Offshore Drilling Ban to be Lifted by Bush

[Alex]

Just to prove my bona fides:

We moved to a suburb we both hate to minimize our commute needs. I spend 3 hours a day on public transportation four out of five workdays when I could drive the same commute in a total of about 1:50 on average. We paid extra and bought what was, at the time, the car with the highest fuel efficiency for our driving style (at the time). We live in a one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. apartment when, if we wanted to, we could afford to be in a 2,000 sq. ft. SFR. We have only the one car because that fulfills 90% of our needs rather than getting a second to make the other 10% more convenient. We use CFLs as much as possible. When I have to buy a new car in a couple years plug-in hybrid will be at the top of the list if available.

Conversely, we leave all of our computers on all of the time (a total of seven if you count our machines at work). We eat out too much and too much of what we eat in is processed pre-packaged foods.

So, now that my right to have an opinion on the best course of action is established (though everyone will have to decide on their own how much privilege it gives me), here's my view:

I don't really care if they drill and pump oil offshore and out of ANWR. Yes, environmental damage will be done. No, in our modern regulatory age it isn't likely to be all that bad though accidents do happen.

I also don't think it will do a damn thing to help the macroeconomic situation vis a vis oil prices. So, lacking any great positive benefit, I don't see any particular reason to go out of the way to advocate for it. Yes, I'm sure some portion of my retirement accounts are benefiting from oil companies but that doesn't really have any bearing on my policy views. If the oil companies start to die then I'd hope my investment managers are wiley enough to move my money out of those industries before great financial harm is done to me but if not, then oh well.