FOOL ME ONCE SHAME ON YOU!
Off shore oil drilling again
raises concerns with the latest SNAFU from a major oil company. A Shell drilling rig broke loose during
towing and ended up beached on an Alaskan island. So far no oil spill. Another oil rig in the arctic seas has all
but been condemned by the U.S. Coast Guard inspectors, sighting safety and
environmental concerns.
The major oil companies are
the most profitable concerns ever to exist on earth. The published profits of these companies are
obscene when compared to world economies, and yet they operate here in the United States with
subsidies, tax breaks and special consideration. It is a reasonable assumption that oil
payola is regularly channeled into the coffers of politicians in the Senate and
Congress of the United
States and to officials of other countries.
At present a barrel of oil is
selling at $93.19. But the actual cost
of oil is much higher. When we add in
the U.S. military forces assigned to protect oil concerns, foreign aide to
third world oil producers, oil spill clean-up cost, tax considerations and
subsidies the cost likely sky rockets to $500.00 or more per barrel. This does not include the environmental
damage to the oceans, land and atmosphere.
We can not put a cost of the lives lost in recent military campaigns,
oil worker deaths and illnesses resulting from fossil fuel pollution.
Both Democrats and
Republicans protect the oil interest; but, the Republicans go the extra mile
denying climate change.
Here in Maine
our energy policy requires that we produce 4% of Maine electricity from alternative methods,
and that this increase each year by 1% so that by the year 2017 10% of our
electricity will be produced by alternative sources. This is the law – up until now.
However, our Republican
Governor is pushing a bill that will freeze the alternative energy component at
4%. He states that alternative methods
are more expensive than oil produced electricity; and in true Republican fashion,
he says that staying on the oil standard will ‘produce more jobs and attract
more business to the state.'
Micro or Macro - at Both
National and State Levels - Oil Rules.
FOOL ME TWICE ( 3,4,5,6… TIMES) SHAME ON ME!
the Ol’Buzzard

