Pricelss Notable Republican Quote: ""This vote today sends a signal to OPEC and the rest of the world that America is serious about meeting more of its own energy needs. America will not let our consumers or our economy be held hostage to runaway global oil prices," - Republican Pete Domenici of New Mexico, who CHAIRS the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

"This vote today sends a signal to OPEC and the rest of the world that America is serious about meeting more of its own energy needs. America will not let our consumers or our economy be held hostage to runaway global oil prices," said Republican Pete Domenici

I mean, s---, we held out longer than Europe or even Canada in terms of affordable petroleum.

http://news.yahoo.com/...y_congress_alaska_dc

Just think bout it guys,

The entire US has only 3 percent of the known oil reserves in the world, and we consume 25 percent. How do we drill our way out of this problem. Today, we will sacrifice a wildlife refuge. Whats for tomorrow ?

Here's a humble average joe/jane idea, How about leadership and vision for an energy policy that reduces dependencies on foreign oil with responsible environmental production, conservation techniques, energy efficiency, renewable and sustainable fuels ?

And Exxon Mobil just declared last-quarter profits of 9.9 billion dollars. That's profit. And billion. In one quarter.

That's a world-historical corporate record.

I would have expected this, if nothing else, to bring out the howling masses.

Gas could be 5 dollars agallon and people still wouldn't do s--- about it. Pretty sad world if you ask me ... our world that is ...

I hope that everyone who has posted in this thread so far carpools, rides their bike, and drives a reasonably efficient vehicle (35mpg+). If you don't meet those requirements, it's your dollars that are supporting the oil industry and paying for their stranglehold on American politics. Buck up and make some personal sacrifices, or shut the f--- up.

What amazes me most about this issue is that even the most hardened right wing American capitalis should realised that buy opening up drilling in northern Alaska, they are effectively opening the nation LAST domestic oil reserve. After this the USA’s got nothing. Nadda’. Zip. Zilch. Zero oil left.

Were do you people come up with this stuff?

The sky is falling, the sky is falling! Yeeeeaaaaaarrrrrggggh. :lol:

We have over a 100 year supply. Hahaha

Ever heard of peak oil? Hubbard has been proven right with every prediction so far.

Could you be basing your numbers on Oil Shale? Regardless, you're wrong.

We have studied this extensively in grad school. I am an environmental engineer. Even the liberal professors at the unni say that there is plenty of oil there. We have done extensive cost analysis, and impact studies.
Point is , there is never going to be an answer that everyone can agree on. How about nuclear power? Its cheap, clean, abundant and safe.
Can't wait to hear the arguments against that.

How about nuclear power? Its cheap, clean, abundant and safe.

My understanding is that, absent government subsidies, nuclear power isn't particularly cheap.

Given the number of former reactor/current superfund sites out there, it's hard to swallow "clean".

3 Mile Island and Chernobyl come to mind on the "safe" front.

Higher gasoline prices are a problem for us here in New England. For all of you that want prices to rise up to 6,7,8 dollars a gallon, it would be hurting a lot of people.

In my mind, the greatest single cause of inflated energy(oil) consumption today lies in the hand of the motorist. There is no doubt in my mind that, everywhere you look today maybe it be in the suburb, urban, suburban, country ...etc, there are a lot of single passenger motorist that parades around in their V12, 10 mpg, 4 wheel drive 12 passenger SUV.

The govt might be able to channel the aid away from the fuel pump (if you are #$$#@ enough to drive a Hummer and pollute the envirnoment, you ought to pay a high price for it.

Just food for thought: A brand new Hummer, while flashy and expensive and lousy on the gas mileage, will not pollute nearly as much as an old, 1970's Buick. Emission standards are much tougher now then before.

1970 Buick: 12 miles/gallon, excessive exhaust, grandfathered in to avoid having to pass an emissions test.

2005 Hummer: 10 miles/gallon, far less exhaust, must pass an emissions test yearly.

Something to think about.

The comparison will become more relevant when and if we calcuate which will hurt us the most - pollution or a depletion of resources.

Perhaps, but the comment was directed towards that part written by dxmetal, which said "if you are #$$#@ enough to drive a Hummer and pollute the envirnoment..."

See the difference?

I do, and I am inclined to agree with you that the newer vehicles pollute less. Although, how many people actually drive 1970 vehicles?

I think dxmetal's statement would have had more merit if he were referring to people who drive "gas guzzlers" having to pay more for the privilege.

Would you impose a greater tax on those who drive autos that consume more fuel (full sized rucks, large SUVs, anything other than a 2.2L 4cyl)?

In the face of declining resources, I would, under one condition: that those additional fees where going to research to find a better energy source.

As with my statement about global management of oil, let me qualify this one by saying that corporations aren't to be trusted, so I doubt that such a system would work. So i guess my answer would be that I don't think bigger vehicles should have to pay more. A fairer system would be to ration fuel, when it becomes clear that we need to.

So the guy who needs a large truck to run his contractor business gets screwed? What about the rancher who needs a truck to haul his livestock to market?


First you say you would, then you say you wouldn't. Which is it, Senator Kerry?

And we don't want fuel rationing, either. Surely you remember the problems that caused last time we tried it?

Vehicle (auto transmission) Miles per U.S. Gallon (2005 EPA Est)

Toyota Prius hybrid (midsize) -- 60 city / 51 highway
Honda Insight hybrid (two seater) -- 57 city / 56 highway
Honda Civic hybrid (compact) -- 47 city / 48 highway
Ford Escape hybrid (SUV) -- 36 city / 31 highway
Honda Accord (midsize, 6 cylinder) -- 30 city / 37 highway

The average new vehicle(car) sold in the United States gets 20 miles per gallon. The average SUV gets 17 miles per gallon. Toyota plans to make all of its cars hybrids by 2012.

Were do you people come up with this stuff?

The sky is falling, the sky is falling! Yeeeeaaaaaarrrrrggggh. :lol:

We have over a 100 year supply. Hahaha

Say that we REALLY start pushing a hybrid car for everyone to buy. How many people are really going to be able to afford it? At $20,000 that's a lot of money! In the company that I work for, the average cost of our personal vehicles is $4,000. No one (even the boss) has ever purchased a brand new one.

Even at a rate of 5% of the cars that are purchased are hybrids, how much of a dent on pullution are we talking about?

Finally, I did the math, at our present rate of consumption, drilling ANWR gives us an additional 1 year, 142 and 1/3 days of oil.

Curious how you got that number... can ya expand on it?

Drilling supporters said developing the refuge's 10.4 billion barrels of crude would raise $2.4 billion in leasing fees for the government, reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil imports and create thousands of American jobs. [cut for brevity] The United States has to import almost three out of every five barrels of oil it consumes, with total demand averaging about 20.5 million barrels a day this year.

Petsfed:

I think the error in your approach is that you assume that we'd only ever use ANWR oil, and never get any from other sources (Mexico, Canada, Persian Gulf, Russia, etc.)

I don't think that's the plan put forth by President Bush et al. Could be wrong, cause I don't have the necessary qualifications to voice an opinion.... you know what I mean.

Keyword in my post is additional. That's all.