Drilling is a band-aid, not a solution
I love how when gas prices soar suddenly everyone is an expert on oil production and has a theory on how gas prices can be lowered. Just drill more and all our problems will be solved. Just use oil reserves and wait it out. Just develop the car that runs on water and who cares about oil.
Well, I'm no expert on oil production and I doubt any of the friendlyfire folk are either, but I do know this: We have got to change our oil consumption ways, not just find new sources.
More oil drilling rigs off California coast and in ANWAR might give us some relief -- in a few years once the bids have been figured out for which companies, and the exploration completed and the rigs set up -- and it might also impact the environment. More oil rigs increases the possibility of an accident.
Besides, this is clearly just a political wedge issue. democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi won't budge on opening up oil drilling and giving W a least a small victory to slink out of office on. And the GOP and all its oil supporters are going to use it to sow animosity among consumers who are getting hit at the pump.
No drilling will not resolve the problem, but like during the Clinton Administration, had the drilling began we now would be having some relief from the oil that the Democrats and tree hugger types have blocked. The old saying that "it will take 10 to 15 years to make an impact" is exactly the reason we should begin drilling now! Many of the sites have wells that are not being used, and we need these in addition to other sources of energy such as nuclear, wind and solar to take up the slack until we can develop the only reliable source of hydrogen fuel and the infrastructure to support it. Failing to do this will only set us back to the horse and buggy days. Are you really ready for that?