Poll: 51 Percent of Americans Oppose Offshore Oil Drilling

By LiveScience Staff
posted: 28 May 2010 04:14 pm ET

As the Deepwater Horizon leak continues to dump oil into the Gulf of Mexico, American opinions about offshore oil drilling have begun to shift. More than half now believe the risks of offshore drilling outweigh the benefits, according to a nationwide survey by Virginia Commonwealth University released today.

Views about offshore drilling are likely influenced by the major oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the survey. The leak has been ongoing since an April 20 explosion aboard a drilling rig. The leak raises the specter of environmental risks from offshore drilling when the process goes awry.

When asked specifically about the risk and benefit tradeoffs of offshore drilling, a 51-percent majority indicate the environmental risks outweigh the benefits; 35 percent think the benefits outweigh the environmental risks.

However, opinion among the general population about increasing offshore oil drilling is currently divided with 45 percent in support of increasing offshore drilling and 44 percent opposed.


more
http://www.livescience.com/environment/Gulf-Oil-Leak-Shifts-Americans-Opinions-About-Offshore-Oil-Exploration-100528.html

Now if only politicians would talk about moving away from oil into something else.

They are OWNED by corporate America. They only feign to care about the voters when elections are coming up, or when they get in front of a camera. They all ought to get an Academy Award for their performances pretending to give a shit.

Hopefully, a few of them will be getting the message from the voters soon that we're on to them, and we're tired of being lied to.

They all seem to leave office millionaires. Yet their salaries sure don't justify that huge increase in earnings. How is that possible?

being tied to big oil. The Parish President asks Obama and the federal govt. for help cleaning up the spill and then says Obama needs to lift the moratorium on new offshore drilling. And Rep. Charlie Melancon cries about the gulf being destroyed but then is so tied to big oil. These people are pathetic. Still, the public is finally paying attention.

... again and watch how fast they change their minds. They will be screaming to drill in their backyard then.

And we all know it so we had better plan accordingly.

Don

off shore in the USA's waters and anywhere would be ok. :sarcasm: