The Threat, or Lack Thereof, From Offshore Oil Drilling

The U.S. House vote to lift the 25-year old ban on offshore drilling has prompted praise from pro-business groups, but scorn from environmental activists who said it places the nation's coastlines at risk. The Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act would expand drilling options beyond the Gulf of Mexico, where searching for oil is already permitted. The bill would allow drilling more than 50 miles from the coast and gives states the power to allow drilling as close as three miles from the coast. The bill passed the House 232-187 on Thursday and must be passed by the Senate before heading to the president. Full Story

It's apparently only a threat to our shorelines when we drill 50 miles or more off our coastline, but not when Mexico or Cuba do it. That's probably because they are so much more advanced and skilled at it than we are.