Reasons why we should/should not open up offshore drilling?

Question

With the millions of acres offshore already available to oil companies to drill that have not even be touched why should the government open up additional land in environmentally sensitive areas?

Answer 1

We should drill. Its going to happen sometime in the future. Why not now.

Answer 2

Offshore drilling is intensely expensive, inefficient, and produces very little oil. Additionally, we wouldn't see the effects for 10 years or so.

So in 10 years, you'll be getting maybe one extra drop for every gallon you pour. Lots of cost, not much reward. Offshore drilling is an aggressively retarded idea

Answer 3

Most sites that are open are held up in dumbass liberal tree huggin leech lawsuits.  We need to drill now!

Answer 4

These are the reasons that the Republicans are arguing for these leases:

- They want to do "exploration" which is different than actual drilling... it means they can flip the real estate and make a little money before Bush is out of office.

- They want to give McCain an edge in the election since he is using the self-induced high cost of gas as a campaign talking point.

- Phil Gramm and Ted Stevens are beholden to the oil industry and stand to profit greatly if they are allowed to buy and sell our National Forest Preserves.

- The Offshore drilling is just one caviat of their legislation - it's the nicer part that they are talking about to cover for the "pork" which is that they also get to obtain precious forrest lands and nature preserves and start building real estate there in the name of "exploration"

- They are ignoring the fact that there were more than 150 oil spills after hurricane Katrina - in fact, they are bold-faced LYING about that in congress.