Once again President Bush is playing the fear game to promote his agenda. Today he moved to lift the executive ban on offshore drilling. His reasoning, of course, is to provide relief to Americans who are suffering at the pump.
How is this playing on fear? It's simple. Many Americans are feeling the squeeze of gas prices inflated by the oil corporations and speculators. They fear that they will have to give up some of the luxuries they rely on to make them feel better about themselves. Others, wait in fear of having to give up more food and clothing to fill the tank to go to work.
To say 'let's get drilling offshore now to help you' exploits these fears to get an OK from the public. Typical to the administration, the overall lie far outweighs the truths.
Lie? What is the lie? Offshore drilling could provide billions of barrels of oil per year. The operative word is could.
There are no guarantees that these reserves can actually be tapped. Moreover, if they can, it will be years before the supply would become available. So there's the lie. There is no such thing as immediate relief.
What a grand play on fear and the American desire for instant gratification.
OK, so we drill offshore - what then? America taps into the oil reserve under the ocean, in typical fashion with total disregard for the environment and ecosystem. This oil is found, brought up refined and American dependence on foreign oil decreases a few percentage points.
Woo Hoo! Problem solved.
Not so much. By the time this all happens what will the price at the pump be? $10.00 a gallon, $15.00, maybe $20.00?
And who reaps the rewards? The American public?
No. The oil companies who would undoubtedly be offered subsidies, tax breaks and relaxed EPA standards. Thus, it is the American taxpayer who will be footing the bill in higher taxes to pay the subsidies to Exxon to get a few cents worth of relief in 10 years?
But Bush knows how Americans think. He knows fully well that the masses do not think beyond today and will buy into anything that they are told will make things easier for them. He knows our fears and plays up half-truths to present an image of alleviation.
And, our beloved President, has called upon Congress to do the same as him.
No, Mr. President. It is time for Congress and the Senate to tell you and your minions of oil-evil to STFU. It's time the American people tell you to STFU. It's time for the United States to stop pandering to a culture of fear that you created and start becoming rational and responsible again.
It's time to think about the future and realize that oil is a limited resource and the only one who reaps the benefits of exploiting this are the oil corporations. It's time for the American public to force a revolution. An energy revolution.
More of the same old, same old can only lead to our devastation.
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