MOTHER JONES BY E-MAIL

Drill, Baby, Drill

This cartoon requires Macromedia's Flash Player. If you don't see the cartoon above, download the player here.

Mark Fiore is an editorial cartoonist and animator whose work has appeared in the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Examiner, and dozens of other publications. He is an active member of the American Association of Editorial Cartoonists, and has a web site featuring his work.



 

Post a Comment

Your Name: 

Your Comment: 
 
Please press "Submit" only once to avoid double-posting.
All HTML formatting is removed from comments.
Read the Mother Jones community rules here.

Comments:

The problem with the "Drill, Baby Drill" mantra is that even if we tapped EVERY possible spot in the US for oil reserves (including putting down a well in your living room), it would not lower the price of fuel. Oil companies are "For PROFIT" stockholder owned companies and crude oil is a world-traded commodity. If US oil companies had more available oil, they'd have more crude available for sale on the world market. If they could get $150+ dollars a barrel for crude in India, China or elsewhere, that's where they'd sell. They would not provide $75 a barrel oil to us out of the goodness of their hearts. They'd sell to the highest bidder & double their profits. That's what they do and what they'd continue to do. Nothing personal. It's just business. Unless specific laws were enacted for prevention, nothing would change that.

Here are the facts.

Oil companies do not need new areas to drill. They need to focus on areas that are already opened to them. Of the 42 million acres of Federal land currently leased by oil and gas companies, only about 12 million acres are actually being drilled to produce oil and natural gas.

Of the 90 million offshore acres the oil industry has leases to, mostly in the Gulf of Mexico, upwards of 70 million are not being drilled and as such are not producing oil and natural gas.

If the Republican claims about more drilling are correct, why aren't they demanding Big Oil explore drilling on the 30 million acres of Federal land and 70 million acres offshore (that's 100 MILLION ACRES) that are already open to them but that they refuse to explore?

The US has 3% of the world's oil reserves and uses 25% of the world's oil production.

Drilling a new well every 50 feet will not change these facts either.
Posted by:CW BaileySeptember 29, 2008 10:43:56 AMRespond ^
I say instead of satire, let's build steam cars. Treat the problem at the root, instead of complaining about the symptoms. It's easy to trash on the oil companies and the 'government', but it's a darn sight harder to push forward the technology that's going to change the status quo. Easy to complain, harder to change...
Posted by:BertSeptember 29, 2008 9:45:27 PMRespond ^
Well before you can push forward new technologies, someone has to point out why the old technology is bad. This is often done through satire and just plain criticism. It is a motivator. Change cannot come without motivation.
Posted by:PopularOutcastOctober 10, 2008 1:13:53 PMRespond ^

Jail.org - Inmate Search
Criminal records, instant public records & people search & current court records. www.jail.org

U.S. Public Records Search
Search County & State Court Records, Criminal records, Vital and Adoption Records www.PublicRecordsInfo.com

Records.com - People Search
Public Records and Background Checks. Instantly Search Criminal Records, Addresses and Court Records www.Records.com

Court Records & County Records
Find Instant Public Records, Criminal Records as Well as County Property Records Search. www.PublicRecordsIndex.com

Real Viagra, Cialis Levitra Deal
Dare to compare our competitive prices. Free overnight delivery to new patients in the US. No catch 22!

Bob's Red Mill Organic Flaxseed Meal
In addition to its great nutty flavor, our flaxseed meal is high in fiber and packed with essential Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

PEACEFUL HOLIDAY GIFTS
Items featuring the 1958 peace symbol shirts, buttons, hoodys, signs, stickers pins...more. union made • detroit peacebuttons.info

End the genocide in Darfur
Every day, Darfuris face rape, murder, and starvation. Be a Voice for Darfur: tell Obama to end the suffering.
















Oogedy-Boogedy

Putting the Noise Machine in its Place

Team of Rivals?

Czar Thomas


More MoJo voices...



bookIN PRINT

CLICK HERE
for more great reading

headphones IN TUNE
New music every issue

CLICK TO LISTEN

Advertise Liberally

This article has been made possible by the Foundation for National Progress, the Investigative Fund of Mother Jones, and gifts from generous readers like you.

© 2008 The Foundation for National Progress

About Us   Support Us   Advertise   Ad Policy   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Subscribe   RSS