When people don't speak up

Well, the good news is - the bill didn't pass! If Obama had his way, there would be drilling for oil off the coast of central Florida - as in the Space Coast. But he will try again. With current gas prices rising by the hour, the topic will come up again and again. Especially when elections are coming up. Wondering how many residents actually know what they almost lost...

Seriously disappointed in my fellow Space Coast residents. Not shocked, however. I walk miles of beach weekly and, no matter the season, I am often the only one there. I do not frequent isolated beaches - second light and hangars are popular surfing spots. But, no waves, few people. To pull out onto A1A, a four-lane coastal highway - no problem. In contrast, ride inland and count the cars you see. Ga-zillions! They want gas prices that are affordable. They complain loudly. Beach-lovers seem to say nothing. Sigh.....read on.....

[Sources: The Huffington Post and the New York Times - May 15, 2011]
Reversing a ban on oil drilling off most U.S. shores, President Barack Obama ... announced an expansive new policy that could put oil and natural gas platforms in waters along the southern Atlantic coastline, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and part of Alaska. The plan modifies a ban that for more than 20 years has limited drilling along coastal areas other than the Gulf of Mexico. It would allow new oil drilling off Virginia's shoreline and considers it for a large chunk of the Atlantic seaboard. At the same time, he wants to reject some new drilling sites that had been planned in Alaska.

The move, a reversal of Obama's early campaign promise to retain a ban on offshore exploration, appeared aimed at winning support from Republicans in Congress for new laws to tackle global warming. Under the proposals, a vast swath of Atlantic coast from northern Delaware to central Florida, including about 167m acres of ocean, would be open to drilling.

Space Coast residents are fearful of a future without space shuttles. But that fear has been present before, however, following the end of the Apollo program and after the Challenger explosion. Tough times, but in an "up" economy, we persevered. What residents should fear is the loss of their coastline - the tourist draw. The very thing that they have ignored. All the gasoline in the world won't help the Space Coast if no-one wants to drive here.