Posted on 04/12/2006 5:49:13 AM PDT by thackney
We've noted in this space repeatedly that our competitors must just look at us and shake their heads in disbelief that we won't tap our own rich reserves of natural resources, most notably with coal, in ANWR and in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
Well, now we can go one better: how do you feel about countries taping that supply while we cannot? What if it's a Communist country, living under a dictatorship? Unfortunately you don't have to look very far. In fact, only 90 miles from Key West sits Fidel Castro's Cuba. Castro, worried about continuing to live off of Venezuelan President Chavez' largess, has decided to start his own deep water exploration. As Rep. John Peterson (R-PA) -- author of a bill that would open the OCS to common-sense and environmentally-friendly regulation -- writes in the Miami Herald:
"[T]o help get at vital and abundant supplies of offshore energy, [Cuba] has chosen tracts of real estate in the Gulf of Mexico as close as 45 miles from Florida. Forty-five miles is just a bit farther than the distance between the University of Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
Imagine what Castro is thinking as we spend our time quarreling over whether we should produce American energy 100, 150 or 250 miles from the Florida coast while he makes arrangements to set up shop hundreds of miles closer. He must love that we've allowed emotion to win out over reason, facts to be dwarfed by fear and our nation's energy policy to be driven by unreasonable environmental concerns."
You should click here to weigh in on the Interior Department's long-range plan for the OCS, which is inadequate. Deadline is c.o.b. today. But you should also let your representatives know while they're home these two weeks what is happening to your energy prices. Please ask why they support a policy that forbids drilling in the OCS by us but not by Fidel Castro.
Well, there is the tax revenue lost.
We have too many very stupid people in too many places of high influence.
Castro and Hugo Chavez will be drilling 45 miles from the US shore..... and then selling us the oil for $100 per barrel. What a country!
If you look at wealthy families, it's rare for children of wealth and prosperity to do well. Generally, they become self absorbed and needy.
That is us, as a nation, right now. Things have been so good, for so long, that we have lost touch with reality. We, as a society, simply assume things will always be good for us, so we indulge ourselves with things like trying to save snail darters and Alaskan caribou.
We are going to fall, and fall hard. The only question is, will there be enough left to pick up the pieces, and will there be enough Americans left with the will to do the hard work?
"You sound like a whore willing to sell it to the most vile customer."
Haven't been here long have you?
The poster is representative of a large number of freepers. The only reason they worry about any sort of border or nationalism is to protect their own business interests. They won't admit it, but they're no more patriotic than some of the liberals.
I can only imagine the world at large without a strong "well grounded" United States. I don't think the question is whether there will be any in the U.S. to do the heavy lifting, the resultant world-wide meltdown will make that pale in comparison IMO.
The temporary destabalization in the U.S. would green-light the worst elements in the rest of the world. And even if the U.S. did right itself, so much global shift would have taken place that it would be impossible to stuff Pandora back in her box.
That's my take on it. We're flirting with global meltdown.
And then the lib whackos blame Bush and/or the oil companies for high prices. Definitely damned if you do and damned if you don't - the perfect storm.
"the RINO immigrant and the clueless astronaut are. Floridians should pay a Stupid Voters Tax to the US Treasury for putting these two bozos in office and penalizing the rest of the country."
You are so right! I am one of the guilty ones. I worked hard for Martinez. I have contacted his office several times with my opinions.....it doesn't seem to matter.
I do not take credit for Bill Nelson though. I contact him too. He has had the courtesy to reply and half explain why he is against what I am for.
I think you are missing the point.
WE, The USA, could be drilling, allowing US companies and US workers to profit from the oil.
"That's my take on it. We're flirting with global meltdown."
I agree. It won't be pretty. But, people, economies, the world will adapt. If the US destabilizes, the result will be chaos, and then... A New World Order. Perhaps not the one the Bushes hope for, but it would be a new alignment. Possibly a China-centric world? Or, it could be the break the muslims are waiting for, and a islam-centric world?
It's not beyond the realm of reality to imagine a fragmentation of the US. Northern blue states moving to Canada. Southwestern states moving to Mexico. Leaving a very much weakened shell of what used to be the US.
Can't happen? Hmmmm... did anyone watch what happened to the USSR?
Moses Mining Company specializes in it. First you "part the overburden", next, remove the ore, and, finally, you restore the ocean to it's original position.....
"WE, The USA, could be drilling, allowing US companies and US workers to profit from the oil."
In freeper land, you're missing the point. Freepers have told me, why should Americans be favored over anyone else. Americans are no better, therefore, a job is a job. As long as someone is working. As for the company profits, if they pump excess oil, it will enter the world market. And even if they pump only enough for Cuba, that takes Cuba off the world market as a buyer. That's all a good freeper cares about.
Some freepers are about profit only, not patriotism.
Just so you know, I find this particular view of the world very disturbing.
Agreed. A number of somber negative scenarios come to mind. Probably a completely unforseen one would materialize though.
Palm BeachCounty is 45% Republican. With a little help from our friends that could become a majority.
But if it comes from the US, it won't be sending dollars to foreign governments. Those taxes and royalties will go to our domestic treasuries.
Some of the lowest sulfer coal in the world is under the land that President Clinton turned into a national park. I've forgotten the name of the park. The Riyadii Family is invloved somehow.
IEA sees China's 2006 oil demand at 6.9 mln bpd
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