Question of the Week: Should the U.S. drill for more oil in ANWR and offshore?

By DUANE NOLLEN
The Oskaloosa Herald

OSKALOOSA July 14, 2008 12:32 pm

— Most people who answered this past week’s Question of the Week: Is it fair or unfair for casinos to be exempt from the smoking ban? say it’s UNFAIR.
Eight — 18.18 percent — answered FAIR and 36 — 81.82 percent — said UNFAIR.
The Question of the Week poll is not scientific and only reflects the opinions of those Internet users who have chosen to participate. The Question of the Week is just another way the Herald’s readers can voice their opinions about issues that affect them.
This week’s Question of the Week deals with drilling for more domestic oil.
Reuters reports that oil hit $147 a barrel Friday — a new record. Gas prices are now over $4 a gallon.
Friday, President Bush pushed Congress to lift the moritorium on offshore oil drilling and oil drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska. Currently, 80 percent of the nation’s coastal waters are off limits to oil exploration, the Associated Press reports. George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton were against drilling in coastal waters.
Democrats say that there is no need to give oil companies license to drill in protected areas as the companies have about 68 million acres under federal leases that they have not drilled, Reuters reports.
The AP reports that a recent Pew Research Center poll indicates that almost half of the people surveyed said that oil exploration and drilling are more important than conservation.
What do you think?
This week’s Quetion of the Week: Should the U.S. drill for more oil in ANWR and offshore? YES or NO.
People can vote on The Herald’s Web site, oskaloosa.com, from Monday through noon on Friday. Then, votes will be tallied and published the following Monday.