Drilling is needed to lower the price of gas (direct pocket book issue), promote prosperity (high energy prices are a drag on the economy), and promote energy independence (national security issue). The jobs angle doesn’t really do it. The oil industry – the upstream part of it, anyway – just doesn’t employ enough people.
I suggest you go to places like Lousiana and the Texas coast and count the towns who’s core industry is drilling and refining petroleum. Many Midwest and Southern towns only exist because of coal mining. Industries like petroleum and coal provide high paying jobs that end up generating whole service industry economies.
There is NO manufacturing industry in the world that employs a “lot of people”. That’s hardly a reason to force them to be done overseas when they can be done just as well here.
If you think people care more about vague “national security issues” than “where will I or my kids get a job” then you and I live around vastly different people.
high oil prices kill jobs. so do...high corporate taxes
Tell that to Canada. There are so many oil-patch jobs in northern Alberta and B.C. that a lot of regular jobs go unfilled.
Hello!!!! Once we open up all of these areas that have been closed for the PAST 30 YRS. You will see thousands of jobs created from it. You know, the trickle down effect.
I was listening a person who works oil rigs, he said getting parts etc. is a hassle because the US doe not produce steel anymore. How bout firing up those old steel mills????