Originally Posted by Rochard

Oil is a huge part of our national security. No oil, the military machine comes screaming to a halt. This has been a the foundation of our country's security since the end of WWII.

Doesn't it make sense that we should encourage oil production on private land, and not so much on Federal land? That land does not belong to the oil companies - it belongs to me, to us, and the taxpayers.

It's just common sense that we should be exploiting our federal land last?

Also, the oil production drop is only for the last year of stats and is mostly because of the Deep Horizon oil spill accident that shut down oil production.