Running On Empty
Yesterday the US senate missed yet another chance to plan work toward true energy independence of America when they voted to open the Arctic National Refuge to oil drilling. Supporters of this measure said that despoiling one of the last remaining pristine places on earth is a matter of “national security”. Senator Thune spoke of the high gas prices in his state, as if drilling ANWAR is going to bring gas prices down.
The truth is very different than we have been led to believe.
The Arctic National Refuge is estimated to contain approximately a 6 month’s supply (at current rates) of oil. The U.S. could save that much right now simply by increasing mileage standards in cars by only a few mpg. It is believed it will take nearly 10 years for the oil from ANWAR to be recovered and processed, and even then, it will probably not end up in your tank. The oil will probably be sold to China and Japan, for a greater profit for the oil companies. Remind me again why we are drilling there?
Our national security is much more threatened by the fact that China owns a huge and growing portion of our National Debt. It’s true that US dependence on foreign oil is a problem, but how will 6 months more oil for Asia change that? Conservation, mass transit and alternative energy research will do far more to address that concern.
If the Bush administration is concerned about energy independence, why have they just eliminated ALL funding for Amtrak? Many republicans have the ridiculous idea that Amtrak is a failure because it does not completely pay for itself. A modern and efficient high-speed rail system, such as the TGV in France, could save the country billions in highway construction costs and reduce dependence on foreign oil in a way ANWAR can never do. Yet we will continue to bail-out the airline industry and provide back-door subsidies for big oil and the auto makers by pouring money into highways, while killing a transportation system that could help secure the future of this vast country.
Congratulations Senator Mike DeWine for seeing through the rhetoric and voting against ANWAR drilling. Shame on George Voinovich for once again voting to short-change the future of America.
Tracy Meisky is a poet, writer, singer, songwriter and all-around boat rocker from way back. Feel free to look around, but if you break it, you bought it.