# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/41 "2008-08-05T20:05:21Z")
I favor increased drilling in both ANWR and offshore. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/42 "2008-08-05T20:38:48Z")
At a time when our biggest problem is that we’re putting too much CO2 in the atmosphere, new drilling seems more like enabling the continuation of the problem than part of the solution. But it doesn’t appear that the offshore drilling we’re talking about will ultimately make that much difference either way, and it sure won’t make any difference _soon_. So like Obama, I’d be willing to use it as a bargaining chip. If it’ll help get a good auctionable cap-and-trade carbon plan through Congress, then toss it into the pot. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/43 "2008-08-05T20:43:47Z")
Drill baby, drill. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/44 "2008-08-05T20:53:21Z")
Opposed. ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/45 "2008-08-05T20:59:34Z")
I favor more drilling, particularly in ANWAR. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/46 "2008-08-05T21:03:06Z")
Opposed. We should just bite the bullet and develop wind, tide and solar power. ---
**Author:** ![Paladud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Paladud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paladud)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/47 "2008-08-05T21:52:20Z")
Strongly favor. The net effect on the world oil market will be small, but it’ll create solid industrial jobs for decades. Screw the caribou. [QUOTE=mswas] Water aquifers. Oil is the Earth’s shit. [/QUOTE] Nah, coal is plain shit. Oil is diarrhea. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/48 "2008-08-05T22:12:15Z")
Opposed to drilling in ANWR because something can’t be a wildlife refuge and be economically developed. It’s an oxymoron. As far as offshore, I’m leaning to opposed. I’d be less opposed if people actually understood that more drilling won’t reduce prices by any significant margin, nor does it matter if we buy our oil from Alaska, Iraq, or Mars. Domestic oil costs the same as foreign oil, and I’m tired of people seemingly thinking that “energy independence” means cheap gas. The reason I could be convinced for more drilling is that we will need gas for a long time (airplanes, ships, etc) and the royalties could be a decent source of government revenue. ---
**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, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/49 "2008-08-05T22:25:53Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Which won’t happen as long as the supply continues. Pain is required to force change. [/QUOTE] I think that it has prompted that change to begin. Extending the supply at this point won’t hamper the switchover I don’t think. It will just help to prevent against a recession. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/50 "2008-08-05T22:27:31Z")
Opposed, for the reasons already listed. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/51 "2008-08-05T22:37:44Z")
Against. Because (a) I live in California and remember oil washing up on the shoreline in the 70s; (b) by the time we get oil flowing from the proposed new fields we could have plug-in hybrids rolling off Detroit assembly lines and © would the solution to a crack addiction be: more sources of crack? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/52 "2008-08-05T22:39:55Z")
[QUOTE=KSO] I favor more drilling, particularly in ANWAR. [/QUOTE] I suppose I’m ok with that, but I’m not sure we’ll get much Oil out of [him](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anwar_Al_Sadat). I’m strongly opposed. I don’t put much stock in the environmental concerns over drilling. I think that regulations and policies can be enacted to make drilling safe and responsible. I’m opposed because Oil is a strategic resource, and even if alternative fuel sources are uncovered for automobiles and electricity Oil will still be a important resource. Even if the US and Europe quickly adopt alternative vehicles many nations will not be able to and as a result preserving our Oil is wise. Tapping into strategic resources and untapped reserves for a short-term fix (a dubious one at that) is incredibly short sighted and irresponsible. Frankly, it’s monumentally stupid. We will continue to need Oil for the remainder of the next millennium for plastics and lubrication at the very least so the longer we are able to use other people’s oil we will be in a strategically advantageous position in the long view. Our problem with the dependence on foreign oil isn’t because we aren’t producing enough of it, it’s because we don’t have alternatives to it to moderate it’s price. Oil is still relatively plentiful and therefore we should keep buying on the open market and save ours for when it’s _truly_ scarce. The prices are high because the Oil companies are a cartel and drilling more Oil will do nothing but increase their margins. The only way to lower prices is to add competition to the marketplace. It’s not a supply-demand problem, it’s a free market problem. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/53 "2008-08-05T22:42:19Z")
[QUOTE=Mosier] I don’t know enough about it, but I think increased oil drilling will stunt development of alternative ways to produce energy, which everyone agrees we will need eventually. I’m against it based on that principle. [/QUOTE] This is my opinion too. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/54 "2008-08-05T23:32:12Z")
I’m rather ambivalent. As long as the drilling is done in a way that keeps the environment safe, I have no problem with it, but I don’t think it’s going to make a significant difference. It’s a drop in the bucket compared to what we’re using, so if it keeps the oil companies and whining consumers happy, why not? Tack on some environmental risk and alternative energy taxes, too. ---
**Author:** ![Superfreaknduper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Superfreaknduper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfreaknduper)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/55 "2008-08-05T23:32:53Z")
Small question. If we do okay the oil drill is it American companies who will be drilling and selling us back this oil? I mean an Arab company owns the majority of the Chrysler building. I’m against it. It won’t lower the price of oil, and it won’t increase our oil supply for another 10 years, not worth the wait. ---
**Author:** ![EastCoastPearl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/aeb1de/32.png) [@EastCoastPearl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastCoastPearl)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/56 "2008-08-06T00:01:01Z")
I’m for it. I think it’s inevitable that we’ll suck it all dry so we might as well get it over with now and get on with figuring out the alternatives. Its kindof like me with booze in the house. As long as there’s even a drop laying around I’m gonna drink it and the only way to stop me is to dump it down the drain. I seriously doubt we can send the whole country to AA to help us deal with our little “problem.” We should be forced to go cold turkey without even the slightest option of there being any more to feed our addiction. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/57 "2008-08-06T00:06:13Z")
We should have been drilling ten years ago. It’s our resource, not utilizing it while at the same time continuing to buy the same resource from neutral or even hostile foreign governments is lunacy. Drill. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/58 "2008-08-06T00:39:01Z")
They have any reasonable hope of hitting gushers that will provide all our oil needs, let us join OPEC (or drive them out of business by undercutting their price), let us thumb our noses at the middle eastern oiligarchies? No? Screw that shit then. Stick some money into nuclear energy. Develop the first new batch of reactors directly under the streets of Washington DC just to reassure us that they’re putting due considerations into safety, but yeah, go nuclear. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/59 "2008-08-06T00:53:11Z")
They have 40 million acres of land to drill in now. They got over 1700 drilling permits last year which are mostly unused. They want the illusion that they are trying to do something to help consumers. It actually only helps the oil companies. The oil company value immediately increases if they get the lease. on the books whether they use it or not. Who says they will drill it anyway. If ANWR must be opened due to stupid politics, it should have a provision that it gets drilled immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884/60 "2008-08-06T01:13:58Z")
Drill, of course. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-us-dopers-how-do-you-feel-about-increased-drilling-for-oil/458884.md?page=4)