Obama pulls 180 on his stance regarding oil
Today, Barack Obama announced his dumbest idea yet, regarding the oil debacle. According the the NY Times, “Obama, who as recently as last month argued against tapping into the petroleum reserve located in caverns in Texas and Louisiana, proposed that the government sell 70 million barrels of oil from its stockpiles and said that releases from the reserve in the past have lowered gas prices within two weeks.” Flip flopping aside, this plan preys on the ignorant. Obama, by using big numbers, like 70 million, deceives those who have no concept of how much the US consumes, into thinking that his plan will actually put a dent in the current problem. According to the US Energy Information Administration, the US Consumes over 20 million barrels per day. In case math is difficult for you, Obama’s proposal would sell roughly 3 and a half days worth of oil from the reserves. Yeah man, that will totally solve the problem.
Another part of Obama’s plan is to increase domestic production by allowing off-shore drilling (something that he was also opposed to, a few weeks ago). Why this wont work either: The US currently produces less than half of what it consumes per day, in crude oil. It does not take a brainiac to figure out that even if every current drilling ban were lifted in the US, It would be impossible to double the current production. Would anyone want to live in a place where oil exploration trumps all, anyway? In my opinion Obama’s plan is to continue polishing the brass on the Titanic. Even a realistic plan (..not likely to exist) to become independent from foreign oil, would only be prolonging the inevitable. How hard is it to realize that oil production, regardless of the source, is not sustainable? Does the federal government not read the numbers that they publish? Am I taking crazy pills?
It isn’t about production, or consumption of crude oil. It is about alternative fuels. Must… focus… on oil alternatives. Even though Obama’s plan is pathetic, it was refreshing to read about an bonafide issue, today. All of the rhetoric and finger pointing about who is campaining dirtier is so tiresome.
Author: Ted Swenson
Here we go again. I agree, finally a real issue being addressed. Too bad the air isn’t that fresh. It is just more of the same old lines from Raising Arizona. “Now boy you aren’t just telling us what we want to hear?” “No sir, I ain’t.” “Cause we just want to hear the truth.” “Well sir, then I guess I am telling you what you want to hear.” “H.I. didn’t we just tell you not to do that!”. I guess I will never understand these people.
He first tells us that he will end US foreign oil dependence in 10 years. But tells us we will use more of our own oil… that makes sense, ten years ago, seriously, why aren’t we doing that now? I am sure there is a reason, good thing he doesn’t outline a real plan. Then he says he can “live with” taping into the strategic oil reserve if it is done in an environmental and bipartisan energy compromise. First, how is sucking oil from somewhere in Alaska, refining it and then pumping it into cars environmentally sound? Isn’t that the point of resisting the strategic reserve? Not to mention Ted Swenson’s point. Second, what the hell is a bipartisan energy compromise and how do I get my hands in that pot of gold? It sounds great but I wonder how it works. Perhaps the republicans get to drill wherever and whenever they want but a portion of proceeds have to get put into a carbon offset? I can see it now, gas prices go down, people buy more SUV’s GM rejoices, and a few more wind turbines get put in strategic locations that make people feel like we are doing our part. As if that isn’t the biggest band-aid to get elected I ever heard of. It could all fall apart in less than 4 years! What about change Obama? This seems like the status quo, maybe even the past, what about the future, what about the change Obama can’t stop talking about?
As a backup plan, Obama has proposed the equally realistic idea of building a time machine to travel to the future and steal China’s invention that finally served as an alternative to the internal combustion engine.