The US energy policy is screwed up, I admit.
We have no need to drill that far out, when other countries are drilling even closer in the Gulf. And I agree with the MMS (the regulatory arm) - I dealt with them with oil and gas with Indian tribes and the MMS is as corrupt as they are bloated.
( BrokenCoccyx doesn't mind if you grope on, Wed 16 Jun 2010, 17:49, 1 reply)

In the pursuit of fairness
I should point out that the US are hardly alone in this, but they are by far the worst. The combination of massive desire for oil coupled with the mentality that it must be US oil is ...well.... mental.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 16 Jun 2010, 17:55, closed)

I see nothing wrong with oil
It seems to me that our ability to drill, transport and refine has greatly improved over the years. I've walked by equipment in the mountains that you could hardly tell were there.

They try to scare the public with photos from Kazakhstan and the like.
( BrokenCoccyx doesn't mind if you grope on, Wed 16 Jun 2010, 17:59, closed)

except that it's not inexhaustible.
our ability to drill has improved. We need to up our recovery from spent wells, realistically, rather than hitting new ones. And the deeper we go, the higher the risk. Especially once we are away from fixed rigs. Humanity wants it then it needs to be prepared to pay the price. This, right now, is the price.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 16 Jun 2010, 18:06, closed)