thereisnospoon
Gold Member
It's about state rights. Here in Florida for example we should have the right to either allow, or deny oil drilling off of our shores. The constitution doesn't grant the federal government-or any body to either allow, or restrict oil drilling. Therefore it's up to the states individually.
We don't want drilling because it'll greatly hinder our economy. Our tourism would get hit really hard-let alone if something like the BP spill happened again, which would then hit our fishing, boating, ports, etc.. We have too much to risk just to slightly lower gas prices for the nation as a whole. Floridians shouldn't be subjected to unconstitutional risks to our economy just for people in the other 49 states (talk about big government).
The majority of Floridians are against off-shore drilling here. It's against our state law not to drill here. If you can point out an area of the US constitution that states the federal government has the right to overstep that law-by all means show it. If you can't (which you can't)-too bad, so sad-get over it.
The majority of Floridians aren't even Floridians. They live half the year in New York or New Jersey.
You go ahead and keep buying into the enviro-nazi propaganda. If there were oil rigs off the FL coast, you would not have a clue their presence. The entire story behind FL's off shore ban was based on the California spills of the 1970's. Oil production technology is far more advanced. The BP explosion was an accident.
If anything, FL taxpayers would benefit from off shore oil production in the form of royalties from said production.
Look, it's either we here in the US start realizing that with economic freedom comes a little risk or we remain under the thumb of people who don't like us very much.
BTW, to a certain distance off the shoreline ,yes the State has jurisdiction. Beyond that , I believe it is three miles, offshore waters come under federal jurisdiction. It is through cooperation between the federal government and states that offshore drilling is limted.
However, if push came to shove and the country needed the oil, we'd get it. and of course the respective state would receive ample compensation.
This is not about "slightly lower gas prices"..This is about doing the right thing and harvesting our own natural resources. You complain about risk. You mention fisheries and tourism twice. Sounds like you have an agenda. an agenda that is somewhat self centered.
Newsflash...we're all in this together. Last time I checked Florida was still part of the United States of America.
This is about economic independence and economic security. Do not ever forget that.
We don't get to that point without a little risk.
If we used your theory about avoiding risk, there would be no air travel and no cars.
The States Rights clause in the Constitution does not apply here.
-How does the States Right clause in the Constitution not apply here? Explain.
-Again I ask you where in the Constitution does it give the rights for the federal government to have federal waters past the 3 miles, and where does it allow the federal government to allow off shore drilling off the shore of other states
-For the record, I'm a "real" Floridian
-It's not about the environment-it's about our economy here in Florida. I don't care whether there's drilling in Alaska, or off California shores-it's not my state. I wouldn't be the one at risk. If those states want to do it-more power to them. For me it's not about being an "enviro-nazi".
-Oil is not a normal commodity that follows a typical supply and demand curve. The demand is intricate in virtually everything (shipping, plastic, travel, etc.). It's the demand that makes oil so expensive-not the supply. The sooner people realize this-the better..
-I agree you don't get much if you don't risk. That's fine. People should risk their own state. The people of this state doesn't want off shore drilling. Period. Florida doesn't tell other states what to do-others shouldn't tell ours what to do.
-Yes you're right 3 miles off the coast and you're in federal waters (about 9 miles into the gulf-as low tides hit parts of land out there). However federal waters themselves aren't constitutional. Point out where in the constitution it gives the federal government the constitutional power of such. Also the federal government shouldn't subject Florida to the risk if Florida doesn't want it (we don't). Again if other states do-fine drill there.
And maybe us in Florida wouldn't notice the rigs off shore. Maybe you're right. But tourists still wont come anywhere near as much. People from other places would look at Florida and say...oh look they have drilling-let's go somewhere else for vacation. And that doesn't affect the other states-it affects ours. All things the same-are people going to go to a place with beaches that has offshore drilling, or no offshore drilling? They're going to go to the one without drilling.
in all of your pontificating you exposed yourself for what you really are....A NIMBY.....Not In My Back Yard.
You stated very clearly that you do not care about other states. You are just fine with the harvesting of natural resources just as long as YOU don't have to deal with it.
It is at this point your argument loses all credibility....You are on the losing side here. Discussion terminated. You have made your agenda clear. No further discussion with you is necessary.
You Floridians are the last people who should talk about exploiting your state for every dime you can get. So don't go there. Yer done. OUT.
You may now have the last word.