Should we drill for oil in Alaska or not?

Answer 1

Yes, though the definition of "we" is important here. Oil, like any other resource, does not rightfully belong to a government. Seeing how horrifically government wastes everything else, it's obvious that bureaucrats are the last people who ought to be in charge of a precious commodity.
The hysteria over "Big Oil" is a joke, albeit a dangerous one. Get the government the feck out of businesses' business, and then we can talk realistically about energy options.
http://www.perc.org/publications/articles/Crichtonspeech.php

Answer 2

Alaska is huge, absolutely so dang big most people can't even conceive it. The area they wanted to drill in was extremely small, to the point of laughably small. Most people never bothered to find that out. I was against it until I found out the facts, and I now support it. Unfortunately, it won't make us energy independent or even provide a substantial amount of oil, but it is a start. Some "darker, government types" supposedly worked hard to kill the idea on flimsy environmental ground so that we have a known source of oil in the future when the world supply of oil is far less than it is today.

Answer 3

Yes.
My only hedge is that having that resource untapped is strategically valuable, in the event that the lunatic fringe that currently controls the majority of oil production really go off the deep end.
But simply put, we will treat the environment much better than that kook in Iran or Chavez in Venezuela (we bemoan the fate of the Arctic tundra but no one seems concerned about the environment in these other oil producing countries where we have no influence). We will put money into the American workers' pockets instead of terrorists, dictators, and Islamo-fascists. We will be able to control the ups and downs of the oil market a little better.
So I think we should drill, but we should also be careful in the event that we are cut off from the rest of the oil producing countries.

Answer 4

NO-NO-NO--- in 1973 the opec oil embargo sparked the same debate about oil in Alaska--and lobysts for the big oil companies convinced congress that building the ALASKAN PIPELINE would solve our dependence on foreign oil-- the oil was sold to asian countries @ a huge profit and caused an enviormental catastrophie in Prudo Bay--Valdez--oil tanker leaked millions of gallons -- the pipeline didn't help the average person one damn bit--and this new drilling will be the same old song-- corporations dont have souls-- but they do have $ yours and mine -every day they steal from us at the gas pumps.

Answer 5

Is my opinion that reliance on fossils fuels is very short term and does so much damage in the processes. Rather than giving Subsidies to the Oil Companies, the Feds should put a Solar panel on every home and cease this endless and mindless consumption of Minerals and Fossil whoes only action when used by Humans for comfort affects The Earth in a negative way.

Answer 6

We already are, at Prudhoe Bay.

If you are talking about ANWR, yes, we should.

The drilling at Prudhoe Bay demonstrates that the science has evolved to a point that we can drill for oil without significantly impacting the environment.

It's time for the knee jerk reaction against oil drilling to stop.

I would like to ask all of those saying that we should be more reliant on alternate energy if they have solar panels on their homes. They are available on the market. Put up or shut up.

Answer 7

I don't think we should. Like other people on here have said, we should be using renewable alternative energy sources. Solar and wind power can provide enough sustainable energy to power the entire U.S. but we're still reliant on oil and fossil fuels? Give me a break.

As for powering automobiles, we should be investing our time and money in hydrogen fuel cells. Hydrogen fuel cells would eventually need to be replaced (after maybe 5-10 years, maybe longer), but the only by-products they emit would be water and water vapor.

Why do we need to ruin the natural beauty of Alaska and put animals in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge at risk when we can apply our knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit to producing clean-burning sources of power?

Answer 8

Right now I say no. There is other places that we can drill for now. Save the oil up there when we really need it.

Answer 9

umm NO!
its not so much the drilling that will be the harsh part, but the pipe line goes right through the porcupine caribou herd's calving grounds. and also i heard that there will be only enough oil to supply the US for 1 month.

Answer 10

All oil drilling should cease!
It's time to concentrate on alternative fuels!