Fact check - McCain/Obama's support for offshore drilling

[Retrasado]

NJ5 said:

rocketpig said:
Ah, missed that line. Still, doesn't matter... Common sense tells you that with countries like Brazil, China, and India increasing demand every year, nothing the US can produce is going to affect pricing much.

True, but that is something that most people don't understand. They hear "drill, baby drill" and assume it will be the magical solution to high gas prices.

It should also be said that the factors you mentioned are quite unpredictable due to the changes in the world economy. A big recession might change consumption patterns, but it can't change the geological ones.

 

Well, if we had actually started drilling there in 1985 (or when ever the idea was first thrown araound) we would be a hell of a lot closer to active production now wouldn't we? And we will be making the same argument in 2025 if we don't drill now. Look, the world's supply of oil is only going to get smaller, so why the HELL would you not drill for what you know is there? You know you're going to need it at some point, because there's no way an alternative tchnology is going to take over for oil until at least 2040. Also, nobody said that drilling now will instantly drop prices to $0.90/gallon, but starting drilling 25 years ago would definitely have had an impact on the insane prices of last summer. I don't understand the rational of not drilling just because it won't have any impact TODAY. Why not plan for the future? While drilling there definitely won't solve all our problems, every bit of oil out there helps some. I say go drill for it.