Offshore drilling is the right thing to do for the United States.

I will take the con stance (I would like to think thats obvious) and will now begin my refutations. Refutaions: 1. "Offshore drilling can avert an energy crisis. Critics note that the potential supplies offshore are a tiny part of the world market, but even so the Interior Department's estimates range from 39 billion to 62 billion barrels of oil. We use 7 billion barrels a year, so if the oil really is there, it could be five to nine years worth. " First, there is an ironic contradiction in this statement. Oil drilling is a CAUSE of the increased emissions. One might ask, "What does that have to do with this debate? " alot, accutally. A large part of this reversal of the ban on offshore drilling was a political move by obama in order to gain Republican support on a climate change bill that has remained stagnant in Congress since 2008. This is also, according to Mr. Obama, part of a broader strategy to "move us from an economy that runs on fossil fuels and foreign oil to one that relies more on homegrown fuels and clean energy. " Exactly how, might I inquire, is drilling offshore for fossil fuels "clean energy"? Mr. Obama also recongnizes that "Drilling alone can't come close to meeting our long-term energy needs, and for the sake of our planet and our energy independence, we need to begin the transition to cleaner fuels now," Obama said at Andrews Air Force Base in nearby Maryland. " So, those five to nine years according to the President of the United States will not help us very much, and we will need to move toward cleaner fuel sources now, which totally contradicts what you've stated in contention 1. 2. " Some of the most ironic objections come from those who say offshore exploration will destroy beaches and coastlines, citing the devastating 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska as an example. But tankers like the Valdez continue to carry the imported oil we're ruinously addicted to and have gone aground more frequently, more recently and far more disastrously. " This statment, in summary, states that imported oil vessels are more dangerous than American, or home grown oil tankers. This does not prove that they do not crash, and only further proves the point that they (oil tankers) are dangerous ways to transport oil. " Lastly, with new technological advances, oil rigs have become much safer. " Please list some examples of the technology, and how they make the rigs safer, otherwise this statemnt is just an opinion. 3. "Offshore drilling will significantly contribute to oil production. " So far, the plan comes with extremely heavy limits. The westcoast and northeast coasts, thought to be the most promising of these oil contributing areas, are excluded from Obama's plan. And in a statement, House of Representatives Republican Leader John Boehner said ""Opening up areas off the Virginia coast to offshore production is a positive step, but keeping the Pacific Coast and Alaska, as well as the most promising resources off the Gulf of Mexico, under lock and key makes no sense at a time when gasoline prices are rising and Americans are asking 'Where are the jobs? "" Indeed, it makes little sense to keep the most promising areas under "lock and key", especially if what my opponent is saying is true, and "offshore drilling will significantly contribute to oil production. " 4. " Environmentalists against offshore drilling state that the oil rigs will simply make sight-seeing places like Florida "ugly" because they are too close to the beautiful shore. " First allow me to point out that you mentioned sight - seeing PLACES, or more than one place, not just Florida. President Obama's plan could allow drilling as close as 3 miles to shore in states such as Deleware, as well as a dozen others. The average six foot tall man can see 4 to 7 miles out to sea from shore, clearly enough distance to see the drilling platforms. 5. "Most of the US supports offshore drilling. A Rasmussen poll found that 67% of voters nationwide support offshore drilling. In Florida, a poll released on June 30 showed that 59% of Floridians supported offshore drilling. " Of all of the contentions that you have made, this one has no connection to the basis of the debate, or your stance according to your definition of "right" - "for the greater good of the economy. " Therefore I will give it no refutation. ..