Pelosi indicates willingness to lift ban on offshore drilling

August 18, 2008

Following in the footsteps of Senator Obama, House Speaker Pelosi indicated recently that she would consider legislation allowing new offshore drilling as part of an overall compromise on a new energy bill.  This comes in response to indications that the Republican support for lifting the federal ban is gaining broad support from the public, which is concerned with high gas prices. 

While we are not in favor of increased offshore drilling, per se, that is not what is so frustrating about this situation.  Instead, it is the failure of our leaders to take the opportunity presented by high fuel prices to make a truly fundamental shift in our energy policy.  Yes, high gas prices are a large burden on the public (albeit a smaller one than in many countries).  However, this short-term pain presents us with an opportunity to make material changes that will benefit us in the long-term.

It is exactly situations like this where good leaders would explain to the public that high prices are an opportunity for a fundamental change, not quick fixes.  But instead, our current “leaders” use this issue as a political game without regards to the consequences of missing this chance for action. Ironically, the only politicians who are being genuine here are the ones that don’t believe the science behind climate change. The rest are just playing short-term political games that will affect the long-term health and security of our country and the world.

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