Oil and water do not mix. Well, someone forgot to tell Transocean, Ltd and British Petroleum. A sunken oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico about 100 kilometers off the coast of Louisiana is leaking petroleum at estimates ranging from 1,000 – 5,000 barrels per day as industry officials and the U.S. Coast Guard struggle to contain it. There is concern the oil slick could reach the shore and damage the local ecology and economy. Where is the balance between oil and the environment? Some will say that it is more important to have oil independence then worry about these types of “infrequent” disasters. Others will argue that we should not drill for oil at all in order to prevent environmental degradation. Both sides have legitimate arguments.
Where do we get our oil and whom are we trying to get our “independence” from anyway? In January 2010, the U.S. bought 4 times as much oil from Canada, Mexico, and Nigeria then we did from Saudi Arabia. In fact besides Saudi Arabia, the only other significant oil purchase from the Mid East was from Iraq. And hey, aren’t they our “friends” now? The point is what does oil independence mean and why are we striving for it?
1,000 – 5,000 barrels of oil per day may sound like a lot, but there is 3.55158 x 10^20 gallons of water in the ocean and 1,000 – 5,000 barrels a day is a drop in the bucket in comparison. However, if one fish or bird dies is that too much? What about 100? Where should the line be drawn? How will this disaster affect the local ecology? How about the Louisiana fishing economy?
I don’t think we will ever agree on the correct approach, especially while there are so many special interests entrenched in our political system. However, this will continue to be a big problem for US. As of writing this, the Department of Defense might be getting involved to assist with the clean up efforts. Uh….are we going to send a bill to Transocean and BP? Uh…if we do, they will just adjust their costs to…you guessed it, pass on the costs to US! Uh…if not, who will pay for it? Uh…Uncle Sam to the rescue…oh wait, that is US too. Either way, we will pay for the oil and the disasters. What can US do? To me the solution is easy. USE LESS OIL! Independence? Wasn’t it President George W. Bush who said, “We are addicted to oil.” Well, let’s stop the addiction. Let me offer this for you to ponder. How much are you willing to spend to drive your car and when will the well run dry? Remember, Oil and Water do not mix. And personally, I prefer water!
