Time to compromise on oil drilling

This last Saturday brought "chains of hand-holding Floridians stretched across shorelines from Pensacola to Key West to show solidarity in their opposition of offshore oil drilling."

Okay, nice. What will they "not oppose?” It's fine in the Gulf off the shore of some other state? Only land-based drilling, even though the underwater reserve may be larger or easier to extract?

How about a compromise? 15 miles off-shore and not for oil but for natural gas? It would be nice to hear LOUD and LONG what the official estimates are for oil or gas reserves that could be tapped were a go-ahead given.

Problem is… everyone has some sort of a dog in the fight. Solar would take up a lot of space, windmills kill birds and are unsightly (current battle in Massachusetts/Martha's Vineyard), capturing tides would create massive structures in the water and "disrupt" natural fishing, oil wells could spill or leak… and the list goes on and on.

How about looking at the best, most advanced rigs currently off of Louisiana (best performance/least environmental impact) and use the lessons learned.

We need to do something people! Handwringing will not heat or cool our homes, and it won't propel you from one place to another.

Ray Netherwood