I don't think folks are getting the correct message here. Only deep water drilling has been suspended, not shallow water drilling per this
article from MSNBC.com. But ever since this oil spill disaster and the ensuing shakeup of Minerals Management Service (MMS), officials within the goverment haven't been so quick to issue permits and this has apparently caused some concerns and confusion.
The President has stated the obvious concerning deep water drilling - it's easier to deal with problems from shallow water drilling rigs than it is with deep water drill rigs. As such, I can understand why the moratorium is in place. Still, I can also understand why the domestic oil industry as a whole is under heavy scrutiny. Safety concerns, particularly with deep water drilling, are now on the minds of many. Nonetheless, while I understand the economic concerns people like the governor of MS has for the Gulf Coast region as well as the nation, I think he misses the mark just alittle here. It's as if he's more concerned with the loss of jobs rather than being concerned that proper safety and containment measures are in place by these oil companies. I mean, if BP's spil containment plan was totally bogus, how many others are just as screwed up? From my perspective, I'd think a moratorium on deep water drilling was the right call. But shallow water drilling should continue.
My hope is that this issue gets straightened out soon so that people can get back to work and that this nation doesn't see a forced increase in gas prices. But the oil industry as a whole where off-shore drilling is concerned really did need this wakeup call and so did the nation.