"Al" wrote in message, in response to Davoud...

[snip]

John Kerry has just earned the endorsement of *48 Nobel Prize-winning
scientists*.

This proves that scientists know much about science and absolutely _nothing_
about politics.

Hmmm; if what you say is true, Al, what does that say about what
politicians know about science?

I, for one, am one scientist who knows enough about politics to know
that my current favorite presidential candidate is "None of the
Above".

If we had started drilling in ANWR four years ago, we would be thumbing our
noses at the Saudis today...and the price of gas would still be under a
dollar.

We can, of course, "thumb our noses at the Saudis" anytime we wish; it
would be kinda dumb (and not very grateful), but feel free.

[If someone really wishes to thumb a nose at OPEC, may I suggest a
better place to start would be by conserving energy? Better insulate
our homes and offices, drive more economically, consider alternative
fuels, etc. The US, with 5% of the world's population, uses 25% of
the world's energy.]

ANWR at full production has a capacity of 2% of total US oil
consumption. It would have some moderating effect on gas prices, but
not what you envision.

(And ANWR stands for, what again? Arctic National WILDLIFE REFUGE?
Uh, OK.)

Given all that has been discussed about drilling at ANWR, I have NOT
heard what I feel is the most logical answer. LEAVE THE OIL THERE
UNTIL WE REALLY NEED IT!! Compared to known proven reserves, there
isn't an ocean of oil at ANWR. Also, given the difficulites of
extracting from this field, it isn't cheap oil, either. So, leave it
there until everyone else has used their supply. Then ANWR will
really be worth something!

¤ Clear skies & a star to steer by! Michael ¤

************************************************* ******
Michael Foerster ¤ Pres/Research Lead, Skywatch-GL
¤Solar System Ambassador, NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab
¤Night Sky Net Coordinator, The Starry-Nite Society
¤E-Address:
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~
FAMOUS LAST WORDS - A SERIES
"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics magazine, forecasting the relentless
march of science, 1949
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