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Remember: Oil Disaster: The Game of Saving Face

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Oil Disaster: The Game of Saving Face

There is little truth to the modern game of politics save the fact that the discussion of politics in this country has much more to do with image than it does with substance.  When a politician runs for office, they are likely to say what is needed to get elected.  While in office, they are likely to do what it is that is necessary to stay in office.

That is, flash points and hot button topics dominate the world of 24 hour cable news channels.  The sexy headline, be it true or not, is likely to be the headline run (FoxNews has made billions doing just that).  In truth, the modern American politician plays to the lowest of intellectual desire.  When a politician cries “Drill Baby Drill!” from a bully pulpit of nostalgic American imagery, with no grounded economic or scientific data to support their reasoning for oil drilling, a sector of Americans eat it up like candy on Easter Sunday.

They hear things said, like “freedom from Middle Eastern Oil”, and accept such blind dogma as truth.  There is no regard to consequences, environmental or otherwise.  During the last election cycle, as “Drill Baby Drill!” became the winking catchphrase of a “Maverick” campaign, voters on both sides of the aisle agreed.  As of one month ago, the “Hope” campaign having assumed the office of the presidency moved forward on new offshore drilling.  Like all politicians, President Obama made this decision because he thinks that an energy future that is free of foreign control is something that all Americans want, and he is right in his assumption.  His methods are however, obviously, the wrong ones.

As the oil spill in the Gulf worsens, and the ecological tragedy begins to hit home, the “Drill Baby Drill!” cries have been muted.  The President has yet to back off of his call for further drilling, but I imagine he will in the very near future.

A simple Google search will reveal that public support for offshore drilling has hit a record low in America.  It would seem that, now the hour has finally come for our federal government to implement a domestic energy policy that is properly attuned to the common sense environmental decision making that will lead to job creation, innovation, and a clean future.

Do not think for a second that the majority of politicians in Washington DC today would have considered such a radical change before the polls hit bottom on drilling.  A slightly similar situation developed when gas prices hit close to 5 dollars a few years back.  There were genuine discussions on a national level about a new future of clean energy.  The American Public demanded it.  Gas prices fell, and so did the idea of new energy policy.

Now, this situation in the Gulf of Mexico is only going to worsen in the coming months and the terrible situation caused by it is going to last for decades.  This time, in the face of an unparalleled ecological disaster, our politicians will be forced  to consider new policy and we need to remind them every single day that that is their only option.  The politicians will need to save face, and as callous and as cynical as this all may sound, some real good may come from this current game of politics.

Just today, the senators introducing the new American energy bill, have limited offshore drilling, enabled states to veto drilling expansion and added a stipulation allowing the Department of the Interior to do a full environmental assessment of offshore drilling.

A month ago, that section would have detailed plans to create more wells and rigs.  These senators needed to save face, it is an election year after all.

Let’s keep reminding them.  Real action needs to be taken and if ever a politician has been good at anything, they are good at saving face.

Senator Bob Casey:
Contact him here (Click on this)
Senator Arlen Specter:
Contact him here (Click on this)



ALSO:

OIL ARMAGEDDON

16 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Isn't the guy who is running the Allentown EAC saving the world ? Maybe that is why Allentown's EAC doesn't seem to do much. Saving the world for our children must keep a guy really busy. No doubt too busy to deal with Allentown's many local environmental issues.

May 12, 2010 at 11:49 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you environmental Nazis would give up your cars there would be no need to drill for oil.

May 12, 2010 at 12:48 PM  
Blogger Andrew Kleiner said...

Anon 12:48,

Just us?

First, we have had the better part of century to create an energy development policy in this country that would eliminate the "need to drill for oil", and we have done little or nothing.

Second, it isn't just cars that need oil. The oil cycle permeates nearly every aspect of modern manufacturing from food production to shipping and back again. Nearly every piece of factory farm or mass produced ear of corn is soaked in oil.

Third, equating the desire to see an American economy of innovation, development and expansion doesn't seem very Nazi-like to me.

May 12, 2010 at 12:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mark another one down for not having a car.

Of course, you still need to deal with the pollution/congestion/danger/oil dependency anyway, but hey, no one's counting right?

May 12, 2010 at 7:43 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Yeah good point anonymous, how could one person get through their daily responsibilities and post an opinion on their blog. So which did you have time to get through today, tie your shoes or brush your teeth? Gee, life is hard.

May 13, 2010 at 12:06 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"ONE WITH THE EARTH." PAVE OUR PARKS! LOG SOUTH MOUNTAIN! Then BIKE ALLENTOWN can ride down the hill. SUPPORT 2ft.BUFFER ZONES! Don't worry,be happy. Whats the problem? And don't forget to turn off the lights when you leave the bathroom,our grandchildren will thank you. See you at MAYFAIR.

May 13, 2010 at 7:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

No. The game of making money!

May 13, 2010 at 8:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

For anyone interested:

Hawk Mountain Native Plant Sale
Sat & Sun, May 15-16 from 10 am-4pm
Visitor Center Parking Lot—Rain or Shine!

You can find it on the web.


Ulrich Stegna

May 13, 2010 at 4:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Our grandchildren can now ride through Cedar Creek Park on nice, safe, clean blacktop trails. I think this is wonderful. Thank you Mayor, Lisa, Greg, Brian, Matt, Steve and all the great people at Bike Allentown. Now it's time to pave the Little Lehigh Parkway paths. I know we can get it done! Ride to live, live to ride.

May 14, 2010 at 12:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"The federal Minerals Management Service gave permission to BP and dozens of other oil companies to drill in the Gulf of Mexico without first getting required permits from another agency that assesses threats to endangered species — and despite strong warnings from that agency about the impact the drilling was likely to have on the gulf.
Size of Oil Spill Underestimated, Scientists Say (May 14, 2010)
Western Senators Propose Ban on Pacific Drilling (May 14, 2010)
Court Backs Oil Project (May 14, 2010) Those approvals, federal records show, include one for the well drilled by the Deepwater Horizon rig, which exploded on April 20, killing 11 workers and resulting in thousands of barrels of oil spilling into the gulf each day.

The Minerals Management Service, or M.M.S., also routinely overruled its staff biologists and engineers who raised concerns about the safety and the environmental impact of certain drilling proposals in the gulf and in Alaska, according to a half-dozen current and former agency scientists.

Those scientists said they were also regularly pressured by agency officials to change the findings of their internal studies if they predicted that an accident was likely to occur or if wildlife might be harmed."

Courtesy of Drudge Report:
Friday, May 14, 2010

May 14, 2010 at 10:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What is EAC?

May 14, 2010 at 10:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
For anyone interested:

Hawk Mountain Native Plant Sale
Sat & Sun, May 15-16 from 10 am-4pm
Visitor Center Parking Lot—Rain or Shine!

You can find it on the web.


Ulrich Stegna

May 13, 2010 4:06 PM


And just how do we get there from Allentown without a car?

May 14, 2010 at 10:48 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

try taking a bus

May 14, 2010 at 11:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

SPILL MAY BE 10 TIMES WORSE THAN THOUGHT Huffington Post 5/14

May 14, 2010 at 12:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
try taking a bus

May 14, 2010 11:00 AM

Oh Really. And just what bus route would that be?

May 14, 2010 at 12:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Saturday 8 a.m.
Andrew,
If you happen to have a free moment today, tere's a fishing contest today in the Parkway and lots of families set up last night to be ready first thing this morning. It's fun to see so many children having a good time.

May 15, 2010 at 7:59 AM  

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