combjelly,
ANWR could be packaged in such a way that appeals to the typical voter out there.
Does everything have to be part of a political baseball (even baseball)? If the oil is there, and the economy needs oil to run, it is obvious that the oil will be drilled sooner or later. The only question is sooner or later.
My thinking on the subject when it came up the first time (4 years ago?) was that we should not drill, because the price of oil was too cheap. Let's buy when it is cheap, sell when it is expensive.
Since then the price of oil went up, making it more attractive. I think the point is to optimize the timing to get the most $$$s out of it, which also means that this oil would be available when it the most desirable.
We may not be there yet. My WAG is that maybe in 2010 - 2015 may be a good time to bring it to market, since if there is no major shock to the system, the growing world economy will gobble up ever increasing quantities of oil, raising prices much higher than they are now. And, the alternatives for mass quantities of energy will not yet be commercially viable and available.
And that is exploitable. Just like Bush's stance on Social Security.
Yes, very exploitable as Dems have demagogued the issue for decades to death.
There is inevitable political element to this, since privatized Social Security would liberate people from being wards of the state, vassals of the Dem Party.
But what is more important IMO is what is good for the country. Is 100% pay as you go system superior to a combination of pay as you go and capitalized system? I don't think you will find a lot of clear thinking people to say it is.
I think most of the Dems are already knowingly doing something that is bad for the country for a partisan advantage. You seem dissatisfied that they are not doing more.
This country is pretty ripe for a true Populist to take the stage. It would help break down the barriers between the red and the blue voters that exist now. But I don't see it happening.
It seems that the party you are envisioning would break up the coalition that is holding the blue majorities in the remaining blue states.
Joe |
