For one thing, we can shut down our economy fairly quickly by destructive government policy, but it takes a few years to clear the hurdles (bureaucratic, personnel, production..) required to start drilling for oil. Ok, I think I get it. And the reason we should do this, when there is oil in the ground just waiting to be gotten, is....?
It is more effective because we can make a bigger difference with reduced consumption than with increased production.
Pretty vague statement. We can "make a bigger difference" reducing our consumption by .0000001% than if we increased our production 1000000%? I don't think so.
It really depends on the extent to which we do these things, now, doesn't it? Of course by being vague enough you can gloss over that fact.
In addition, moving to more efficient vehicles will have a lasting effect.
Can't argue with that. Feel free to buy yourself a more efficient vehicle. (What's that? You want to force me to as well?)
Feel free to invent a more efficient vehicle. (What's that? You don't know how?)
If the prices were any lower domestic production would drop, because we have higher production costs (especially in Alaska).
Why is that hmmm? Couldn't have anything to do with the fact that some people have a quasi-religious attachment to "pristine" pieces of frozen tundra.
[spilling oil] But it happens anyway. It is an inevitable part of drilling, pumping, and shipping oil.
True. That's life. What are ya gonna do? Never drill for oil? I guess we also shouldn't grow wheat cuz the fields might burn....?
As I posted here, in time we will get all the oil that is humanly possible to extract. But how and when are matters for economic and government policy.
Economic policy, of course. Why government policy?
P.S. Still waiting for your definition of "pristine" and explanation why land must remain in this "pristine" state....
Even production in Oklahoma costs more than production in Arabia. Labor costs more here. And yes, there are environmental controls. Altogether it adds up to the fact that our cost of production is higher.
The significance is that if prices drop, domestic wells will shut down and exploration will cease. If prices go up, then marginal wells become profitable and exploration is increased. It's simple economics.
Still waiting for your definition of "pristine" and explanation why land must remain in this "pristine" state....
pris·tine (prstn, pr-stn)
adj.
1. Remaining in a pure state; uncorrupted by civilization.
2. Remaining free from dirt or decay; clean: pristine mountain snow.
Turn the question around. Why must all land be corrupted and dirtied?