Should US offshore oil be forced to be sold in the US?

Why should we US citizens tolerate oil off our coasts being drilled for going to China or India, when we are paying so much for the oil and gasoline here?Should US offshore oil be forced to be sold in the US?
No, we should make an economic incentive for them to sell to us. If we ';force'; them to sell it here, then we will just put them out of business or they will just leave the country. We have already made it so where they have had to consolidate jus to stay in business.





We should allow them to drill. Congress does not have the Constitutional authority to tell them not to. Like so many other laws and regulations that have chased away so many businesses. We should also give them tax incentives for more exploration. Canada, Russia and most every other country in the world is drilling off their shores and leasing offshore in other countries. China and India have 100 year leases to slant drill 50 miles off the coast of Florida. For those worried about safety and the environment, do you think they will be better than US companies?





Congress likes high gas prices because they are the ones to profit from them. Stop blaming the oil companies.





Between 1977 and 2004, the US oil industry鈥檚 domestic profits totaled $643 billion, after adjusting for inflation.





Since 1977, governments have collected more than $1.34 trillion, after adjusting for inflation, in gasoline tax revenues鈥攎ore than twice the amount of domestic profits earned by major U.S. oil companies during the same period.








PS JBush


Did you know that most jobs in this country come from small businesses? Most of those small businesses have to use their personal transportation to conduct business. If they have products, tools or several people to haul around, what do you propose they do? Did you realize if we stopped all vehicles from using gas we would still need oil for nearly every product you use. Where should it come from? Why should we be the ONLY country in the world to not use our own resources?Should US offshore oil be forced to be sold in the US?
It is a free market. We do not tolerate government control of competitive business practices. So your question is valid: as most oil from Alaska or new coastal sites would go to other parts of the world and have minimal impact on the worldwide supply and price of oil, what incentive do states have to put coastlines at risk? The answer is little or none.
We should not even drill for it. It's long past the time to move away from oil and toward more walkable/bikable cities, less car trips, and better public transportation.
They shouldn't even be allowed to drill here. Congress doesn't want us drilling here but they are willing to let foreign countries do it. Hmm... I would imagine someone is getting a lot of money for that!

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