# Poll for US Dopers: How do you feel about increased drilling for oil? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 5, 2008, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884 "2008-08-05T03:58:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/1 "2008-08-05T03:58:53Z")
According to what I’ve been reading about 70% to 75% of Americans favor increased drilling for oil. I’m wondering if dopers reflect that percentage. Feel free to add any information such as opinions about drilling in ANWR or offshore drilling or anything else you care to mention. But please don’t get this thrown in GD or The Pit. This is just a survey, not a debate. I’ll go first. I favor increased drilling in both ANWR and offshore. ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/2 "2008-08-05T04:13:05Z")
I’m not in favor of increased drilling. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/3 "2008-08-05T04:18:27Z")
Strongly opposed. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/4 "2008-08-05T04:32:16Z")
I really don’t have a problem with drilling where ever there is oil. I know the environment \*could \* be damaged by offshore drilling or drilling in the ANWR, but the important part is could. Some of the taxes on oil could be used for repairing the damage done. IMO, and this is what is asked for, is that having a valuable and badly needed resource and not using it is a waste. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/5 "2008-08-05T04:39:37Z")
It’s an insignificant amount, it will take ten years to get to and they’re just going to sell it to China anyway. It’s all a scam. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/6 "2008-08-05T04:49:41Z")
[QUOTE=SSG Schwartz] I really don’t have a problem with drilling where ever there is oil. I know the environment \*could \* be damaged by offshore drilling or drilling in the ANWR, but the important part is could. Some of the taxes on oil could be used for repairing the damage done. IMO, and this is what is asked for, is that having a valuable and badly needed resource and not using it is a waste… [/QUOTE] Reluctantly, I concur. But it has to be done along with serious conservation efforts and aggressive research into alternative fuels, solar, fusion, wind power and cogeneration. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/7 "2008-08-05T05:01:35Z")
I’m all for it - it keeps me in business 😃 With the possible exception of the really deepwater stuff, it won’t make a jot of difference to the price of a gallon of gas. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/8 "2008-08-05T05:45:24Z")
It’s a scam for votes. Americans today are easily led by false promises. Funny how there is no honest, indepth discussion about real energy conservation and alternative energy sources, except when the media portrays it as wacko. This country is addicted to too cheap oil. And despite some pain in the news about high gas prices, the pain is superficial. If you can continue to self-medicate (tobacco, alcohol, gambling, caffeine) to your heart’s content and complain about the high price of gas, you’re not being honest and you’re still not hurting to make a true change in energy waste. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/9 "2008-08-05T05:50:52Z")
Drill. Drill. Drill. And drill some more. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/10 "2008-08-05T05:59:22Z")
Off Shore: Opposed but not strongly so. If it’ll hush people up who think it’ll make a difference, well… ANWR: Strongly opposed. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/11 "2008-08-05T06:04:15Z")
I think the time has come. Put me down as in favor of it, but with the same provisos that **Elendil’s Heir** listed. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/12 "2008-08-05T06:09:11Z")
Against it, at least without some (most likely too onerous) conditions. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/13 "2008-08-05T07:01:08Z")
I haven’t researched it, so I have no particular opinion one way or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/14 "2008-08-05T07:22:51Z")
I really have to wonder, if consumers think they’re at the mercy of foreign oil producers now, what’s it going to be like after the US reserves are depleted? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Love](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Dr.Love](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Love)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/15 "2008-08-05T07:43:19Z")
In favor of, but very confused by the arguments against. Especially the “it should be banned because they wouldn’t drill even if it were legal” one. Indeed, should we ban flying under your own power (like Superman) as well? ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/16 "2008-08-05T07:44:30Z")
[QUOTE=Sublight] I really have to wonder, if consumers think they’re at the mercy of foreign oil producers now, what’s it going to be like after the US reserves are depleted? [/QUOTE] Pretty much sums up my reason for being against it. It’s just prolonging the inevitable. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/17 "2008-08-05T09:41:18Z")
I strongly oppose it. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/18 "2008-08-05T09:45:33Z")
I’d support more drilling for oil in places on _land_, where we can extract oil from shale fields (say, in Montana and so forth) that were unprofitable 30 years ago but which would now make more economic sense. However, in general, I **oppose** what the oil companies are asking for, which is more oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Haven’t we learned anything from Hurricane Katrina about how dangerous it is to put all our oil-refining capacity at the mercy of a single unreliable weather system? ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/19 "2008-08-05T09:56:35Z")
Sorry for the slight hijack here, but this got me thinking about the Gaia Hypotheses. IF the Earth could be regarded as a biological entity, what could be classed as Earth’s ‘blood supply’? I’ve heard the comparison between the rain forests and a humans lungs, but what other analogies could we use for the rest of our body? Could oil be akin to the planet’s ‘blood supply’, or is it more like a tumor beneath the skin? ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/20 "2008-08-05T10:05:06Z")
[QUOTE=ivan astikov] Sorry for the slight hijack here, [/QUOTE] I think you just redefined ‘slight’. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884.md?page=2)