Arctic Drilling

Stardate 3823.2

This disgusts me.

WASHINGTON - The House voted late Wednesday to allow oil drilling in an Alaska wildlife refuge as part of a broad energy bill that Democrats said would funnel billions of dollars to highly profitable energy companies while doing little to promote conservation or ease gasoline prices.

Lets see if I can sort out some of this...

The people behind this Bill say that millions of barrels of oil a day from the Wildlife Reserve will help ease the strain on the US' dependence on oil imports. People against the Bill say it won't be available for 10 years, and likely won't do anything to help the oil prices or shortages.

The Bill itself will give over $8 Billion in tax breaks to, I have to assume, companies involved with the energy industry... Likely the same companies doing the work in places like Iraq. That alone is contentious, but now, this could be worse!

Environmental groups claim that many oil rigs and platforms in a Wildlife Reserve will be terrible for the area's wildlife, including polar bears, caribou and many other animals. I agree. It is, after all, a Wildlife Reserve. We have already decimated the Rain forests, and the effects of Global Warming are obvious...

What is worse, this? Or perhaps another illegal war for oil? Bush wants the energy Bill by summer.

We're doomed it would seem...

*** UPDATE ***

The House passed the $12 Billion Energy Bill today. It has to go through the Senate still (may Arioch help us...)

White House endorses bill
"This is a comprehensive piece of legislation, and it does address one of the fundamental problems facing our nation and that is that we are growing more dependent on foreign sources of energy," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

Yeah... the US is running out of oil. No shit. Now tell me they didn't invade Iraq for oil... Come on.