Times Talk proposes new oil plans

With gas prices being approximately $3.50, it is understandable to cringe when pulling up to the pumps.

On Wednesday, Oct. 24, Jantzen Kelly, Deterreon Crutcher and Drew Ballinger, Business Management majors, led a discussion on international factors influencing gas prices. The discussion focused on oil plans from President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney.

President Obama plans to continue outsourcing oil from Iraq and other oil-rich countries. Governor Romney, however, wants to begin drilling in Alaska. 

Some students have mixed feelings about President Obama’s plan. Outsourcing for oil is easier for the country. However, students worry about adding to the debt of the United States. The U.S. would be stranded without an oil source, so outsourcing could get difficult.  

“If we went to active war with them [Iraq], they could completely cut off our resources,” said Kelly.

The majority of students that attended Times Talk preferred Governor Romney’s plan for drilling in Alaska. Students believe that outsourcing for oil takes away our independence and causes the U.S. to no longer be self-sufficient. By drilling in the U.S., it creates jobs for Americans.

While Romney’s plan is the most popular, there are some downsides. Romney’s plan is effective, but the initial startup could be costly. The U.S. would have to build facilities for the production. Another downside is dealing with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). PETA has many restrictions on disturbing the environment. If the United States could overcome these obstacles, Romney’s plan would be helpful.

Jen Walker, a Management major, proposed a combination of the plans. She contemplated the usefulness of continuing the outsourcing of oil. In the meantime, the U.S. should research drilling in Alaska and have the plan to fall back on if something should happen.

“Save whatever we have for whatever crisis might occur,” said Walker.   

Our future may be in outsourcing or in drilling on home soil. Either way, oil is a finite source and requires the U.S. to journey outside its comfort zone. When we learn to do so, we can quit worrying about the price at the pump.