In His Infinite Wisdom...

Ok, so this is generally not a political blog because environmentalism is bi-partisan and affects all of us no matter where you lean on the political spectrum. That being said, I'm stunned, shocked and saddened that President Bush is urging Congress today to end a 27-year federal ban on offshore oil drilling, where oil drilling has been banned by both a presidential executive order and a congressional moratorium, and to open a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration. He insists that this raping and pillaging this federally protected land and water would lower gasoline prices and "strengthen our national security." If only it were that simple.

Besides being psychotic, irreparable and disastrous, these measures will have zero impact on the price of gasoline, no matter what the President's speechwriters say.

Warner Chabot, vice president for strategic campaigns with Ocean Conservancy, made the following statement about President Bush's plea to open more of our country's coastline to oil drilling: "Our ocean drives the planet's climate and is the first victim of global climate change -- more drilling only guarantees its further destruction while doing nothing to solve our energy crisis. The President says America is addicted to oil, but the primary solution offered by the Administration is a larger needle to fuel the country's addiction.

"Advocates for new offshore drilling falsely claim that new leases will 'immediately' lower oil costs due to speculative pressure, when in fact eight million acres open by President Bush last year did nothing to lower prices - instead we have seen prices skyrocket. Even the U.S. Energy Information Administration agrees that opening up vast new areas to drilling will likely reduce prices a few pennies per gallon, over a decade from now."

Listen, I won't pretend to be able to explain the immensely complicated factors that have put us in this oil predicament to begin with, I am saying that offshore drilling and cracking open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is ludicrous, futile and wildly irresponsible. It makes me nauseous.

Trying to make heads and tails of this issue? Start HERE. To sign a petition to let your representatives know you think this quick no-fix idea sucks, check THIS out.