Sparks Along The Third Rail, Part 2

Californians can be forgiven for wondering why their state - with an economy larger than many of those in the developed world - exists in a permanent state of financial crisis, and is now facing a full scale budget meltdown. Well, one problem is that many of California's resources have been locked away, or seen their economic worth diluted by, the state's very active environmental lobby. 

Now, some have dared to suggest that it might be time to allow drilling off of the California coast. - something that hasn't happened since the notorious Santa Barbara oil spill of 40 years ago. This is an idea whose time has come. For one thing, the oil drilling industry has learned a lot since 1969 with the result that spills are not as dangerous a possibility as they once were. While many drilling platforms were damaged during Hurricane Katrina, not one led to a spill. The San Francisco Bay suffered a spill last year that, while destructive in the short term, ultimately led to little permanent damage. 

The benefit of drilling would seem to be obvious. Right now, California is importing the vast majority of its oil. A domestic drilling industry could at least bring some low priced competition into the marketplace, not to mention good paying working class jobs. Even if California oil were not sold here, it would have to be sold somewhere. Royalties from such sales could go a long way towards filling the state treasury. I'm sure many would object to raising funds in this manner. Maybe. But some of our current funding sources are expensive (the sales tax, motor vehicle fees) or tawdry (lotteries, casino gambling). Why these are preferable to sales of oil is beyond me. 

Still, there's a long way to go, at least if the above article is any indication. The reporter manages to push all the right buttons: Bush, James Watt, and oil soaked birds, boo! Barak Obama, solar, and wind, yay! Still, "green" politics are ultimately a luxury, not a necessity. We may see oil rigs off the coast, yet.