Do Your Politicians Get It?
>> Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Because I don't think mine do. I got this email from our Congressman Leonard Boswell today.
Dear Fellow Iowan,
The price of energy has skyrocketed in the past few months, and is devastating pocketbooks throughout the United States. On June 26th, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6377, the Energy Markets Emergency Act of 2008, to curb inflation resulting from energy speculators. As a cosponsor of this bill, I strongly believe the Commodity Futures Trading Commission must limit extreme speculation on the energy market. This bill is just one of many proposals to address our energy crisis.
In addition, Congress is debating how best to increase our energy independence. Some have called for increased research of alternative fuel and energy sources such as ethanol from corn and switchgrass, and the use of natural gas, methanol, and hydrogen. Others urge energy consumption by raising fuel economy standards on all vehicles, and especially SUVs.
The biggest debate revolves around drilling for our own natural resources. Some have insisted on lifting a moratorium on offshore drilling, and opening the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska for exploration. One proposal, House Amendment 406, would allow drilling for both oil and natural gas within 100 miles of our coastlines.
How much will opening up these areas really help lower energy prices? Many oil companies already hold leases to land with undeveloped oil; should we still grant them more leases? Please tell me how you feel about the current energy crisis by taking this poll.
As I read this I just thought, "This guy doesn't get it." And it's not because he's a Democrat, in fact I've always thought Boswell was a decent representative. No, it's just that I read this and I see lots of opportunity, lots of ideas and LOTS OF REGULATION.
Yes, let's do research. Yes, let's develop new technology. But while we're developing all this let's drill for our own oil. For Pete's sake, we know it works and we know where we have some.
I see the attack on the oil companies for not drilling the areas they have leased but what Mr. Boswell fails to mention is that some of those leases only allow for exploration and not for actual drilling. He also doesn't mention that after paying the governemnt agencies for the rights to drill the leased property the oil companies will be losing money (follow link and see best answer). Who in their right mind would do that?
More bills and more rules and more regulation will just delay the process. Less government interference = quicker results.
Of course the majority of people know this. It's time our politicians did.
4 comments:
As far as I'm concerned, I think our government else needs to be worrying more about discovering alternative forms of energy rather than drilling for more oil. Just because they find more, doesn't mean it's not going to run out someday.
But I do agree wholeheartedly with your point.
You are correct- it will run out. And we do need to have new energies in place when it does. But until then we need to drill and use what we have instead of importing so much and being held hostage to other countries.
Amen, sister. While we're researching and testing and tweaking etc., etc. alternative fuels, we are losing our shirts to pay for our gasoline.(And believe me, no one wants to see me without my shirt!) While we look to the future, we need to do SOMETHING about the present, and if we know where it is and we own it, why not use it to better our economy?
Politicians have created most of our problems and we allow it by the way we vote. We don't need an amendment to limit terms; all we have to do is vote them out. But we have too many people who are dependent on the government and they will never see this.
We need to energy independent and I cannot believe that we can put a man on the moon and walk in space and can't develop a car/truck that isn't economical and efficient.
Our government manipulates and controls in ways we don't even see and I think people are starting to realize this (finally) and ask hard questions.
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