Why More Oil, Why Now?
Written by Kenneth Long   
Friday, 02 April 2010 22:33



Why in the world would President Barack Obama announce plans to open the waters off the east coast to oil drilling at this time? The world is more environmentally conscious and scrutinizing than ever before, the car industry is producing more gas-friendly, (or even full electric cars like Nissan’s LEAF) affordable vehicles, and global warming is melting the polar ice caps at an alarming rate. Doesn’t this sound like he is risking his entire popularity with the common people to try to fix an oil shortage problem what will probably disappear within a few decades on its own anyways (in light of green technology)? Maybe Obama is really out of touch with what the people really want. Or maybe Obama is the smartest political strategist we’ve seen in a while.

It is no secret that Obama has got his eyes on an ambitious climate bill that will aim to increase green energy consumption, lower greenhouse gases, and reduce our need for fossil fuels (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/01/EDLQ1CO26O.DTL). In order to get such a bill passed, he will need the support of Republican politicians that aren’t exactly his best friends. He probably made a few more Republican enemies since his health care bill victory a short while ago. If Obama didn’t do something very drastic and pivotal, there would be absolutely no chance that any of his Republican detractors and moderate Democrats will support his climate bill. And then he announced that he would open up the eastern coast of the United States to offshore drilling. The Republicans have always been strong advocates of an expansion of offshore drilling sites, so this is one thing they can’t resist sinking their teeth into. There is no other way to see this move as other than a bargaining chip for something Obama probably thinks is more important than a few more oil pumps in the world: the reduction of global warming.

This all goes back to that climate bill Obama wants passed. Giving the Republicans a carrot (an oily one) on a stick is probably going to be extremely effective when time comes for both parties to sit down at the bargaining table for the climate bill. 


(Photo: johnny choura)