How do Democrats want to get oil if not by drilling for it?

Question

How do Democrats want to get oil if not by drilling for it?

Answer 1

Well, I'm not a Democrat, but think of it like a crackhead after more drugs... when you start running low, is it better to try to break the habit, or just keep putting more and more of whatever resources you have left into getting just a little more of what you are addicted to?

There are alternatives to oil. We have proved to ourselves that as long as we have oil, we aren't going to put much effort into developing those alternatives. If we do start exploring and drilling in the very last bits of natural areas we have left, it needs to be leased at a much, much higher rate than normal, high enough to make it an absolute last resort. If it is that important, we should be willing to pay at least several hundred dollars per barrel for it, with ALL of the extra proceeds from the lease to be put into purchasing and preserving other natural areas. Additional taxes should be levied on all petroleum, and the proceeds used for research and development of alternatives like methane and clean coal usage.

Answer 2

Drilling won't really give the US that much. I think American really plans to reserve the oil until it is more scarce, meaning that the value of drilling a gallon of oil is worth more. Also, US has that largest reserve in the world, which will give the US super power status in energy reserves, but for now the Mid East is the super power in energy resources. Good question to spark debates.

Answer 3

The main question is not to get more oil but to waste less oil. Presently, the world is consuming around 84 millions bbls per day and it is increasing between 3-4 % per year.

Every year in average, new technology and changing consuming habits help us to save 2%.

Despite of this, 45% of the energy produced in 2005 was wasted. So I think the effort of the Democrats should go on how to save energy.