We need to test for offshore resources

The usual “sky is falling” arguments offered by the anti-everything crowd is growing to a fevered pitch, as they drive to Columbia in their gas-driven vehicles to protest the oil industry.

The latest veil pulled away from their groundless arguments against even testing for oil off of our coast is the ridiculous statement that testing for oil has nothing to do with our national security. Seriously now, do you just throw out these statements as a last-ditch effort or do you honestly believe that those who read the paper are that gullible?

I hope that we never have to drill off of our coast. I hope that we have a sufficient supply from all of the folks who we get our oil from today, who, by the way, drill for it quite successfully and cleanly. I hope that some other source of energy is discovered that is safer and still affordable. I hope that we are never in a war that cuts us off from our supply of oil, which fuels our military. I hope that I win the lottery.

My wife says that I am not nearly optimistic enough and she may be correct. My argument is that I am realistic, not optimistic. You cannot successfully run a household, a business or a country based on optimism.

It is absolutely in the best interest of our country’s national security to know what natural resources we have at our disposal. When environmental groups make these type arguments they weaken their credibility and hurt a cause that, if more wisely thought out and based more on realism, could be more easily supported.

Test, yes. Drill, I hope not.

This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 7:53 AM with the headline "We need to test for offshore resources."