What if I asked you whether you supported the idea of oil companies drilling in “pristine wilderness?” What if I continued and added that this wilderness was characterized by brutal climatic conditions that made it nearly inhospitable for man to live in?
Many of you probably have Alaska’s brutal North Slope in mind and probably are torn about whether drilling should be permitted. Leaving the science of drilling and the particular details aside for the moment, how would you feel about the above question if instead of asking about the North Slope, I was asking about … the Moon?
The descriptions are identical. And none of us are ever going to either place. Seriously. My bet, however, would be that if oil companies found a way to get oil from the moon (I know they cannot, but go along with this for a moment), few people would have any problem with it. What, then, is the difference when oil companies get it from remote areas on this planet?
Maybe because the moon isn’t “local?” 😉
The site at ANWR is about the size of Dulles airport.
Nothing will persuade the people who believe that all hydrocarbons should remain in the ground, and that people, in particular United States citizens, should live a much humbler life. Or at least we should send them money.
But what if it were a wilderness some few might visit for recreation?
It depends on who owns the property.
A tougher case is the present battle over gas in the Marcellus Shale, a vast reservoir in Pennsylvania and New York.
My sympathies lie with the owners who own the rights to the gas, and the water, and the rock, and the motherlode of gold under their property.
It happens that many people who were regarded as poor bumpkins by our nomenklatura — a pliable source of votes — suddenly are the accidental beneficiaries of a bonanza.
Many have sold drilling rights, and I have now idea what those arrangements include, but if it were my land (sadly not) I would have probably negotiated some royalty arrangement.
Along comes our Governor Ed Rendell who asserts the right to impose a severance tax of five percent of gross revenues, as if somehow all of that property is his, never mind that he never spent a dime of his own money to buy a share of the property owned by the Marcellus Shale gas rights owners.
His argument is that he needs the money to support his ambitions, and that some people in the state want that money, too. I’ve got a big appetite and I’m hungry, so I’m taking some of your food, and trust me, you will hardly miss it.
Ed opposes drilling in ANWR, and is for cap and trade for the same reason. My guess is that he would support drilling on the moon for the same reason he supports a robust moonshine industry. It’s all about jobs.
You are so interesting! I do not suppose I’ve read a single thing like that before. So wonderful to find somebody with some original thoughts on this topic. Really.. many thanks for starting this up. This site is one thing that is required on the web, someone with a bit of originality!
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this article and also the rest of the site is also really good.
You can certainly see your skills within the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.
287957 980719Hello there, just became alert to your weblog through Google, and identified that its actually informative. Im going to watch out for brussels. I will appreciate in case you continue this in future. Many folks will be benefited from your writing. Cheers! 120368
We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with valuable info to work on. You have done an impressive job and our whole community will be grateful to you.
Thank you for the good writeup. It actually was a entertainment account it. Glance complicated to far delivered agreeable from you! By the way, how could we keep in touch?
779841 258379I recognize theres lots of spam on this website. Do you need to have aid cleansing them up? I could aid among courses! 220969
I always was concerned in this subject and stock still am, regards for posting.
94512 88769Soon after study numerous the websites on your personal internet site now, i truly like your indicates of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will also be checking back soon. Pls consider my web-site likewise and tell me what you consider. 877427
I see something genuinely special in this internet site.