My first non-Rock post on this site in our brand new Beyond Rock section and I choose Politics.... wow I must be stupid. Oh well, I have something to say and a forum in which to say it, so I will use the forum and see what happens.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you are likely aware that the Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, is the Republican nominee for the Vice President of the United States - running with 72 year old Presidential Nominee, John McCain. I could not be more frightened of the prospect of this pair as the top executives of our nation

Here, we will not attack character - John McCain is a patriot and a war hero and Sarah Palin has... well... done stuff and seems to be a great representative of what a politician in this country needs to be. Furthermore, congratulations America - unless there is some major change to the way we choose our government leaders there will be an African American President or Female VP in office by 2009. There are good things on the horizen.

That being said, as a young American with a brain, I can't help but be disturbed by the stance and beliefs of the Republican nominees. Rather than attack them on the whole, which I am neither educated enough nor do I have time enough to handle, I will simply discuss my genuine anger at a three word chant I first encountered when lead by Rudolf Guiliani "Drill, Baby, Drill."

The chant, which has become a household phrase in the last week, is a direct reference to Sarah Palin's stance to aid in our nation's energy woes and to increase our domestic drilling for oil and natural gas to, theoretically, decrease our dependence on foreign oil, lower energy costs and stimulate the economy. As the governor of Alaska, she of course supports much of this drilling taking place in her home state and the construction of a pipeline that carries that oil from Alaska to the continental 48 states. This is an extremely short-sighted band-aid suggestion to a very long-term problem that requires a solution, not a band-aid.

First, let's discuss the positive aspects of drilling for oil in Alaska. For one thing, it will allow us to produce oil we would otherwise have to find elsewhere - the Middle East. It will, therefore, theoretically lower import costs, increase the oil supply in the world and lower energy costs which therefore would lower the prices at the gas pump and on your bills every month. At the same time it creates jobs inside the United States - someone's gotta do the drilling and build the pipe-line, and you can't readily take jobs that occur INSIDE the US and ship them off to East Asia, can you? So, to recap we're killing a few birds with one stone... more oil, lower prices, more jobs - yippee, our prayers have been answered and logic prevails.

Then we begin to think deeper.

First, what is the true problem of the energy crisis? It oil prices or oil dependence? I say it is dependence. Even if drilling for oil WOULD lower prices in the short term (which it wouldn't for several reasons), it would not alleviate our need for oil in the long term. Therefore the fix is inherently for a limited lenght of time - say 50 years. In the year 2058, when Alaska is dried up and we have no alternative fuel sources, THEN we're SOL - but for now, Palin's drilling policy is still our savior.

Now let's look at the economics of drilling. Once again, lets assume the drilling works, we refine the oil and keep it domestic or export it in such a way that it does indeed lower energy costs WITHIN the US (again a pretty lame assumption), how are we going to pay for the new oil rigs and pipeline? That's right - taxes and borrowing. That means, more debt and more money out of your pocket. So we all rejoice as gas goes to $3.00 a gallon again (anybody else remember when it was under $2.00) but we all pay an extra couple hundred bucks a month in taxes. It's a wash or you wind up losing more. BUT WAIT - we made a shitty assumption at the beginning. The reality is, domestic drilling won't likely lower gas prices due to the way oil prices are set on an international level based on supply and demand and the small dent we put in world supply won't affect nearly as much as we think... so taxes go up, debt goes up and gas prices don't really go down.

The Environment - not only does drilling for oil deplete an irreplaceable natural resource developed over millions of years of heat and pressure under the Earth's surface, but pulling it out of the ground affects the ecosystem. Running warm, flowing oil through a pipeline and keeping the pipe from freezing or being damaged by snow, ice and harsh conditions in in Alaska also greatly affects the ecosystem. I'm not saying that's a reason to say "no" off the bat - but it's something we need to pay attention to and be wary of the overall affects.

Now jobs are a great thing and something we need in the world. I wholeheartely agree with giving people of all backgrounds and education levels the opportunity to make a living. Question is, are we creating the right jobs? Is there a way to create the jobs, reduce dependence on oil, preserve the environment and NOT drill? Of course their is, it just takes more time and ingenuity.

Here is just one alternative:

Stomach the gas prices for a while. Grow up America, it sucks but the rest of the world has been dealing with it for years. We are a nation with some of the smartest people in the world, developing the greatest technology the world has ever seen - why do we assume the internal combustion engine and turbines fueled by natural sources are the best generators of energy on the planet? Just over 100 years ago we didn't know we could make things move using an internal combustion engine that burns oil for fuel. Once we figured it out, we decided to perfect that system instead of exploring other options - I say it's time we explore.

If we were to put the same money, focus and energy into the development of alternative fuel sources (IE Hydrogen Cells, Biodiesel and Solar) or alternatives that reduce the use of oil within our current fuel systems (IE Hybrid systems and Ethanol), we could, in theory develop a new and different solution that removes or reduces our dependence on oil to less significance in the short-term and nothing in the future. A solution, rather than a band-aid.

This solution serves many of the same needs as domestic drilling.

1. It reduces our dependence on foreign oil in the mid-short term and eliminates it in the long-term.
2. It will re-set our thinking and position on how we pay for energy and fuel.
3. Seeking alternative fuels sources creates jobs for our highly educated and skilled scientists and engineers, and, if developed and run by an ethical American company (a pipe dream, I know), jobs for factory workers and other working class citizens just like the pipeline and drills - except these jobs don't have to be in Alaska or working on an extremely dangerous oil drill.

Seeking alternative fuel sources is INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY. These are the things that the United States loves to accomplish. Why are we so focused on the seemingly easy way out (that isn't easy at all) when there's another answer available that just takes some elbow grease and a little bit of risk? We've just touched the tip of the iceberg as far as our research on alternative fuels is concerned.

I say, rather than "Drill, Baby, Drill" we should be focused on research, development and manufactering... the things the USA do best.

Ladies and Gentlemen - I beg of you - please do not vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin.

If you agree, please leave a comment. If you disagree - seriously, please leave a comment!