4 bucks a gallon again...

[BanginJimmy]

btw I do have to state I'm not against offshore drilling but rather for an awareness of how we go about it and how we proceed. There are alternatives that are safer, and allows the U.S to be independent but we continue to focus on only drilling for oil.

What VIABLE alternatives are available right now?

Until someone comes out and says what caused the explosion there is no possible way to back up the rest of your claims about the safety. This spill/leak/whatever you want to call it, is in no way, shape, or form comparable to Exxon Valdeze. EV was caused by a captain that screwed up, as of right now, we have no way to say if anyone was at fault for this one.


Yes, I am still all for drilling offshore. That will not change until I see some proof that every company and platform is operating in a way that makes another spill like this a foregone conclusion.

[Elbow]

I'm for offshore drilling IF there is a MUCH better emergency plan for emergencies like this. I don't even buy Exxon because of that spill. I've been around this stuff before as well. I grew up on the Gulf and I hope it gets cleaned up in a timely and non destructive matter.

[tony]

What VIABLE alternatives are available right now?

Until someone comes out and says what caused the explosion there is no possible way to back up the rest of your claims about the safety. This spill/leak/whatever you want to call it, is in no way, shape, or form comparable to Exxon Valdeze. EV was caused by a captain that screwed up, as of right now, we have no way to say if anyone was at fault for this one.


Yes, I am still all for drilling offshore. That will not change until I see some proof that every company and platform is operating in a way that makes another spill like this a foregone conclusion.

What report is needed? We're seeing dead animals wash ashore and an entire industry at a stand still, tell that to the business owners who depend on that region for their livelyhood. Environmental irresponsibility is the cause regardless of what happened on that boat, BP did not set the failsafes in place to minimize the effects of a disaster of this magnitude and that cannot be argued. There are viable solutions, its a matter of whether the Washington will get their head out their asses and consider what is best for this country rather than what is best for their campaign.

[BanginJimmy]

You completely ignored the questions I asked.

What viable alternatives do we have to oil?

Without knowing the cause of the accident, how can you claim that a failsafe would have prevented it?

[tony]

You completely ignored the questions I asked.

What viable alternatives do we have to oil?

Without knowing the cause of the accident, how can you claim that a failsafe would have prevented it?

And if there wasn't a failsafe then its all the more reason to reconsider the expansion of offshore Drilling. Viable alternatives, first and foremost is Nuclear. We run Naval ships on it but cannot make it a viable solution on a day to day basis? Wind and Solar are both being implemented but there is not a sense of emergency until gas prices reach mid $3's and up. Ethanol is another that can be implemented properly, but as I said originally.. this is about the lack of concern for the environment.

Its funny when all the criticisms of Obama's economic policy are thrown out its the small business owner that is used are the figurehead, now when that small business owner is the victim of bad energy policy they are scraped to the side as a non issue. Makes that argument against Obama's economic policy that much weaker, cause if it aint in your interest it doesn't matter.

[BanginJimmy]

And if there wasn't a failsafe then its all the more reason to reconsider the expansion of offshore Drilling.

I agree, if there isnt a decent fail-safe then I actually believe additional offshore drilling rigs should be on hold until a system is designed and implemented. If possible, I would extend that to current rigs also. I believe they should be phased in over several years.

Viable alternatives, first and foremost is Nuclear. We run Naval ships on it but cannot make it a viable solution on a day to day basis?

For electrical power, I agree completely. The French have also gone a long way into reusing spent fuel rods and considerably shorten the half-life of the radiation. If the French can do it, I am absolutely sure the US can go further. Outside of electrical power though, it isnt a viable replacement for oil.

Wind and Solar are both being implemented but there is not a sense of emergency until gas prices reach mid $3's and up.

Wind and solar energy arent going to fuel your car. In a decade or so, when the technology is refined, these will both be more viable, but for now, they are simply too expensive and take up too much room. I'm not going to do the search again, but I read an article that said the cost to build a solar array or wind farm would be higher than it would be to build a nuke plant of the same output. The yearly upkeep budget for the solar array would also be higher.

Ethanol is another that can be implemented properly,

It requires more energy to produce a gallon of ethanol than ethanol produces. I also have a VERY serious problem with sacrificing food for fuel.

but as I said originally.. this is about the lack of concern for the environment.

Or, more realisticly, businesses are created to make a profit and there is no profit to be made in alternatives right now. The technology is simply too expensive to be used on a mass scale.
As you have said before though, businesses should be working towards the advancement of society and shouldnt be making any profits.

Its funny when all the criticisms of Obama's economic policy are thrown out its the small business owner that is used are the figurehead, now when that small business owner is the victim of bad energy policy they are scraped to the side as a non issue. Makes that argument against Obama's economic policy that much weaker, cause if it aint in your interest it doesn't matter.

What bad energy policy are you talking about?
Who is "scrapping" the small businesses?

Obama's economic policy is an unsustainable joke. Just like his national security policy and foreign policy.


And you still didnt answer the first question. Since you dont know the cause of the accident, how can you claim that a fail-safe would have prevented or minimized the spill?

[Total_Blender]

I think Tony is talking about all the business owners on the Gulf who are gonna be impacted by this. The fishermen are gonna suffer for a long time because the effects are gonna last for several seasons. And the tourism industry and service industries down there are gonna suffer because people are canceling their vacations. PCB, Gulf Shores, etc are gonna tank when the beaches are all cruddy with oil and washed up dead sea critters. New Orleans has taken a hit already because of Katrina, the spill will only make it worse. Not sure how it will effect the ports in New Orleans or Mobile bay but the impact there could be terrible as well.

And the hell of it is I have been avoiding Exxon because of their terrible corporate ethics and getting my gas from BP because supposedly BP was one of the least evil of all the oil companies.

[BanginJimmy]

[QUOTE=Total_Blender;39012582]I think Tony is talking about all the business owners on the Gulf who are gonna be impacted by this. The fishermen are gonna suffer for a long time because the effects are gonna last for several seasons. And the tourism industry and service industries down there are gonna suffer because people are canceling their vacations. PCB, Gulf Shores, etc are gonna tank when the beaches are all cruddy with oil and washed up dead sea critters. New Orleans has taken a hit already because of Katrina, the spill will only make it worse. Not sure how it will effect the ports in New Orleans or Mobile bay but the impact there could be terrible as well.[quote]

I know what he is saying, but he never explained who he was talking about when he said small businesses where being ignored. Making a baseless comment proves ignorance, just ask look at Obama after the Cambridge incident. BP came out right away and said they would pay out claims from these small businesses.

And the hell of it is I have been avoiding Exxon because of their terrible corporate ethics and getting my gas from BP because supposedly BP was one of the least evil of all the oil companies.

What exactly makes the oil companies evil? If you think an accident makes a company evil, then I guess you think everyone on earth is evil, including yourself.