What is the REAL reason the Democrats refuse to let us drill for our own oil?

Seriously folks, I can usually penetrate the Democrat ';smokescreen'; and see through to their political motivations, but this time I will have to admit that they've got me stumped. Set aside their rhetoric and obfuscation (if you can), and please tell me what their actual, ';hidden,'; deep-seated reasons for opposing the idea of allowing us to drill in our own oil reserves are. This one's really beyond me, so thanks in advance for your help.What is the REAL reason the Democrats refuse to let us drill for our own oil?
The DEEP pockets of Big Envronmentalism have them doing their bidding.





If people don't think the environmentalists are a BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY then they are fooling themselves.What is the REAL reason the Democrats refuse to let us drill for our own oil?
Seriously, when was the last time you drilled for oil?





Oil companies, on the other hand, have been leased 10s of millions of acres of public lands for 3 dollars per acre per year (what a deal, huh? You can't beat that rent with a stick) rich in oil deposits that they haven't bothered to drill yet.





If I were you, I'd write those mean, old, nasty, non-drilling oil companies a nasty letter.





It doesn't bother me that much, however, because the price of oil doesn't have a thing to do with them not drilling those bargain-priced leases.





But if I thought not drilling was the problem (like you do), then I'd definitely send them nasty letters.
The oil isn't ';ours'; as we have NOT nationalized fossil fuel reserves.





If you want foreign companies (like Shell or BP) or even US companies to drill, be prepared for several things:





first, THEY must decide it is economically feasible (and they haven't tapped into the leases they currently bought and own),





Further, there is little reason to think they will not sell this oil to the highest bidder as they have always done.





Further, any drop of oil recovered is 10 years away, and by that time, we had better be moving towards alternatives...





LAstly, US reserves, are, in my opinion, best left unexploited for strategic reasons.
They don't believe that National Wildlife Preserves should be opened up for exploitation by private oil companies. There are many other places the oil companies have been allowed to drill but aren't. This is all a ploy to destroy natural habitats that had been set aside for protection, just to let a few rich people get even richer.
haven't you researched the facts that even if we started drilling right now it would take about 5 years to show any benefits, then after that their is only 2 .1/2 years of oil left in the U.S~!!!





and then who pays for the extra oil rigs and wages and extra equipment and startup costs~??!!!





we do~!!!.....it will actually RAISE prices if you crunch the numbers and do the research~!!!





seriously, what is it that you people don't get~??!!!
The idea behind their refusal is this: it would create environmental damage, there is not enough oil to significantly drop prices anyway, and drilling now will not hold off the inevitable - to sum up the cost does not equal the payoff.





I'm not agreeing or disagreeing at this point, but those are the reasons.
I think they are just taking a contrary viewpoint.





Our neighbors have increased oil production in the past decade and our production has declined. You'd think they would want to quit being associated with the high price of gas but they seem to enjoy that honor.





It is just disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing as far as I can see. You know it's good to let them get the majority in both houses every once in a while to remind us of how incompetent they really are.





fs
First of all do you honestly think we can just go drill tomorrow and have oil by the next day? It's going to take years for us to even benefit from it..Democrats are more so about saving energy saving oil, coming up with better solutions for time like this when where spending $4+ on gasoline...maybe something like 100 mpg cars...just a better way...oil isn't going to last us for ever, and as our dollar becomes weaker won't always be able to get so much from other countries...On top of that global warming is real, I don't know if you look at TIME or National Geographic but ice berg's are melting animals will become extinct..yeah it will take many years but were trying to save our planet for future generations
As far as off-shore drilling it is because we need the oceans and drilling will destroy them.





The only real answer to the energy crisis we are currently experiencing is to move away from oil and develop alternative energy sources and improve our public transit systems. To really work on these two areas would create jobs and improve our economy as well as our ecology.





As an Obama supporter, I must say, I am glad that McCain is talking about increasing Nuclear energy. I commend him for that.
They don't promote capitalism, they don't promote or encourage self sufficiency in anything they do, so what's the problem with being reliant on the middle east for oil?





They want everyone to rely on the gov't for social issues, so why not oil too!?!





We'll just talk with the middle east and have a pleasant conversation regarding the price of oil.
Let's see. The laws were originally passed by George H. W. Bush and the Republican controlled congress did nothing to even try to repeal them for 6 years. You might want to ask some of the Republican legislators.





Also, you could ask the oil companies why they haven't started drilling in all of areas they have had government leases on for decades.
Very simple...every time the Republicans try to pass legislation to drill, they tack on a provision to open up ANWAR. That is the deal breaker.





If they would simply put forth a bill WITHOUT ANWAR, they would probably get it passed.





Oddly enough McCain is talking sense on this subject, but people have gotten so used to ignoring him, he isn't getting much traction.
Seriously, my friend, we have over 80 million acres of unexplored land and sea leased for discovery, but the oil co. isn't drilling there, because they want the easy stuff first, even though in the Anwar alone there is only enough, on the high guess, to last us about, oh.......4 MONTHS!!!


Drill the leased land first, then we'll talk about the rest....BUT do the leased land and seas.....FIRST!!!!


I thank you for your attention.
Because they actually ENJOY seeing Americans suffer. For the last several years, they've needed reasons to hate the white house administration... I swear, they jump up and down when financial experts predict a recession/depression in our future. They will be able to blame Republicans for that for YEARS!
not true, you are VERY misinformed





the oil companies are NOT even using all the land they have leased at this time


IF they did that would be 6x the amount of oil ANWAR would supply





so... why don't we just drill in those places 1st ?


lots of oil than can be drilled right now !! (but isn't)
The environmental groups that oppose drilling are all funded by foundations(Ford, Rockefeller, etc). The foundations have the same directorship as the banks and oil companies. A high oil price creates demand for the dollar and stabilizes the banking system.
They don't want problems to get resolved as right now enough people blame Bush for it. Just like they where kicking and screaming to end the Troop Surge before it had barely begun because they where afraid it would work.





Politics before country.
Who wants to drill off shore anyway. I just saw on the news that wild catters are drilling on land. Now that oil is $135 barrel its worth the investment to drill again. Private citizens drilling for oil. I love it!
Beacause it not a supply and demand issue. It has to do with the value of our dollar. Prices are going up everywhere, not just with gas and oil. Look around you, the dollar is causing prices to go up.
It's easy, we use 18 million barrel a day and all the oil drilled in the entire USA would get us maybe 1 Million. For that little bit, which would have no significant impact, we would destroy our last bit of nature.
I'm a republican and i think its a bad idea to drill for it right now.





Save it for a time when it is truly critical.
because the republicans are for it, Democrats just disagree to disagree, there is no teamwork, no WORK FOR AMERICA in congress
There is no hidden agenda. We're not republicans.





It REALLY won't bring down prices. It WILL just give more money to the oil companies. It REALLY won't solve the underlying causes of the oil supply /cost problem.
They painted themselves in a corner with complete support on environmentalists and the man made global warming crowd. If they ';give in'; and allow big oil to drill their base will go nuts.
I think the reason for them upholding the decisions of Reagan and Bush Sr. are about ecology/environment.
Environmental reasons. It seems obvious to me.
Then we can't whine about the Republicans and blame them for everything. That's no fun!
It is all about tourism and fishy's
and who put thoses restrictions into place


George Bush SR.


and Ronald Reagan
They are owned by the environMENTAL lobby, and they want us to suffer !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe because in 10 years when that oil is ready it'll be China and India buying it all up, not us?