Friday, August 1, 2008

Domestic Oil

My good friend Michael Cross, an Alpharetta attorney, was kind enough to offer his thoughts about drilling for oil in the U.S. In his opinion, the USofA has a moral responsibility to drill for oil, on our territory. After reviewing his thoughts, I must say that I agree. Here are his thoughts about the issue, offered here with his permission.

The underlying assumptions are:

1. The actions undertaken by any society on our planet impacts our environment,

2. Large scale impacts to the environment in one area of the planet effect the environment in other areas,

3. Oil is a necessary ingredient for our present global society to function, and, regardless of the innovation that arises, will continue to be a necessary ingredient for the foreseeable future,

4. Those who drill for oil haphazardly and without exercising good stewardship foul the earth and impact the world,

5. Americans have the ability to drill more cleanly and efficiently than any other country in the world,

6. Americans care as much for the environment as the citizens of any other country in the world,

7. Those who urge America not to seek oil within her boundaries cause harm to those in other areas of the world that lack the ability or sensitivity to concerns of conservation thereby causing harm to the inhabitants of other areas,

8. Those most harmed by reckless oil exploration and extraction are those with limited means, who may have little means of protection,

9. If America engages in further oil exploration and extraction within her boundaries, fewer people in the world will be harmed by those who cannot, do not, and/or will not act as well as Americans do in the pursuit of oil extraction.

Given these assumptions, which I am inclined to do, then if Americans care about others in the world, it is our moral duty to engage in oil exploration and extraction so as not to cause undue harm to the oppressed.

Until next time...

Randy

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