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