Posted on 07/30/2008 8:23:30 PM PDT by SmithL
A majority of Californians favor more oil drilling off the coast, according to a statewide survey released today, the first time since oil prices spiked nearly three decades ago.
The support by 51 percent of residents polled this month by the Public Policy Institute of California underscores a shift caused by renewed Republican advocacy for drilling, as well as motorists' reaction to soaring pump prices.
With high oil prices and calls from both President Bush and Republican presidential aspirant Sen. John McCain to open coastal waters and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to domestic production, the support for drilling has jumped, particularly among Republicans. Support increases with age, and is slightly higher among men than women.
But as the price of a barrel of oil wavers around $120 a barrel, double the cost a year ago, even Democrats and Independents have upped support, says the survey of 2,504 adult residents polled across the state from July 8 to July 22.
At the same time, more than half of the Californians surveyed believe that the effects of global warming have already begun and present a very serious threat to the state's economy and quality of life.
There is overwhelming support for state requirements to reduce greenhouse gases by increasing the use of renewable energy from solar and wind and requiring car makers, refineries and utilities to initiate tougher controls.
Californians once again pick air pollution as the most important environmental problem, with Latinos and blacks - and residents of the Central Valley and Los Angeles - much more likely to view it as a very serious threat. Across the state, people strongly favor tough air pollution standards on agriculture and industry as well as for diesel engines in trucks, buses and cargo ships.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
From the SF Chronicle..??? Wow..
“At the same time, more than half of the Californians surveyed believe that the effects of global warming have already begun and present a very serious threat to the state’s economy and quality of life.”
Yup, it’s from the SF Chronicle alright.
So? This is California, remember? Where the "Anointed" --both in and out of government -- don't give a rat's neck what middle class think.
Drill, Baby!
Lets getter done!
Well, if majorities in liberal California back drilling, maybe the tide has turned and drilling will happen. Calif. had a big oil spill from drilling off the coast at Santa Barbara many years ago, which led Calif. to ban drilling off the coast. Maybe $4 and more per gallon hurts the wallets of even wealthy limosine liberals in Calif.
Guess the people of Californian want to be able to afford to go to work................
not
our govenor, ah-nuld.
i wish he’d go back to austria.
Most Caifornians don't count.
There are so many regulations in the way, we will be lucky to see anything for 10 years or more. The Rats have screwed the people good.
We have NO CHOICE, drill or go back to a third world nation. While we are at it, how about desalination of ocean water for all these water shortages I keep hearing about.
“I do believe San Francisco done changed it’s position on offshore drilling!”
Hey California, if you like $5/gal; Thank No Drill Nancy.
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
This moron means that if it can't solve the problem in the next six months, then it's no solution and we needn't bother. No wonder we are at this point. Pathetic reasoning ability.
Also, as far as the number of Californians that favor drilling, 51% is a simple majority, it is not "most".
With a majority still worshiping man made GW, the state is in reality a long way from going along with drilling oil. These people still live in a fairy tale world.
And it wouldn’t happen offshore of California, being a blue state, led by incomepetent liberals who would rather let us suffer than drive through Mother Gaia.
But the poll still is an achievement considering the source who printed the story. BUT then again, it’s a poll.
“Also, as far as the number of Californians that favor drilling, 51% is a simple majority, it is not “most”.”
One problem with this poll, 51% support offshore drilling WHERE!
My gut tells me they want it off some other states shores, anywhere but off California!
We don’t know the majority believe in global warming, we only have the Chronicles word on that and we only have their word about the “51” percent also, it could be a lot more. This article must have caused much hair pulling in the Chronicle news room before it was allowed to be printed, it is a wonder it was printed. I would bet the percentage is higher then 51 and I would bet a majority of Californians, if you don’t count the illegals, don’t support global warming either.
I’m not sure how this works, but shouldn’t the State get a royalty interest in the oil? If so, it could go a long way toward balancing the budget there. If not, the industry and spinoff employment would provide more taxes for the state coffers anyway.
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