Oil Drilling and Ignorance

The House of Representatives, in what seems to represent the present, and many previous, congresses’ quest to prove the unique unobservant nature of the American voter; and in their general desire to confuse the appearance of action with the weight of decision, voted on a oil drilling bill today. It would allow drilling 50 miles off the coast and make states the licensing agency for drilling in their areas while taking away any royalties that the state might receive from the oil found. Naturally the great majority of proven reserves, in California 95%,  are less then 50 miles off the coast and equally unsurprising is that a state would have far less interest in licensing something that is to receive far less revenue from. The bill also includes various stipulations, which, regardless of ecological design or earth friendly intention, seem likely to raise the cost of energy for the average consumer with dubious gains to the environment as a whole. Perhaps if Congress returned to its far more frequent and benign activity of naming schools, stadiums and rest stops after its members instead of engaging in these baffling attempts at serious legislation we would be far better off. Of course maybe we shouldn't be so hard on them, as Micheal Moore illuminated in his movie Fahrenheit 9/11, they don't read most of the bills they pass.