Virginia is an important state in this year’s elections. On the presidential side, both President Obama and Governor Romney desperately want to carry the state. Virginia is also home to one of the nation’s most closely watched senate race as two former governors Kaine and Allen vie for the open seat.
Because Virginia is receiving so much political attention, numerous candidates for office are pandering, err, talking to voters on the campaign trail. In Virginia, energy issues are beginning to dominate the political sphere. Within that sphere, big oil is making its mark.
Not climate mind you. God forbid a reporter asks a candidate about his or her view on climate change. So this topic is best saved for another post. Last week, both the Republican Governors Association (RGA) and Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign released energy plans. Their solution to solve to solve our energy woes was heavily dominated by offshore drilling.
DRILL BABY DRILL is the mantra that rang loudly for a few months four years ago. It ended with a thud. Americans know the high price and dangers associated with offshore drilling. Doesn’t anyone remember the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? Yet the RGA, Romney, as well as Kaine and Allen have all joined the chorus trumpeting the message created by these powerful interests and well-paid lobbyists.
But the American people aren’t foolish. Gallup recently released a survey saying that Americans view the oil and gas industry as the most hated industry in the country. Number one; numero uno! This dubious ranking is in light of the recent banking crisis (the banking industry ranked #2) and the healthcare/Obamacare kerfuffle (that industry ranked third). So while Americans understand the negative effects of the industry, politicians are still catering to these interests.
So why would politicians want the most hated industry in America doing business of our coasts, especially when there are environmentally clean solutions like offshore wind that’s so promising? Ask them. It’s a long campaign season.
